Examinations, 1733-1750: nos 121-140

Examinations, 1733-1750: nos 121-140

121. [n.p.] The examination of Anne Eliker, single woman, taken voluntary upon oath before us, Peter Elers and Robert Mann esqs . . . Middlesex sessions. Who says that on 12 Dec. last she was delivered of male bastard child in the workhouse belonging to the parish of Chelsea in the said county, which is baptised and named Clement. And was unlawfully begotten on her body by one Robert Barnes now or lately a journeyman to Mr Chipperfield, a farrier at Chelsea aforesaid, who had carnal knowledge of her body the first time on Christmas day last, was twelve month, in the dwelling house of one Mr Hanks at Little Chelsea in the parish of Kensington in the said county, where this examinant and the said Barnes lived as fellow servants. And at several times after in the said house. And this examinant says that the said Robert Barnes is the true and only father of the said male bastard child. And further says not. The mark of Anne Eliker. Sworn at Chelsea, 19 Jan. 1742/3, before us, Robert Mann, Peter Elers. [See 119].

122. [n.p.] Middlesex sessions. Mary Ossiter, widow, aged about 28 years, born at Fulham in the county of Middlesex, upon oath saith that about six years ago she, this examinant, became a servant hired by the year to one Catherine Thomas, widow, who keeps a public house near Chelsea College known by the sign of the Coach and Horses. With whom she continued and served five years and received of her said mistress £4 per annum wages, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And says that since the time of her quitting the said service (which was at Christmas last, was twelve month) she has not been a hired servant by the year or done any act or thing, to the best of her knowledge, to gain a settlement. [Blank]. Sworn, 27 Jan. 1742/3, before me, [blank].

123. [n.p.] Middlesex, to wit. Elizabeth Freeman, single woman, aged about 18 years, upon oath says that she was born in the parish of Fulham in the said county of Middlesex where her late father, David Freeman, lived, who was a farmer and rented near £100 a year in land and paid all parochial taxes in the said parish of Fulham. And this examinant says that she has not lived a year in service, but has lived most of her time with her mother since her said late father died. And also says that she has not done any act or thing (to the best of her knowledge) to gain a settlement since she lived with her parents. The mark of Elizabeth Freeman. Sworn, 7 Apr. 1743, before us, Peter Elers, Robert Mann.

124. [n.p.] Middlesex, to wit. Bartholomew Vinet, aged about 32 years, by trade a weaver but now a seafaring man, upon oath says that he was bound apprentice for seven years as appears by his indenture dated 14 Nov. 1726, to one James Grimall (by the name of James Grimall, weaver of London) who was then a housekeeper in Fleet Street in the hamlet of Bethnall Green, which is in the parish of St Dunstan at Stepney, in the county of Middlesex. With whom he continued and served the space of about two years of his said time. And then he absented himself from his said master's service about the space of one year, part of which time he lived with one Mr Cowley, an apothecary near Cripplegate, as a hired servant at the rate of £3 a year wages, where he continued about three months. And afterwards [he] returned again to his said master (Mr Grimall) and continued about eight months, and then quitted his said master's service again and went to work as a journeyman in different places, sometimes by the week and at other times worked by the piece for the remainder of his apprenticeship. During which time he lived in lodgings and dieted and maintained himself. And also says that since the time of his being an apprentice in manner as aforesaid, he has not rented a house of £10 a year, or paid any parochial taxes, or done any act or thing (to the best of his knowledge) whereby to gain a settlement. And further says that about nine years ago he, this examinant, was married in the liberty of the Fleet to Dorothy, his present wife, by whom he has two children living; vizt, Margaret, aged about 8 years, and George, aged about 6 years. The mark of Bartholomew Vinet. Sworn, 31 Mar. 1743, before us, Peter Elers, Robert Mann.

125. [n.p.] The voluntary examination of Anne Scafe, single woman, taken before me, Peter Elers esq. . . . Middlesex sessions. Who says that she is pregnant of a bastard child or children, which was unlawfully begotten on her body by one Benjamin Durant, a gardener, who had carnal knowledge of her body the first time about eight months ago in the dwelling house of Mrs Perriman in Chelsea in the said county (where this examinant and the said Benjamin Durant lives fellow servants). And several times after in the same house. And says that the said Benjamin Durant is the true and only father of the said bastard child or children (when born). And further says not. The mark of Anne Scafe. Sworn at Chelsea, 22 May 1743, before me. [blank]. [See 126].

126. [n.p.] Middlesex sessions. Anne Scafe, single woman, aged about 27 years, born at Islington in the county of Middlesex, upon oath says that about three years ago she, this examinant, lived a hired servant with one Mr Henry Borer of Vauxhall, innholder (which is in the parish of Lambeth in the county of Surrey). With whom she continued and served fourteen months, and received her full wages for the said time of her said master at the rate of £3 per annum, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And says that since she lived with the said Mr Borer as aforesaid, [she] has not lived a year in any service, or done any act or thing, to the best of her knowledge, to gain a settlement elsewhere. [Blank]. Sworn, [blank] May 1743, before us, [blank]. [See 125].

127. [n.p.] Middlesex. Elizabeth Hutchinson, single woman, aged about 23 years, born in Ireland, upon oath saith that about six years ago she, this examinant, was a hired servant by the year to one Mr [blank] Irbey, a cheesemonger, who then lived near the church in the parish of St Giles in the Fields in the said county of Middlesex. With whom she continued and served for the space of two years and upwards, and received her full wages of her said master for the said time at the rate of £5 a year, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And saith that since she left the said service [she] has not lived a year in any other place or done any act or thing (to the best of her knowledge) to gain a settlement. And also saith that her father is a soldier lately come from America and now receives his pay from the agent belonging to Chelsea College, and that [she] having a bad sore leg is not able to work to support and maintain herself without relief. The mark of Elizabeth Hutchinson. Sworn, 17 Oct. 1743, before us, Peter Elers, William Morice.

128. [n.p.] Middlesex. Christopher Cam, coachman, aged about 50 years, born at a place called Congresbury in Somerset, upon oath says that about sixteen years ago he, this examinant, lived a servant hired by the year with Edward Southwell esq., in Spring Garden, which is in the parish of St Martin in the Fields in the said county of Middlesex where he continued and served for the space of two years as postillion and coachman, and received his full wages of his said master for the said time at the rate of £7 per annum, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And says that about half a year after he quitted the said service, he married Anne, his present wife, in the liberty of the Fleet, by whom he has had one child, since dead. And also says that since he quitted the said Mr Southwell's service [he] has not rented a house of £10 a year, or paid any parochial taxes, or done any act or thing (to the best of his knowledge) whereby to gain a settlement. The mark of Christopher Cam. Sworn, 19 Jan. 1743/4, before us, Peter Elers, Richard Farwell.

129. [n.p.] Middlesex. Hannah Lowry, single woman, aged about 32 years (the daughter of John Lowry by Margaret his wife), upon oath says that she was born near Chelsea in that part of the parish which was then St Martin in the Fields but now St George Hanover Square in the county of Middlesex aforesaid. In which said parish this examinant's father rented a house and paid parochial taxes. And says that since the time of her birth she has not lived a servant hired by the year in any place, or done any act or thing (to the best of her knowledge) to gain a settlement elsewhere. Hannah Lowry, her mark. Sworn, 17 Apr. 1744, before us, Peter Elers, Thomas de Veil.

130. [n.p.] The examination of Margaret Dean, widow, taken voluntary upon oath before me, Peter Elers esq. . . . Middlesex. Who saith that on 18 Apr. last, was twelve month, she, this examinant, was delivered of a male bastard child in a little cottage or tenement in Whiteharte Alley in the parish of Chelsea in the county aforesaid (who is baptised and named John). And was unlawfully begotten on her body by one John Hoskins of Strand-on-the-Green in the said county, fisherman, who had carnal knowledge of her body at [the cottage] several times, and in particular on 3 Aug. last, was twelve month, and several times after in the said cottage or tenement. And this examinant saith that the said John Hoskins is the true father of the said child. And further saith not. Margaret Dean. Sworn at Chelsea, 5 May 1744, before me, Peter Elers.

131. [n.p.] The examination of Anne Oliphant, widow, taken voluntary upon oath before me, Peter Elers esq. . . . Middlesex. Who saith that on 21 Apr. last she, this examinant, was delivered of a female bastard child in the then dwelling house of one Turnor Desborough in the parish of Chelsea in the said county (who is baptised and named Mary). And was unlawfully begot on her body by one Francis Willoughby, who is an out pensioner of Chelsea College and late of Colonel Douglas's Regiment of Marines. And that the said Francis Willoughby had carnal knowledge of her body the first time in or about the month of July last in the said dwelling house of the said Turnor Desborough and several times after in the said house. And this examinant saith that the said Francis Willoughby is the true father of the said child. And further saith not. The mark of Anne Oliphant. Sworn at Chelsea, 18 June 1744, before me, Peter Elers.

132. [n.p.] Middlesex. William Prouting, by trade a shoemaker, aged about 70 years, born at a place called Boxgrove near Chichester in Sussex upon oath says that about 48 years ago he, this examinant, was bound an apprentice for seven years to one William Howgett, shoemaker, who at that time lived at the Point in Portsmouth in Hampshire (which is in the parish of [blank]). With whom he continued and served about the space of two years only of his said time and then entered himself a soldier in the army and is now an in pensioner of Chelsea College. And says that about 30 years ago he married Elizabeth, his first wife, at the parish church of St Margaret, Westminster, by whom he believes he has a daughter living and married. And also says that about the year 1725 he married Margaret, his second wife, deceased, at Port Royal in South Carolina, by whom he has one child living with him, named Susanna, aged about 9 years. And further says that since the time of living with his said master William Howgett as an apprentice, he has not rented a house of £10 a year, or paid any parochial taxes, or done any act or thing (to the best of his knowledge) whereby to gain a settlement elsewhere. [Blank]. Sworn, [blank].

133. [n.p.] Middlesex. Margaret Rogers, single woman, aged about 28 years, born in Chelsea in the said county, upon oath says that about five or six years ago she lived with the late Lady Catherine Jones at Chelsea aforesaid at several times in the space of six years (but not as a hired servant). And says that about three years ago she, this examinant, lived a hired servant by the year with the then Right Honourable Sir Robert Walpole (now Lord Orford) in the station of laundry maid, and afterwards upper house maid. Where she continued for the space of two years and received her full wages for the said time at the rate of £6 per annum when laundry maid, and £7 per annum when house maid, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And says that at the time she was discharged the said Sir Robert Walpole's service, she lived at his Chelsea house and had resided there for above three months before. And further says that since she quitted the service of Sir Robert Walpole's [she] has not been a hired servant by the year, or done any act or thing (to the best of her knowledge) whereby to gain a settlement elsewhere. [Blank]. Sworn, [blank], before me, [blank].

134. [n.p.] The voluntary examination of Elizabeth Dawson, single woman, taken upon oath before me, Peter Elers esq. . . . Middlesex. Who says that she is pregnant of a bastard child or children which was unlawfully begotten on her body by one Thomas Bowes, footman to [blank] Dorrell of Richmond in the county of Surrey, esq. Who had carnal knowledge of her body at one John Wood's at Richmond aforesaid, gardener (where this examinant lodged and passed for the wife of the said Thomas Bowes). And several times after in the said house and other places. And this examinant also says that the said Thomas Bowes is the true father of the bastard child or children (when born). And further says not. Elizabeth Dawson. Sworn at Chelsea, 31 July 1744, before me, Peter Elers. [See 138].

135. [n.p.] Middlesex. John Bishop, waterman, aged about 62 years, born at Chelsea in Middlesex, upon oath says that in the year 1699 he, this examinant, was bound an apprentice for seven years to one John Davis, waterman, who then kept a house in Chelsea known by the sign of the Three Cranes. With whom he continued and served about the space of one year and half of his said time, and afterwards went to sea and continued in the navy a sailor for thirteen years successively in Queen Ann's wars. And says that since the time of his said apprenticeship he has not rented a house of £10 a year, or paid any parochial taxes, or done any act or thing (to the best of his knowledge) to gain a settlement. And also says that in April last he was married to Deborah, his present wife, who is of the age of 52 years, at Chatham aforesaid. The mark of John Bishop. Sworn, 2 Nov. 1744, before me, Peter Elers.

136. [n.p.] Middlesex. Mary Whitehead, aged about 38 years, the widow of Daniel Whitehead, shoemaker, deceased, upon oath says that about eleven years ago she, this examinant, lived a servant hired by the year with one Mrs Rider in the parish of Chelsea in the county of Middlesex. With whom she continued and served for the space of fourteen months and upwards and received her full wages for the said time at the rate of £5 a year, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And says that she entered upon the said service in May 1733 and was married in the liberty of the Fleet in March following to her said late husband (who was an Irishman). And [she] continued in her said service notwithstanding her marriage for the said time. And further says that since her marriage as aforesaid neither this examinant or her said late husband did not rent a house of £10 per annum, or paid any parochial taxes, or done any other act or thing (to the best of her knowledge) to gain a settlement since she lived with Mrs Rider as aforesaid. The mark of Mary Whitehead. Sworn, 10 Oct. 1744, before me, Peter Elers.

137. [n.p.] The examination of Jane Phillips, single woman, taken before me, Peter Elers esq. . . . Middlesex. Who saith that on 15 Aug. last she, this examinant, was delivered of a female bastard child (baptised and named Mary) in the house of one [blank] Maine in the parish of Chelsea in the county of Middlesex aforesaid. And was unlawfully begotten on her body by one Samuel Price (by trade a carpenter). And says that the said Samuel Price had carnal knowledge of her body the first time about fifteen months since at one Mr Edward's at the Black Horse at Kensington in the said county, and several times after in other places. And says that the said Samuel Price is the true and only father of the said female bastard child. And further saith not. The mark of Jane Phillips. Sworn before me at Chelsea, 6 Nov. 1744, Peter Elers.

138. [n.p.] Middlesex. Elizabeth Dawson, single woman, aged about 29 years, upon oath says that in the month of February last, was twelve month, she, this examinant, became a servant hired by the year to one Mrs Hally Candy of the hamlet of Kew in the parish of Richmond in the county of Surrey, widow. With whom she continued and served until 29 Mar. last (being a year and upwards), and received her full wages for the said time of her said mistress at the rate of £6 per annum, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And says that since she quitted the service of the said Mrs Hally Candy [she] 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 knowledge) to gain a settlement. And says that she has a child living named Christiana, aged about 10 months, which is a bastard and was born in the hamlet of Kew aforesaid. Elizabeth Dawson. Sworn, 14 Nov., 1744, before us, Peter Elers, Henry Villiers. Passed to Kew. Kew appealed [against]. . . . the order, but it was confirmed in January sessions, 1744/5. [See 134].

139. [n.p.] Middlesex. Thomas Morless, waterman, aged about 32 years, upon oath says that about twelve years ago he, this examinant, became a servant hired by the year to Mr John Medley of Battersea in the county of Surrey, ferryman, deceased. With whom he continued and served for the space of one year and upwards and received his full wages for the said time at the rate of £8 a year, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And says that after he received his said wages he continued with his said master for the further term of about one year and half, and had meat, drink, washing and lodging. And also says that in the year when the hard frost was (in 1739) he married Susanna, his present wife, in the liberty of the Fleet, London, by whom he hath a child living named Thomas, aged about 18 months. And further says that since he lived servant with the said Mr Medley [he] has not rented a house of £10 per annum, or paid any parochial taxes, or done any act or thing (to the best of his knowledge) to gain a settlement. The mark of Thomas Morless. Sworn this 26 Nov. 1744, before us, Peter Elers, Henry Villiers. Passed to Battersea.

140. [n.p.] Middlesex. James Morgan, by trade a sawyer, upon oath says that he was born in the parish of St John the Evangelist in the town of Brecon in the county of Brecknock in South Wales. And says that since the time of his birth as aforesaid he, this examinant, has not rented a house of £10 a year, or paid any parochial taxes, or done any act or thing (to the best of his knowledge) whereby to gain a settlement. And also says that about fourteen years ago this examinant was married to Elizabeth Morgan, his present wife, at the parish church of St David's in Brecon aforesaid, by whom he hath one child living named James, aged about 3 years. The mark of James Morgan. Sworn at Chelsea, 10 Dec. 1744, before me, Peter Elers. Ordered to bring a certificate.