Examinations, 1750-1766: nos 335-354

Examinations, 1750-1766: nos 335-354

335. [p. 121] Middlesex. The examination of Elizabeth Ann Booth, who on her oath says that she is about 20 years of age, and is the wife of Samuel Booth, an out pensioner of Chelsea College, belonging to the regiment [of the] late Colonel Durours, now at Antigua. That he is now gone and left this examinant with one male child, named James, about 2 years and 2 months old. Says that she was married to him in the Fleet 25 Oct. 1753. Says that her said husband was born in the parish of Over Alderley, and was apprentice to John Lovet, a miller in the parish of Prestbury in the county of Cheshire. And [after] about four or five year his said master died, and he soon after entered himself a soldier, and never gained any other settlement. The mark of Elizabeth Ann Booth. Sworn before me, 22 Jan. 1757, Samuel Bever. Vagrant pass.

336. [p. 122] Middlesex. Examination of Mary Dean, who on her oath says that she is the wife of John Dean, who is now on board the Somerset Man of War, who has followed the trade of a sawyer as long as she hath known him. That he use to work for Mr Gomme, a carpenter at Hammersmith, and also for Mr Randall at Chelsea. Says that her husband was born in the town of High Wycombe in the county of Bucks, and that she never heard him say that he gained any subsequent settlement. That she hath two children; vizt, John, aged about 4 years, [and] Francis, aged about 2 years ½ old. Mary Dean. Sworn before me, 27 Jan. 1757, Samuel Bever. N.B. That the said child John is supported and maintained by the friends and relations; therefore is not sent with the mother.

337. [p. 123] Middlesex. Examination of Elizabeth Austin, who on her oath says that she is the wife of Edward Austin who is now gone and left her. Says that her said husband and this examinant and three children was passed by an order of removal about Dec. 1751 to the parish of St Sepulchres in London, and there hath not been any appeal to the said pass from the parish of Chelsea. Further says that she, this examinant, and her children was provided for and maintain in the workhouse of St Sepulchres for nine months, and left the same about two years past. Says that she hath now one child with her, named John, aged about 7 years old, and one child named Elizabeth, about 10 months. And is now become chargeable to the parish of Chelsea without any certificate. The mark of Elizabeth Austin. Sworn before us, 2 May 1757, Samuel Bever, Henry Fielding. Passed by an order. [See 245].

338. [p. 124] Middlesex. The examination of Ann Knott, who on her oath says that she is the wife of George Knott, late an in pensioner in Chelsea College, but now in garrison at Plymouth. That she hath two children by him; vizt, Dorothy, age about 4 years, and Nicolas about one year ¼. Says that her said husband was born in the city of Gloucester, and is about 48 years of age. And that he was apprentice to a barber and peruke maker in the said city. And says that she hath heard her said husband declare that he served his master about nine months and was discharged, and soon after entered himself into the army, and hath not done any thing since to gain any other settlement. Says that she is not able to say in what parish that he was apprentice, and hath not any thing to support herself and her children. Ann Knott. Sworn before me, 7 July 1757, Samuel Bever. Vagrant pass.

339. [p. 125] Middlesex. The examination of Jane Smith alias Miles, who on her oath says that she is a single woman and never was married, although she did for many years cohabit with Jonathan Miles. That she was a hired servant by the year to Mrs Goodalls in the parish of Chelsea, with whom she lived about thirteen months at the wages of £5 per annum, and never did any thing to gain any subsequent settlement. The mark of Jane Smith. Sworn before me, 19 July 1757, Samuel Bever.

340. [p. 126] Middlesex. The examination of Mary Johnson, who on her oath says that she is the widow of Francis Johnson, who hath been dead about 19 or 20 years past, and who was permitted to reside in the parish of Chelsea from the parish of Milton Ernest in the county of Bedford. And [she] is now obliged to come chargeable to the said parish of Chelsea. The mark of Mary Johnson. Sworn before us, 21 July 1757, Samuel Bever. Orders to Milton Ernest.

341. [p. 127] Middlesex. Examination of Rice Davies, who on his oath says that he is now an in pensioner in Chelsea College, and is about 79 years of age. That he hath a wife named Elizabeth, aged about 72, now residing in the parish of Chelsea, and is past her labour. And he, this examinant, is not able to support her and is now likely to come chargeable to the said parish of Chelsea. Further says that he was a hired servant by the year to the Lord Orkney, with whom he lived several years, and was married to Elizabeth, now his wife, while he was in the said service, which was on 20 Oct. 1709, and lived in the said service to the end of the year. Which year of service and wages expired the 5 Mar. following. And [he] is very sure that the last 40 days of servitude was in the parish of Taplow in the county of Bucks. The mark of Rice Davies. Sworn before us, 21 July 1757, Samuel Bever, Francis Tackman. Order to Taplow.

342. [p. 128] Middlesex. The examination of Sarah Knapp, who on her oath says that she is the widow of James Knapp, an out pensioner from Chelsea College, formerly in Winyards regiment, and who died at Christmas last. By whom she hath one boy about 8 years old. Says that she hath heard her said husband declare that his father was a soldier and that he was born when his father was on duty in Ireland. And that her said husband came from Ireland when he was about 8 years old, and that he never knew any thing of his fathers settlement. Nor did he ever gain any settlement of his own, either in Ireland or England. This examinant further says that she is about 54 years of age, that her maiden name was Golding, born in the town of Abingdon in the county of Berkshire. Says that her father, whose name was Thomas Golding, . . . rented a house of £10 per annum and paid all parochial dues, next door but one to the Axe and Gate in the parish of Chelsea, and died there about seventeen years past. That she was a hired servant by the year to William Wells at the wages of £4 and £5 per annum, and lived with him about two years in the said parish of Chelsea, and never was any hired servant afterwards. The mark of Sarah Knapp. Sworn before me, 28 July 1757, Samuel Bever.

343. [p. 129] Middlesex, to wit. The examination of Elizabeth Lovell (aged about 30 years), widow of Joseph Lovell, deceased, taken before us, ... 8 Aug. 1757. Who on her oath saith that in the month of November, which was in the year of our Lord 1749 she was married at the sign of the Hand and Pen in the rules of the Fleet Prison to Joseph Lovell, her late husband, deceased. And in the month of May 1753, rented a house known by the sign of Lord Halford's Arms, victualling house, situate in a place called Grosvenor Passage or Little Grosvenor Street in the parish of St George Hanover Square in the said county of Middlesex, where he exercised the employ or business of a common victualler for the space of half a year and upwards, and paid rent and all parish taxes for the said house after the rate of £21 per annum. Saith that the said Joseph Lovell, her late husband, departed this life as she has been informed, about three years since, and has left only one child living, named Ann, aged about 7 years. That to the best of her knowledge and belief her said husband hath not done any act to gain a legal settlement since he rented the said house in the parish of St George Hanover Square aforesaid. Elizabeth Lovell. Sworn this day and year above mentioned, before us, Bartholomew Hammond, Theodore Lydenham.

344. [p. 130] Middlesex. Examination of Elizabeth La Grove, who on her oath says that she is the widow of James La Grove, who died 8 Jan. 1757. And that she hath heard her said husband declare that he was a native of France, and when young he entered himself a soldier in General Briggs' regiment, then in Ireland. And at Cork, married this examinant, and in May 1756 was admitted an out pensioner in Chelsea College. And by whom this examinant hath three children with her in the parish of Chelsea; vizt, Elizabeth, aged 12 years, Griffith, aged about 9 years, [and] Katherine, aged about 7 years. This examinant further says that she was born in the city of Dublin, that Elizabeth, her daughter, was born in the parish of Kingston in the county of Surrey, and Griffith and Katherine was born in the Isle of Jersey. The mark of Elizabeth La Grove. Sworn before me, 9 Aug. 1757, Samuel Bever. Vagrant pass to Ireland, to rest at Bridewell.

345. [p. 131] Middlesex. Examination of John Phillips, who on his oath says that he is an out pensioner of the College of Chelsea. That he hath a wife named Mary, to whom he was married about eleven years past. Says that he was apprentice to John Chipperfield, a baker in the parish of St Margaret in the liberty of Westminster, with whom he served about six years and then entered into the King's service, and never did any thing to gain a subsequent settlement, and is not able to maintain his said wife. John Phillips. Sworn before us, 9 Aug. 1757, Samuel Bever, Benjamin Cox. To be passed by an order. [See 308, 381].

346. [p. 132] Middlesex. The examination of Frances Buckland, who on her oath says that she is a single woman, that she was a hired servant by the year to Mr Beddycoat in the parish of All Hallows Lombard Street in the city of London, and was passed by an order about four years past from the parish of Broadway in the county of Worcester to the said parish of All Hallows. And [she] was maintained there, and hath not done any thing since to gain any other settlement. That she hath lately applied herself to the said parish of All Hallows for relief, and hath been refused any relief without a pass. The mark of Frances Buckland. Sworn before me, 15 Aug. 1757, Samuel Bever, Benjamin Cox. Passed by an order.

347. [p. 133] Middlesex. The examination of Ann Davey, 25 Aug. 1757, who on her oath says that she is a single woman about 20 years of age, born in the parish of Pattingham in the county of Stafford, was never apprentice, or any hired servant by the year. That six or seven years past she came to John Hutchins in the parish of Chelsea, and was hired by the week at 4s. 6d. or 5s. per week, and lay in his house, and paid him for her lodging for about ¾ of a year. Then she took another lodging in the said parish and continued to work for the said Hutchins at so much a week. [She] hath lately been in the Lock Hospital and is now in the workhouse at Chelsea, and says that the said Hutchins is willing to hire her by the year and to lodge in his house. The mark of Ann Davey. Sworn before me, 25 Aug. 1757, Samuel Bever.

348. [p. 134] Middlesex. The examination of Sarah Grice, widow of Robert Grice, aged about 53, who on her oath saith that she was married in the year 1739 at the Fleet to her late husband, Robert Grice, deceased, who laboured for his livelihood. That they lived together about nine years in a small house in Barbican, but paid no taxes and never had any children. That she has been in several places at service since the death of her said husband. And about November or December, which was in the year 1754, this examinant was hired as a servant to Mr Edward Jones, a victualler at the sign of the French Horn and Half Moon in Strulton Ground in the parish of St Margaret in the liberty of Westminster, where she continued as a hired servant at the wages of £5 per annum. And was there provided with meat, drink, washing and lodging for the space of fourteen months. Since which time she, this examinant, hath not rented a house, or done any act to gain a legal settlement, and is now likely to become chargeable to the said parish of Chelsea. The mark of Sarah Grice. Sworn before us, 16 Sept. 1757, Benjamin Cox, John Goodchild.

349. [p. 135] Middlesex. The examination of Ann Bingham, single woman, lodging with her mother, Elizabeth Bingham, in the Kings Road in the parish of Chelsea in the county of Middlesex, taken upon oath, 19 Sept. 1757. This examinant upon her oath saith that she is 19 years of age and never was married, bound an apprentice, kept house rented £10 by the year, or paid any parish taxes. But that she was a yearly hired servant to Mr Jarret, a publican at the Kings Arms in Compton Street in the parish of St Ann within the liberty of Westminster in the county of Middlesex for the space of one year and nine months at the yearly wages of £4, diet and lodging, quitted the same about four months ago. And this examinant upon her voluntary oath further saith that she is now great with child or children, which is or are likely to be born a bastard or bastards. And that Michael Como, an upholster lodging at Mr Jarrett's aforesaid, had carnal knowledge of her body in the month of February last, upon a bed in the room up three pair of stairs forwards in the house of Mr Jarrett aforesaid, and several times afterwards at the same place. At which or one of which times he the said Michael Como did beget her with ... the child or children she now goeth with and is pregnant of. And that he, the said Michael Como, is the true and only father thereof and no man else. Ann Bingham. Sworn the day and year above said, before me, Benjamin Cox.

350. [p. 136] Middlesex. The examination of George Francis, one of the beadles of the parish of St Luke Chelsea in the county of Middlesex taken upon oath, 19 Sept. 1757. The examinant upon his oath saith that he very well knows Joseph Akerman, a poor child now in the workhouse of and in the parish of Chelsea aforesaid. And that the said Joseph Akerman was by the parish officers of Chelsea aforesaid bound out apprentice by indenture (dated 10 Nov. 1755) to Robert Wright, of Sugar Loaf Court in the parish of St Botolph Without Aldgate within the liberty of the city of London and continued with his said master for above twelve months in Sugar Loaf Court aforesaid. And further saith not. George Francis. Taken and sworn the day and year abovesaid, before Benjamin Cox, Henry Fielding. [See 376].

351. [p. 137] Middlesex. Examination of Mary Weaver, who on her oath says that she is a single woman about 19 years of age, born in the parish Whittington in the county of Salop. That when she was about 13 or 14 years of age she went to service in the said parish, and the last place that she lived in as a hired servant was with John Reaves in the said parish of Whittington near Oswestry in the said county of Shropshire, with whom she lived about 16 or 17 months at the wages of 40s. per annum and a shift. And [she] left the said Reaves in the month of May last, and then come to London and hath worked about in the fields and gardens in the parish of Kensington and Chelsea, laying about in barns and out houses and under the hedges in the parish of Chelsea aforesaid. The mark of Mary Weaver. Sworn before me, 10 Nov. 1757, Samuel Bever.

352. [p. 138] Middlesex. Examination of William Boxall, who on his oath says that he very well knows a female. [See 260].

353. Middlesex. Examination of Catherine Musgrove, who on her oath says that she is a single woman about 18 years of age, born in the hamlet of Hammersmith in the said county, and that her father was a parishioner there. That she never was apprentice, or hired servant and was supported in the workhouse of the said hamlet in March last, and hath ever since strolled about in the parish of Kensington etc. to get work. And is now found in the parish of Chelsea laying in the out houses of Mr Burchett in the said parish by his consent. And is now likely to become chargeable to the said parish of Chelsea. The mark of Catherine Musgrove. Sworn before us, 15 Dec. 1757, Samuel Bever, Charles Wale.

354. [p. 139] Middlesex, to wit. Examination of Mary Pausley touching the settlement of Thomas Jefferys, a child about 8 years old, which she, this examinant, had by her former husband. Who on her oath says that she was formerly married to Robert Jefferys at the Fleet about nine years past. Says that when she first knew him he worked with Mr Silvester at Brompton in the parish of Kensington. Afterwards she says that he was a hired servant to Mr Field, a basket maker in the parish of Chelsea. Says that he did not live twelve months with Mr Field. Says that her late husband was maintained by his mother, who work[ed] with Mr Hutchins in Chelsea until she died, then he worked afterwards for the above Mr Silvester [and Mr] Field, but she doth not know any thing of his settlement. Says that she had this child by her late husband. Further says that she never did any thing to gain any settlement of her own. Says that her father John Jones was a certificate man from the parish of St Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey in Southwark to the parish of St Albans in Hertfordshire. The mark of Mary Pausley. Sworn before [me], 31 Jan. 1758, . . . Samuel Bever.