Examinations, 1733-1750: nos 201-214

Examinations, 1733-1750: nos 201-214

201. [n.p.] Middlesex. The voluntary examination of Martha Howard, single woman, taken upon oath before me Peter Elers esq. . . . Who says that on Candlemas Day, being 2 Feb. last, she, this examinant, was delivered of a female bastard child in an apartment of one William Downing, gardener, in the stable yard behind Sir Hans Sloane's dwelling house in the parish of Chelsea in the said county of Middlesex (which was baptised and named Sarah). And was unlawfully begotten on her body by one Augustine Cooper of Richmond Park in the parish of Mortlake in the county of Surrey, husbandman, who had carnal knowledge of her body the first time in Richmond Park aforesaid, in or about the month of April last, and several times after in the said park and other places. And this examinant also says that the said Augustine Cooper is the true father of the said child. And further says not. The mark of Martha Howard. Sworn, 21st Mar. 1748/9, before me, Peter Elers.

202. [n.p.] Middlesex. Margery Iliffe, widow, aged about 49 years, upon oath says that about nine years ago she, this examinant, was married to her late husband (William Iliffe) in the liberty of the Fleet London, who was at the time she married him an in pensioner of Chelsea Hospital. And says that her said late husband in his lifetime often declared and informed this examinant that he was born at Nether Kibworth in Leicestershire, and that he served his apprenticeship to the business or trade of a woolcomber in the said town of Nether Kibworth. And says that her said late husband also informed and told her that after he had served his apprenticeship as aforesaid that he entered himself a soldier in the army, in which station he continued till he died at a place called Upton Castle near the garrison of Shurny. And this examinant further says that she does not know or ever heard that her said late husband ever rented a house of £10 a year, or paid any parochial taxes, or done any act or thing (to her knowledge) to gain a settlement, since he served his apprenticeship as aforesaid. The mark of Margery Iliffe. Sworn, 12 Mar. 1748/9, before us, Peter Elers, Henry Fielding. Passed to Kebworth in Leicestershire.

203. [n.p.] Middlesex. Elizabeth Holland, single woman, aged about 32 years, the lawful daughter of Edward Holland, deceased, by Christiana Holland his wife, also deceased, upon oath says that her said late father (as she has been credibly informed and of her own knowledge has some remembrance) rented a house upwards of 20 years ago in King's Street in the parish of St Ann in the liberty of Westminster in the county of Middlesex, known by the sign of the Red Lion, which was a public house, for and about the term of five years and at the yearly rent of £14, and paid all parochial taxes for the same. And says that some years after her said late father quitted the said house he was admitted an in pensioner of Chelsea Hospital, where he continued till he died (which is about a month since). And this examinant further says that her said late father, after he left the said house in St Ann parish, did not rent a house of ten pounds a year, or paid any parochial taxes, or done any act or thing (to her knowledge) to gain a legal settlement. The mark of Elizabeth Holland. Sworn, 4 Apr. 1749, before us, Thomas Ellys, Peter Elers. Passed to St Ann.

204. [n.p.] Middlesex. Susanna Jones, aged upwards of 30 years, the widow of Thomas Jones, deceased, upon oath says that in April 1743 she was married to her said late husband in the liberty of the Fleet, London, and in the presence of her kinswoman, one Frances Allen, who keeps a public house at Kensington gravel pits. And says that her said late husband was bound an apprentice in the year 1739 (as appears by his indenture) to one John Partridge of Kensington in the county of Middlesex, peruke maker, for the term of seven years, with whom he continued and served out almost all his apprenticeship, when his master gave him up his indentures. After which, her said late husband entered himself a soldier in the marine service and went to Newfoundland where he died (as this examinant has since been informed). And this examinant says that her said late husband had not done any act (to her knowledge) to gain a settlement since he served his apprenticeship aforesaid. And this examinant also says that she has a child living (named Mary), aged about 18 months, born in the dwelling house of one Mr George Walker at Kensington Gore in the parish of Kensington aforesaid, which was unlawfully begotten on her body by one Benjamin Smith, a gardener. But this examinant further says and declares that she was never married to the said Benjamin Smith, though they lived and cohabited together as man and wife. Susanna Jones, her mark. Sworn, 4 Apr. 1749, before us, Thomas Ellys, Peter Elers. Passed to Kensington.

205. [n.p.] Middlesex. Alice Mason, aged about near 40 years, the wife of Dennis Mason, gardener, upon oath says that she, this examinant, about seven years ago was married to her said husband at the parish church of Kensington in the county of Middlesex, by whom she hath four children living; vizt, Dennis, aged near 6 years, John, aged 4 years and upwards, Hester, aged about 3 years, and Elizabeth, an infant aged about 3 months. And this examinant says that her said husband (before marriage) lived as a servant hired by the year with one Mr Richard Newton at Little Chelsea in the parish of Kensington aforesaid in the station of a gardener, where he continued and served a whole year and upwards. And says that he received of his said master his full wages for the said time at the rate of ten pounds per annum, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And this examinant also says that her said husband after he quitted Mr Newton's service has not rented a house of £10 a year, or paid any parochial taxes, or done any act (to her knowledge) to gain a legal settlement. And this examinant further says that her said husband, being absconded and gone from her, and taken with him one of her children only (named John), [she] is not capable of supporting the other three children without some relief. Alice Mason, her mark. Sworn, 4 April 1749, before us, Thomas Ellys, Peter Elers. Passed to Kensington; vizt, Alice Mason and three of her children, Dennis, Hester and Elizabeth. John, the father took away.

206. [n.p.] Middlesex. Elizabeth Wells, widow, aged about 27 years, upon oath says that about eleven years ago she was married to her first husband, John Dennison, at the Roman Catholic Chapel in Lincoln Inn Fields, London, by whom she has a child living (named Sarah), who is 5 years of age and upward, and was born in the parish of Chelsea in the county of Middlesex. And this examinant says that her said first husband was a peruke maker by trade and an Irishman. And [she] does not know that he ever rented a house of £10 a year, or paid any parochial taxes, or done any act or thing (to her knowledge) to gain a settlement. And this examinant also says that the last place that she lived in as a hired servant before her said marriage with her first husband was with one Mr Cornelius who then kept the Rose Tavern at Temple Bar in the parish of St Clement Danes in the said county. With whom she continued and served one year and upward and received her full wages of her said master at the rate of £5 a year, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And this examinant further says that about four years ago she was married to her second husband (William Wells, deceased) who was a parishioner in Chelsea aforesaid. And says that she is not capable of supporting her said child without some relief. Elizabeth Wells, her mark. Sworn, 29 May 1749, before us, Peter Elers, Thomas Ellys. Passed to St Clement Danes.

207. [n.p.] Middlesex. Hannah Elliett, aged about 18 years, the wife of George Elliet, upon oath says that on 31 May last, was twelve month, she, this examinant, was married to her said husband in the liberty of the Fleet, London, by whom she has a child living (named Mary), an infant aged near 3 months. And says that her said husband is by trade or employment a tailor, and that he learnt it of his uncle at Drogheda in Ireland without serving an apprenticeship. And says that her said husband has been a soldier and is now an out pensioner of Chelsea Hospital, and does not know that he ever rented a house of £10 a year, or done any act, to her knowledge, to gain a settlement. And this examinant says that as to herself, she has not lived a year in any service before her marriage, but says that her late father (Edward Penny) served his apprenticeship with one Mr Hugh Hopkins, a lighterman, then of the parish of St Olave, but now the parish of St John in the borough of Southwark in the county of Surrey, with whom he continued and served the full term of his apprenticeship (as this examinant has been informed by her mother now living). And that her said late father from the time he served his apprenticeship, had never rented a house of £10 a year, or paid any parish taxes, or done any act (to her knowledge), to gain a subsequent settlement. And this examinant further says that her said husband being absconded and left her, [she] is not capable of providing for her said child without relief. Hannah Elliet, her mark. Sworn, 6 June 1749, before us, Peter Elers, Henry Fielding. Passed to St John in Southwark.

208. [n.p.] Middlesex. John Oridge, aged about 52 years, born at Pentrich in the county of Derby, upon oath says that about 40 years ago he, this examinant, was bound an apprentice to one William Wakefield of Arnold in the county Nottingham, carpenter, for the term of seven years. With whom he continued and served upwards of five years only of his apprenticeship, and then entered himself a soldier in a marching regiment of foot, and continued in the army about 27 years. And upon his discharge was admitted an out pensioner of Chelsea Hospital (where he now belongs). And says that since the time of serving part of his apprenticeship he, this examinant, has not rented a house of £10 a year, or paid any parochial taxes, or done any act (to the best of his knowledge) to gain a settlement. And says that about ten years ago he, this examinant, was married at Dublin to Elizabeth, his present wife, by whom he has two children living; vizt, Stephen, aged near 7 years, and Catherine, aged near 3 years. And further says that his said wife being absconded and gone away from him, and having no other subsistence than the said out pension, and not able to support his said children. The mark of John Oridge. Sworn the 12 June 1749, before us, Peter Elers.

209. [n.p.] Middlesex. Elizabeth Mason, widow, aged near 63 years, upon oath says that about 27 years ago she was married to her late husband, Daniel Mason, at the parish church of Whitby in Worcestershire, by whom she has a daughter living, named Mary Mason, a single woman, aged near 25 years. And says that about five years ago her said daughter lived a servant hired by the year with one Mr Lowe, a dancing master in Great James which is in the parish of St Andrews Holborn above the Bars in the county of Middlesex. With whom she continued and served a whole year and upwards, and received her full wages of her said master at the rate of £3 10s. a year, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And this examinant also says that her said daughter has not lived [a] year in any other service since she quitted that of the said Mr Lowe, or done any other act to gain a settlement. But says that her said daughter being now afflicted with lunacy, and the said examinant herself in very mean and low circumstances, [she] is not capable of providing, or taking care of her in order for a cure without relief. Elizabeth Mason. Sworn, 1 July 1749, before us, Peter Elers, John Gascoyne. Passed to St Andrew Holborn above the Bars.

210. [n.p.] Middlesex. The voluntary examination of Dorothea Fielding, widow, taken upon oath before us, Peter Elers and Thomas Ellys, esqs . . . Who says that on 31 Dec. last she, this examinant, was delivered of a female bastard child in the house belonging to one Mr Hoddy in that part of Little Chelsea which is in the parish of Great Chelsea in the county of Middlesex aforesaid (which child is baptised and named Mary). And was unlawfully begotten on her body by one Mr Richard Vincent the elder, a musician living at the Turks head and Cock in Bedford Street in the parish of St Paul Covent Garden in the said county. Who had carnal knowledge of her body the first time in the dwelling house of Mrs Thorogood in Panton Square near Leicester Fields, and several times after in the said house and other places. And this examinant also says that the said Richard Vincent is the true father of the said child. And further saith not. Dorothea Fielding. Sworn, 27 June 1749, before us, Peter Elers, Thomas Ellys.

211. [n.p.] Middlesex. Francis Dolley, husbandman, aged 63 years and upwards, born at a place called Bramley within four miles of Basingstoke in Hampshire, upon oath says that upwards of 40 years ago he, this examinant, lived servant hired by the year with Mr John Chase of the parish of Hartley (where Lord Stowell's seat is) near Basingstoke aforesaid, yeoman. With whom he continued and served three years and received his full wages for the said time at the rate of £5 10s. a year, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And says that since the time of his living with the said Mr Chase as aforesaid [he] has not been a servant a year in any place, or rented a house of £10 a year, or done any act (to his knowledge) to gain a legal settlement. The mark of Francis Dolly, Sworn, 8 Sept. 1749, before us, Philip Dyos, Thomas Berry. Passed to Hartley.

212. [n.p.] Middlesex, to wit. John King, apothecary, aged about 67 years, upon oath says that he was born at Mecklenburg in Germany. Says that he has lived in and near London upwards of 22 years and followed his said business as a journeyman apothecary most part of the time. And says that the first place where he lived after he came to England was, a hired servant by the year (about twenty years since), with one Mr Anthony Dalbis, an apothecary, who then lived in Great Suffolk Street in the parish of St Martin in the Fields in the county of Middlesex. With whom he continued and served the space of two years and upwards, and received of his said master (Mr Dalbis) for the first year, £10, and for the remainder of the said time at the rate of £12 wages, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And this examinant further says that he has not lived a year in any other service since he left that of the said Mr Dalbis, or done any act or thing (to the best of his knowledge) to gain a legal settlement elsewhere. John King. Sworn, 17 Jan. 1749/50, before us, William Withers, George Errington. Passed to St Martin in the Fields.

213. [n.p.] Middlesex. Anne Fretter, widow of John Fretter, aged about 59 years, upon oath says that 38 years ago she, this examinant, was married to her said late husband at the parish church of St Benet Paul's Wharf, London, by whom she had two children, both dead. Says that she lived with her said husband about ten years. And says that her said husband, some time after her marriage, rented half a shop and part of the house in the alley behind the then Three Tunn Tavern in Newgate Street in the parish of St Faith under St Paul's, London, where they continued a year and upwards, and paid at the rate of £10 pounds a year rent. And says that her said husband, some time after he quitted the said shop and business of selling worsted, he went to sea and never after rented a house of £10 a year, or had done any act (to her knowledge) to gain a legal settlement. And this examinant says that the said parish of St Faith under St Paul's took care and provided for one of her children for some time after her said husband left her. Anne Fretter, her mark. Sworn, 17 Jan. 1749/50, before us, William Withers, George Errington. Passed to St Faith's parish.

214. [n.p.] Middlesex. John Bryne, aged about 74 years, born at Lee in Devonshire, upon oath says that he, this examinant, about 60 years ago was bound an apprentice to one John Hall, a carpenter in Tuttle Street in the parish of St Margaret, Westminster, in the county of Middlesex, for the term of seven years. With whom he continued and served about five years of his time. After which he says that he entered himself in the army, where he continued until the peace which was made in King William's time. And this examinant {He has as a wife named Elizabeth aged about 54 years and four children, but the children are all provided for.} also says that since the time of serving part of his apprenticeship as aforesaid, he has not rented a house of £10 a year, or paid any parochial taxes, or done any act or thing (to his knowledge) to gain a legal settlement. John Bryne. Sworn, 17 Jan. 1749/50, before us, William Withers, George Errington. Passed to St Margaret, Westminster.