Deserted Wives and Children Act 1840, courtesy of NSW legislation.
Details
The Deserted Wives and Children Act 1840 [10/1840 (4 Vic. No.5)] was created to protect women and children who had been 'deserted' by their husbands or fathers, and left without financial support. It included 'illegitimate' as well as legitimate children in its terms, so long as proving paternity didn't rest only on the mother's oath. This Act was amended in 1858 to allow Justices to 'place' children who were 'abandoned' by their parents in public institutions, such as the Destitute Children's Asylum, or any other public establishment. The Act was repealed by the Deserted Wives and Children Act 1901.
1840 - 1901 Deserted Wives and Children Act 1840
1901 - 1964 Deserted Wives and Children Act 1901
Prepared by: Liam Hogan
Created: 26 February 2014, Last modified: 10 June 2021
Last updated: 4 August 2023
Cite this: https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/nsw/biogs/NE01519b.htm
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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