Examinations, 1733-1750: nos 1-20

Examinations, 1733-1750: nos 1-20

1. [fol. 1–3 A very incomplete contemporary names index.]

2. [p. 1] Middlesex, to wit. Elizabeth Davis, single woman, aged about thirty years, upon oath saith that she was born at Trysull in Staffordshire. And that about three years since she quitted the service of one Mr Snow who then kept the Turks Head Coffee House in the Strand, which is in the parish of St Martin in the Fields in the said county of Middlesex and liberty of Westminster, with whom she lived as a cook for the space of three years and half, and received of her said master her full wage for the said time at the rate of £5 a year, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And further saith that since she quitted the said service of Mr Snow [she] has not rented a house of £10 a year, or paid any parochial taxes, or done any act or thing (to her, this examinant's knowledge) whereby to gain a legal settlement elsewhere. The mark of Elizabeth Davis. Sworn before us, 3 Sept. 1733, Peter Elers, Thomas Cotton. Passed to the parish of St Martin in the Fields in Middlesex.

3. [p. 2] Middlesex, to wit. The examination of Martha Foss, widow, taken upon oath before me, Peter Elers esq.... Who saith that she is now pregnant of a bastard child or children, which was unlawfully begotten on her body by one John Sills of Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire, innholder. Who had carnal knowledge of her body for the first time about June last, was twelve months, in the dwelling house of the said John Sills (known by the sign of the George in Burton upon Trent, aforesaid), and several times after in the said house, and other places. And further saith, that the said John Sills is the true and only father of the said bastard child or children. And further saith not. Martha Foss. Sworn at Chelsea, 8 Sept. 1733, before me, Peter Elers.

4. [p. 3] Middlesex, to wit. Margaret Abbott, widow, upon oath saith that Sarah Norton, a girl aged about sixteen years, was born at a little house at Avery Farm, then in the parish of St Martin in the Fields, and now in the parish of St George Hanover Square in the said county of Middlesex. And that she was present at the birth of the said girl, who was born of the body of Sarah Norton, deceased. And saith that one William Norton, a soldier in the Scotch Guards, was the reputed father of the said girl. But [she] does not know [if] the said William Norton was ever married to the said Sarah Norton (though she went by his name). The mark of Margaret Abbott. Sworn before us, 3 Oct. 1733, Peter Elers, Thomas Cotton.

5. [p. 4] Middlesex, to wit. The examination of Anne Mackenny, single woman, taken before me, Peter Elers esq. . . . Who saith that she is now pregnant of a bastard child or children which was unlawfully begotten on her body by one James Sparks of the Custom House, Tidewater. Who had carnal knowledge of her body the first time about the month of March last in the dwelling house of this examinant's master (John Guerney), known by the sign of the Old George in the parish of Chelsea in the county aforesaid. And several times after in the said house, where the said James Sparks at that time lodged. And this examinant further saith that the said James Sparks is the true and only father of the said bastard child or children. And further saith not. The mark of Anne Mackenny. Sworn at Chelsea, before me, 31 Oct. 1733, Peter Elers. [See 39].

6. [p. 5] Middlesex, to wit. Barbara Tiser, single woman, aged about 24 years, born in the parish of St Margaret, Westminster, upon oath saith that about two years since she quitted the service of Mr Fisher, a farmer at the Ferry House at Molesey in the county of Surrey, with whom she lived as a hired servant by the year for about the space of 8 years at the rate of 50s. wages for the first year. And for the remainder time, her wages was advanced yearly. And this examinant further saith that since she left the said service of Mr Fisher, [she] has not lived a year in service, or done any act or thing (to the best of her, this examinant's, knowledge) whereby to gain a legal settlement elsewhere. The mark of Barbara Tiser. Sworn before us, 29 Nov. 1733, Peter Elers, John Williams. Passed to Molesey.

7. [p. 6] Middlesex, to wit. Joannah Chapman, widow, aged about 58 years, born in the city of Exeter, upon oath saith that about 39 years since she married her late husband, Christopher Chapman, staymaker at Exeter. By whom she had six children, one of which is living, named Elizabeth Chapman, now a servant. And saith that her said husband, about fourteen years since, quitted a home in Tinkers Alley near Bear Street in the parish of St Anne [Soho] within the liberty of Westminster in the county of Middlesex, where he lived about the space of five years, and paid £10 a year rent for the same, and all parochial taxes. Since which he lived in lodgings only. And afterwards [he] entered himself in the army where he continued till he was admitted a pensioner in Chelsea College, and died about five months since. And further saith not. The mark of Joannah Chapman. Sworn before us, 29 Nov. 1733, Peter Elers, John Williams. Passed to St Anne [Soho] within the liberty of Westminster.

8. [p. 7] Middlesex, to wit. Margaret Bailey (alias Game, widow) aged about 40 years, upon oath saith that she was born at Market Drayton in Shropshire. And about eighteen years since she lived a servant hired by the year with one Mrs Tuck of the parish of Chelsea in the county of Middlesex in the station of a cook, where she continued about the space of two years and received her full wages for the said time (meat, drink, washing and lodging) at the rate of £4 per annum. And that about sixteen years since she was married at Drogheda in Ireland to one John Game, an Irishman who came afterwards to England and entered himself a soldier in the First Regiment of Foot Guards, by whom she had three children, two of which are living. One named Mary Game aged about 15 years, and John Game aged about 12 years (which said children were maintained by the parish of Chelsea for several years). And also saith that about 18 months after the death of her said husband, John Game, she married one Joseph Blunt, by whom she had four children. One of which is living, named Sarah Blunt aged about 7 years, born in the house now in possession of one Nelson, in Newkner's Lane in the parish of St Giles in the Fields in the said county of Middlesex. And further saith that her said same husband, Joseph Blunt deceased, was at the time she married him married to another woman who is now living at Kettering in Northamptonshire. And this examinant also further saith that since the time she quitted the said service of Mrs Tuck's [she] has not rented a house of £10 per annum or done any act or thing (to the best of her knowledge) to gain a legal settlement elsewhere. The mark of Margaret Bailey alias Game. Sworn before us, 2 Jan. 1733/4, Peter Elers, Thomas Cotton. Passed to St Giles in the Fields.

9. [p. 8] Middlesex, to wit. The examination of Elizabeth Simonds, single woman, taken upon oath this 5 Jan. 1733/4, before me, Peter Elers esq. . . . Who saith, that on or about 3 Dec. last past she was delivered of a female bastard child in the workhouse belonging to the parish of St Margaret, Westminster in the said county of Middlesex. Which [child] is baptised and named Sarah Prosser, and was unlawfully begotten on her body by one William Prosser of the parish of Kensington in the said county, shoemaker, who had carnal knowledge of her body the first time, on or about the month of March last in the dwelling house of one Mr Orchard in Church Lane, Kensington (where the examinant was a lodger) and at several times after in the said house. And this examinant saith that the said William Prosser is the true and only father of the said child. And further saith not. The mark of Elizabeth Simonds. Sworn at Chelsea, 5 Jan. 1733/4, before me, Peter Elers.

10. [p. 9] Middlesex, to wit. Penelope Otway, widow, aged about 48 years, born in the parish of St Mary Overey in Southwark, upon oath saith that about 22 years ago she was married to her late husband John Otway in the liberty of the Fleet. By whom she has two children now living, vizt, Richard Otway aged about 19 years, bound apprentice to a carman, and Anne, aged about 12 years now with this examinant. And further saith that her said husband was born in the parish of St John at Wapping in the said county. And [he] was only a sailor, and never rented a house of £10 per annum, or paid any parochial taxes, or done any act or thing (to the best of her, this examinant's, knowledge) to gain a legal settlement since his birth. The mark of Penelope Otway. Sworn before us, 16 Jan. 1733/4, Peter Elers, John Williams. Penelope Otway and Anne, her daughter, were passed to St John, Wapping.

11. [p. 10] Middlesex, to wit. John Royde, aged about 21 years, born in London, upon oath saith that on 20 May 1732 he became a servant hired by the year to Captain James Mitford of Little Chelsea (being that part that is in the parish of Chelsea in the county of Middlesex). With whom he has continued to this time and he has received his wages from time to time of his said master at the rate of £5 per annum, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And further saith that on 14 Dec. last, he was married in the liberty of the Fleet to Grace, his wife. And saith that has not done any act or thing (to the best of his, this examinant's, knowledge) to gain any other settlement. The mark of John Royde. Sworn before me, 28 Feb. 1733/4, Peter Elers.

12. [p. 11] Middlesex, to wit. The examination of Catherine Price, single woman, taken upon oath, 15 Mar. 1733, before us, John Williams and Peter Elers esqs . . . Who saith that on 1 Feb. last, she was delivered of a female bastard child in Chelsea in the said county (which child is baptised and named Mary). And was unlawfully begotten on her body by one Richard Williamson now a footman to Mrs Anne Fielding, a lady that lives at Odiham near Farnham, in Hampshire. Who had carnal knowledge of her body the first time in the dwelling house of Mrs Evers in Hanover Square in the said county, where this examinant lived in the station of a cook. And twice afterwards on or about the month of May last in the dwelling house of Mrs Bucketts in Swallow Street in the parish of St James, Westminster, where this examinant lodged (when out of place). And this examinant further saith that the said Richard Williamson is the true and only father of the said female bastard child. And further saith not. The mark of Catherine Price. Sworn at Chelsea, 15 Mar. 1733/4, before us, John Williams, Peter Elers.

13. [p. 12] Middlesex, to wit. Jane Loveday, widow, aged about 59 years, upon oath saith that she was born at Hammersmith in the said county of Middlesex. And that on or about 42 years since she, this examinant, was married to her late husband, John Loveday, at the parish church of Clerkenwell in the county Middlesex, aforesaid, by whom she hath four children now living and provided for. And saith that her said late husband rented a house in Little Chelsea in the parish of Kensington in the county aforesaid, wherein he continued for the space of twenty five years and upwards, and paid all parochial taxes there. And further saith that since she quitted the said house (which is about seven years since) has not rented a house of £10 a year, or paid any parochial taxes, or done any act or thing to the best of her, this examinant's, knowledge whereby to gain a legal settlement elsewhere. The mark of Jane Loveday. Sworn before us, 25 Mar. 1734, Peter Elers, John Williams. Passed to Kensington.

14. [p. 13] Middlesex sessions. Elenor Denman, aged about 30 years, the wife of John Denman, upon oath saith that about five years since she was married to her said husband at the parish church of St Margaret, Westminster, by whom she hath two children now living, vizt, Anne, aged about 4 years, and Edmund, aged about 3 years. And saith that her said husband has two more children now living with this examinant by Mary, his first wife, vizt, Thomas, aged about 14 years, and John, aged about 7 years. And further saith that her said husband, about eighteen years since, was bound apprentice to the worshipful Charles Medlycott esq., deceased, who then lived in the parish of St Martin in the Fields, and now St George Hanover Square in the said county, with whom he continued till he listed himself a soldier in the Foot Guards. In which station he has been ever since and is now recruiting in the country. So that this examinant is not capable of subsisting her said family without relief. The mark of Elenor Denman. Sworn before us, 21 May 1734, John Williams, Peter Elers. Passed to St George Hanover Square.

15. [p. 14] Middlesex sessions. Hannah Holloway, aged about 52 years, upon oath saith that she was born at Chichester in Sussex. And that about 21 years ago she became a servant hired by the year to one Mr Piles, a surgeon who then lived in Fountain Court in the Strand in the parish of St Clements Danes in the county aforesaid, where she stayed about five years, and received her full wages for the said time at the rate of £4 a year, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And after she quitted the said service she hired herself to one Mr Eyres, a woodmonger, in the same Court, where [she] lived about four years, at the rate of £4 a year, meat, drink, washing and lodging. Soon after she quitted the said service she married John Holloway, labourer, at the Fleet, with whom she lived a week only. And saith that she has not seen her said husband since. Neither can she give an account of him or his settlement. And also saith that after her said husband left her she lived again with the said Mr Piles about a year. And further saith that since she quitted the said service [she] has not done any act or thing (to the best of her knowledge) whereby to gain a legal settlement elsewhere. The mark of Hannah Holloway. Sworn before us, 21 May 1734, . . . John Williams, Peter Elers. Passed to St Clement Danes.

16. [p. 15] Middlesex sessions. The examination of Mary Neal, single woman, taken before me, [Peter Elers]. . .Who saith that she is now pregnant of a bastard child or children which was unlawfully begotten on her body by one Francis Potts, footman to Mr Gallerday at Fulham in this county. Who had carnal knowledge of her body the first time on or about eight months since in the dwelling house of the said Mr Gallerday, and never but once after in the same house (which was about two months after). And this examinant saith that the said Francis Potts is the true and only father of the said bastard child or children, and that no other person whatsoever hath had carnal knowledge of her body. And further saith not. The mark of Mary Neal. Sworn at Chelsea, 21 May 1734, before me, Peter Elers.

17. [p. 16] Middlesex sessions. Miles Rains, aged about 31 years, upon oath saith that he was born at a place called Avery Farm, then of the parish of St Martin in the Fields but now of St George Hanover Square in the said county. And that about fifteen years since he was a servant hired by the year to Mr Large of Chelsea College, whetster. With whom he continued the first time two years and a half at the rate of 50s. a year, and received of his said master his full wages for the said time. The last year and half of the said time he had meat, drink, washing and lodging. After he quitted his said place he lived with his mother and then returned to the said place and continued upwards of four year. And lived twice more in the said place. And this examinant saith that since he quitted the said service of Mr Large, [he] has not been a servant hired by the year, or done any act or thing whereby to gain a legal settlement elsewhere. And also saith he has not been a servant hired by the year in any other place but that of Mr Large. And further saith that about eight years ago he was married to Barbara, his present wife, in the Fleet, by whom he hath had three children, two of which is living, vizt, William Rains, aged 5 years, and Miles, aged 2 years. Miles Rains. Sworn, 13 June 1734, before me, Peter Elers.

18. [p. 17] Middlesex sessions. The examination of Elizabeth Newman, single woman, taken upon oath this 10 July 1734, before me, Peter Elers esq. Who saith that she is pregnant of a bastard child or children which was unlawfully begotten on her body by one John Huggett jr, the son of John Huggett of Chelsea in the county of Middlesex, farmer, who had carnal knowledge of her body the first time in the dwelling house of Mr William Burchett of Little Chelsea, farmer, where this examinant lived a hired servant. And several times after in the said house and other out houses belonging to the said Mr Burchett. And this examinant further saith that the said John Huggett jr is the true and only father of the said bastard child or children and that no other person hath had carnal knowledge of her body but the said John Huggett jr. The mark of Elizabeth Newman. Sworn before me at Chelsea, Peter Elers. [See 20].

19. [p. 18] Middlesex sessions. Mary Wise, widow, aged about 40 years, upon oath saith that she was born in Abingdon in Berkshire. And that about twelve years since she married Hugh Wise, her late husband, in the liberty of the Fleet, by whom she had three children, two of which are living, vizt, Mary, aged about 10 years, and Elizabeth, aged about 4 years. And this examinant saith that her said late husband, at the time she married him, was an in-pensioner of Chelsea College, and that he was a Scotsman, and belonged to General Lumley's Horse for the space of 28 years till he was admitted a pensioner. So that this examinant does not know or believe he ever gained any settlement in England by renting a house of £10 a year, or paying any parochial taxes, or any act whatsoever, to the best of her knowledge. And this examinant further saith that on or about fifteen years ago (which was before her marriage) she lived a servant hired by the year with the Right Honourable the Countess of Darlington and Baroness of Blandford in the courtyard of St James's in the parish of St Martin in the Fields in the county aforesaid for about the space of two years at the rate of £6 a year wages, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And has not lived a year in service since. The mark of Mary Wise. Sworn before us, 15 July 1734, John Williams, Peter Elers. Passed to St Martin in the Fields.

20. [p. 18 sic] Middlesex sessions. The examination of Elizabeth Newman, single woman, taken upon oath before us, John Williams and Peter Elers esqs . . . Who saith that on the 14th day of this instant, September, she was delivered of a male bastard child in the house of Mrs Doyley in Mealman's Row in the parish of Chelsea in the county aforesaid. And was unlawfully begotten on her body by one John Huggett the younger of the parish of Chelsea aforesaid, husbandsman, who had carnal knowledge of her body the first time in or about the month of October last, was twelve month, in the dwelling house of Mr William Burchett of Little Chelsea, yeoman (where this examinant lived as a hired servant). And several times after in the said house and other out houses belonging to the said Mr Burchett. And this examinant further saith that the said John Huggett the younger is the true and only father of the said bastard child. And further saith not. The mark of Elizabeth Newman. Sworn at Chelsea, 10 Oct. 1734, before us, Peter Elers, John Williams. [The child is] dead. [See 18].