Examinations, 1733-1750: nos 21-40

Examinations, 1733-1750: nos 21-40

21. [p. 20] Middlesex sessions. William Hewett, silk weaver, aged about 90 years, born in Dorsetshire, upon oath saith that about 43 years since (being some little time after King William came to the crown) he rented a house in Pepper Street in the parish of St Saviour Southwark in the county of Surrey, where he continued upwards of five years and paid for the said house the yearly rent of £7 and all parochial taxes. And saith that after he quitted the said house he listed himself in the army and has not rented a house of ten pounds a year, or paid any parish taxes, or done any act or thing (to the best of his knowledge) whereby to gain a legal settlement elsewhere. But [he] is now an in-pensioner of Chelsea College. And further saith that about 20 years since he married Charity Hewett, his present wife, aged about 50 years, at the Fleet, by whom he has had only one child, since dead. And saith that he is not capable of providing for his said wife. The mark of William Hewett. Sworn before us, 21 Oct. 1734, Henry Barker, Peter Elers. Passed to St Saviour Southwark.

22. [p. 20] Middlesex sessions. The examination of Sarah Randall, single woman, taken upon oath before us, John Williams and Peter Elers esqs . . . Who saith that on 24 Sept. last she was delivered of a female bastard child in the house of Mr Gardner, a brazier near the horse ferry at Chelsea in the said county (which is baptised and named Susannah). And was unlawfully begotten on her body by one William Answorth then servant to Mr Green, a brewer near Sand End near Chelsea aforesaid, who had carnal knowledge of her body the first time in or about the month [of] December last in the dwelling house of Mr Jonathan Wood at the Bull Ale House at Sand End, where this examinant lived a hired servant and where the said William Answorth at the same time lodged. And several times after in the same house. And this examinant further saith that the said William Answorth is the true and only father of the said child. And further saith not. Sarah Randall, her mark. Sworn at Chelsea, 18 Nov. 1734, before us, John Williams, Peter Elers.

23. [p. 21] Middlesex sessions. Abell Bird, husbandman, aged about 65 years, upon oath saith that about 26 years since he, this examinant, lived a servant hired by the year with the Right Honourable the Countess Dowager of Winchelsea, at Richmond in the county of Surrey, with whom he continued for the space of five years in the station of a coachman, and received his full wages for the said time, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And after he quitted the said service he rented a house in Richmond, aforesaid, wherein he continued three years and paid all parish taxes. And after he quitted the said house he entered himself a trooper in Lumley's Horse. And this examinant further saith that from the time he quitted the said house at Richmond [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 legal settlement elsewhere. Abell Bird, his mark. Sworn before us, 30 Oct. 1734, Peter Elers, John Williams. Passed to Richmond.

24. [p. 22] Middlesex sessions. The examination of Mary Handbrooke, 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 John Evans, an apprentice to Mr John Ross of Chelsea in the county of Middlesex aforesaid, shoemaker. Who had carnal knowledge of her body the first time in the month of March last in the dwelling house of Captain Tanner in Chelsea aforesaid, where this examinant at the same time lived a hired servant. And twice after in the said house. And this examinant further saith that the said John Evans is the true and only father of the said bastard child or children. And further saith not. The mark of Mary Handbrooke. Sworn at Chelsea, 18 Nov. 1734, before me, Peter Elers. [See 25].

25. [p. 23] The examination of Mary Handbrooke, single woman, taken upon oath before us, John Williams and Peter Elers esqs . . . Middlesex sessions. Who saith that on 13 Jan. last, she was delivered of a female bastard child in the house of Mrs Brierly in Church Lane at Chelsea in the said county. Which [child] is baptised and named Mary, and was unlawfully begotten on her body by one John Evans, an apprentice to Mr John Ross of Chelsea, shoemaker, who had carnal knowledge of her body the first time in the month of March last, was twelve month, in the dwelling house of Captain Tanner in Chelsea, aforesaid, where this examinant at the time lived a hired servant. And twice after in the said house. And this examinant further saith that the said John Evans is the true and only father of the said child. And further saith not. The mark of Mary Handbrooke. Sworn before us, 1 Apr. 1735, Peter Elers, John Williams. [See 24].

26. [p. 24] Middlesex sessions. Mary Sadler, aged about 34 years (the wife of John Sadler, gardener) upon oath saith that she was married about ten years since at the church in Blackfriars in the city of London to her said husband, John Sadler. By whom she had three children, one of which is living, named Anne, aged about 10 years. And this examinant saith that her said husband was bound apprentice for seven years to one Mr Heater of the hamlet of Kew in the parish of Richmond in the county of Surrey, gardener, with whom he served his full time. And after marriage her said husband rent[ed] a little house at Turnham Green in the county of Middlesex at the yearly rent of £3, where they continued upwards of one year, but did not pay any parochial taxes for the said house. And also further saith that since her said husband quitted the said house [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 her knowledge) to gain a legal settlement since her said husband served his said apprenticeship. And further saith not. The mark of Mary Sadler. Sworn before us, 1 Apr. 1735, John Williams, Peter Elers. Passed to Richmond.

27. [p. 25] Middlesex sessions. Abigale Nuttall (alias Richardson) aged about 30 years, born in St Werburghs parish in Dublin, upon oath saith that on or about nine years since she was married to Richard Nuttall, her present husband, in the said parish of St Werburghs, by whom she hath two children now living, vizt, Thomas, aged 4 years, and Elizabeth, aged 14 months. And saith that her said husband was born in Ireland. And also saith that since he came to England [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 her, this examinant's, knowledge) whereby to gain a legal settlement. [Blank]. Sworn at Chelsea, [blank] Dec. 1735, before me [blank].

28. [p. 26] Middlesex sessions. Jane Willis, aged about 32 years, upon oath saith that about six years since she was married to her husband, John Willis, at the parish church at Enfield in the said county of Middlesex. And that before such her marriage, her said husband was a servant hired by the year to Mr Goodyer in Church Lane in this parish, where he continued about the space of two years and half, meat, drink, washing and lodging. And further saith that her said husband after marriage rented a little cottage at Enfield, aforesaid, and paid 45s. a year for the same, but did not pay any parochial taxes during his continuance there. Nor has [he] . . . done any act or thing (to the best of this examinant's knowledge) whereby to gain any settlement since he quitted the service of the said Mr Goodyer's. And also saith that her said husband is a soldier in the Earl of Orkney's Regiment of Foot, now in Ireland, and that he is at this time raising recruits for the said regiment at Bristol. And that she has two children by her said husband living, vizt, George, aged about 7 years, and Edward, about 6 months, and is not capable of supporting them without relief. Jane Willis. Sworn at Chelsea, 18 Dec. 1735, before me, Peter Elers.

29. [p. 27] Middlesex sessions. Sarah Johnson, widow, upon oath saith that Mary Wadman, alias Collain, a child aged about seven years (the daughter of Mary Collain, deceased) was born in the dwelling house of one Mr Blunt in Bull Yard in Windmill Street, in the parish of St James, in the liberty of Westminster, in the said county of Middlesex. And that the said child is a bastard, and was baptised in the said parish of St James, when, this examinant saith, security was given to indemnify from the said bastard child. And further saith not. Sarah Johnson. Sworn, 6 Feb. 1735/6, before us, Peter Elers, John Godfrey. [Mary Wadman] passed to St James, Westminster.

30. [p. 28] Middlesex sessions. Esdras Clennick of the parish of St James, Westminster, in the county of Middlesex, chandler, upon oath saith that Mary Edlin, a child aged about six years, the daughter of Mary Edlin, was born in the dwelling house of this examinant, who then lived in Shug Lane in the said parish of St James, Westminster. And saith that he cannot give any account whether the said Mary Edlin, the mother, was ever married. And further saith not. Esdras Clennick. Sworn, 10 Feb. 1735/6, before us, John Mercer, John Godfrey. [Mary Edlin] passed to St James, Westminster.

31. [p. 29] Middlesex sessions. Jane Good, the wife of Richard Good, maketh oath that she was married to her first husband John Tredaway on or about seventeen years since in the liberty of the Fleet; by whom she had several children, one of which is still living, vizt, Elizabeth Tredaway, aged about 9 years. And saith that her said first husband was born at Chiswick in the said county of Middlesex, where he served his apprenticeship to a gardener. And [he] has not gained any other settlement since (to the best of this examinant's knowledge) by renting a house of £10 a year, or paying any parochial taxes, or any other act whatever. And this examinant further saith that she received from the said parish of Chiswick several weeks allowance for the maintenance of her said child, Elizabeth Tredaway. And further saith not. The mark of Jane Good. Sworn, 10 Feb. 1735/6, before us, John Mercer, Peter Elers. Passed to Chiswick.

32. [p. 30] Middlesex sessions. The examination of Sarah King, widow, taken upon oath, 13 Mar. 1735/6, before us, Peter Elers and James Cardonnel esqs . . . Who saith that on Monday, 16 Feb. last, she was delivered of a female bastard child in a cottage of Mr Coles in Chelsea Park (baptised and named Anne). And was unlawfully begotten on her body by one John Ash of Chelsea in this county, gardener, who had carnal knowledge of her body the first time in his dwelling house at Chelsea on Whitsun Tuesday last. And several times after in other places. And this examinant further saith that the said John Ash is the true and only father of the said female bastard child. And further saith not. The mark of Sarah King. Sworn before us this day and year as above, James Cardonnel, Peter Elers.

33. [p. 31] Middlesex sessions. John Johnson, labourer, aged about 28 years, born at Chelsea in the county of Middlesex, upon oath saith that about thirteen years since he was bound apprentice for seven years to Joseph Cook of Mills Street, then of the parish of St Martin in the Fields, but now of the parish of St George Hanover Square in the said county, butcher. And that after serving about four years of his said time, his master and he, this examinant, having some words, his indenture was delivered up. And saith that since the time of leaving his said master (who at that time was a housekeeper in the said parish, and paid about £20 per annum rent) [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, this examinant's, knowledge, to gain a legal settlement. And further saith that about four years since he was married to Mary, his wife (aged about 32 years) in the liberty of the Fleet; by whom he has one child now living, named Mary, aged about 3 years. And he is not capable of supporting his said wife and child. And further saith not. John Johnson. Sworn, 27 Mar. 1736, before us, Peter Elers, Robert Mann. Passed to St George Hanover Square. Brought a certificate from thence.

34. [p. 32] Middlesex sessions. The examination of Priscilla Howard, 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 Edward Lynn, now a servant (as she, this examinant, is informed) to Mr Turner, a seed man, near Durham Yard in the Strand, London. Who had carnal knowledge of her body the first time in the month of August last in the dwelling house of Mr Canum in the parish of St George Hanover Square, victualler, near Chelsea. And several times after in the said house, where this examinant and the said Edward Lynn lived fellow servants. And further saith that the said Edward Lynn is the true and only father of the said bastard child or children (when born). And further saith not. The mark of Priscilla Howard. Sworn at Chelsea, 29 Apr. 1736, before me, Peter Elers. Child died in the workhouse.

35. [p. 33] Middlesex sessions. Mary Poulton of Chelsea in the said county, widow, upon oath saith that her son Henry Poulton, aged about 41 years, was bound apprentice about 24 years since to one Richard Brown of the parish of Christ Church in the county of Surrey, waterman, for the term of seven years, with whom he continued for the space of about four years and was afterwards turned over to one Mr Samuel Hills of the parish of Lambeth in the said county of Surrey, waterman, with whom he served the remainder of his apprenticeship, being about three years. And further saith that since her said son left the said Samuel Hill he has not rented a house for £10 a year, or done any act or thing (to the best of her, this examinant's, knowledge) to gain a legal settlement. Mary Poulton. Sworn before us, 28 June 1736, Thomas de Veil, Peter Elers. [Henry Poulton] passed to Lambeth in Surrey.

36. [p. 34] Middlesex sessions. Catherine Martin, single woman, aged about 19 years, upon oath saith that she was born in the parish of St Margaret, Westminster, in the county of Middlesex, but now the parish of St John the Evangelist. And that her father, Daniel Martin, deceased, was bound apprentice to one Mr Perry in Wood Street in the said parish of St John the Evangelist, paviour, with whom he served his time (as she, this examinant, is informed). And further saith that since the said servitude of her father she cannot give any account of his renting a house of £10 a year, or paying any parochial taxes, or doing any act or thing (to her knowledge) to gain a settlement elsewhere. And this examinant also saith that she herself has not lived a hired servant a year, or done any act or thing (to the best of her knowledge) to gain a settlement since her birth. Catherine Martin her mark. Sworn before us, 6 Sept. 1736, Peter Elers, Richard Farwell. Passed to St John the Evangelist.

37. [n.p.] Middlesex sessions. James Latham, a pensioner of Chelsea College, maketh oath (to the best of his knowledge and belief) that Cornelius Dowse, a child aged about 2 years, was born in the parish of St Margaret, Westminster, in the said county of Middlesex, as appears by a certificate of birth from the register book of the said parish, under the hand of Thomas Wood, the parish clerk. And also saith that the said child is a bastard, and that one Cornelius Dowse in Church Lane by St Anne's Church in the said liberty of Westminster is the reputed father of the said child, and hath paid this examinant for his wife's nursing of the said child at times £2 17s. But the said Dowse now refusing to continue his payments for the said child's nursing, [James Latham] is not capable of maintaining it. The mark of James Latham. Sworn, 22 Sept. 1736, before us, Peter Elers, Thomas Cotton. [Cornelius Dowse] passed to St Margaret, Westminster.

38. [n.p.] Middlesex, to wit. The examination of Martha Cleasdon, single woman, taken upon oath before us, Peter Elers and Thomas de Veil esqs . . . Who saith that on 8 July last, she was delivered of a male bastard child in the dwelling house of one Mrs Bradgate of Drury Lane, in the parish of St Giles in the Fields in the said county of Middlesex (which is baptised and named Robert Littlejohn). And was unlawfully begotten on her body by one Richard Littlejohn, who was then servant to Mr Chipperfield of Chelsea in the said county, farrier. Who had carnal knowledge of her body for the first time on or about three years since in the dwelling house of Mr Russell in Chelsea, aforesaid, and several times after in the said house, and other places. And this examinant further saith that the said Richard Littlejohn is the true and only father of the said male bastard child, and further saith not. Martha Cleasdon her mark. Sworn at Chelsea, 4 Oct. 1736, before us, Peter Elers, Thomas de Veil. Passed to St Giles in the Fields. [See 44].

39. [n.p.] Middlesex, to wit. The examination of Anne Mackenny, single woman, taken upon oath 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 Francis Ricketts, lately a servant to Mr Large, in Chelsea College. Who had carnal knowledge of her body the first time about a year since in the dwelling house of Mr Guerney at the sign of the Old George in Chelsea in the said county. And several times after in the said house, where this examinant lived a servant. And further saith that the said Francis Ricketts is the true and only father of the said bastard child or children when born. And further saith not. Anne Mackenny, her mark. Sworn at Chelsea, 5 Oct. 1736, before us, Peter Elers, Thomas de Veil. [See 5].

40. [n.p.] Middlesex sessions. Elizabeth Mayhow, aged about 40 years (the wife of Samuel Mayhow) upon oath saith that about nineteen years since she was married to her said husband in the island of Jersey, by whom she hath four children living, vizt, Elizabeth, aged about 13 years, Samuel, aged about 11 years, Mary, aged 9 years, and Sarah, aged about 2 years. And saith that her said husband is a soldier in Brigadier General Barrett's Regiment of Foot, now quartered at Edinburgh. And further saith that her said husband was born at Chelsea in the said county Middlesex, and that he has not gained a settlement since by renting [a] house of £10 a year, or paying any parochial taxes, or by living a hired servant a year, or by doing any other act or thing (to the best of her, this examinant's, knowledge). And further saith not. The mark of Elizabeth Mayhow. Sworn at Chelsea, 8 Oct. 1736, before me, Peter Elers. Passed to Lambeth in Surrey. Vide, exam of J. Holmes, overleaf [See 41].