Examinations, 1750-1766: nos 375-394

Examinations, 1750-1766: nos 375-394

375. [p. 159] Middlesex. Benjamin Mappin, lodging at the White Horse near Chelsea church, upon his oath says that he was born and served his time at Sheffield in Yorkshire to his father Joseph Mappin, and that he is a baker by trade. That he never kept house, rented a tenement of £10 a year, nor paid parish taxes. And this deponent further maketh oath and saith that he was married to his present wife, Alice Mappin, at the Fleet about seven years ago, and that he hath one child living by his said wife, named Eleanor, about 4 months old, now with this examinant. Benjamin Mappin. Sworn. 21 Dec. 1758, before Benjamin Cox.

376. [p. 160] Middlesex, to wit. The examination of George Francis, the beadle of Chelsea in the county of Middlesex, taken upon oath this 23 Dec. 1758. This examinant on his oath says that he hath been informed that George Babb, now in the workhouse of and in the parish of Chelsea aforesaid, was bound an apprentice (by the officer of the parish of Chelsea) by an indenture, until he should attain the age of 24 years, to James Bryerley, a weaver in the parish of St Matthew Bethnal Green in the said county of Middlesex, bearing date, 19 Jan. 1756. George Francis. Sworn, 23 Dec. 1758, before Benjamin Cox. Sent to St Matthew Bethnal Green. [See 350, 361].

377. [p. 161] Middlesex, to wit. The examination of Jobb Cox, who on oath says that he is about 64 years of age and is now an in pensioner in Chelsea College, and whose wife, named Elizabeth, aged about 55 years, . . . died in July 1758. And [he] was married to her 33 years, and hath now by her, his late wife, three children; vizt, Susanna, aged about 11 years, and Mary, aged about 8 years, and Martha, the same age being twins. Which said children is now with him in the parish of Chelsea, and that he is not able to maintain them and is obliged to ask relief of the said parish of Chelsea. Further says that he was born and apprenticed in the parish of Sedgley in the county of Stafford, and that he never was a hired servant, or ever rented any tenement of £10 per annum, or paid any parochial taxes, but hath been in the army ever since he was 20 years of age. Mark of Jobb Cox. Sworn before me, 4 Jan. 1759, Samuel Bever.

378. [p. 162] Middlesex. The examination of Ann Williamson, who on her oath says that she is about 22 years of age, . . . born in the parish of Ashby De La Zouch in the county of Leicester. That when she was between 15 and 16 years of age she was hired by the year to Lord George Bentick, who then lived in Soho Square, and some times at Heston in the county of Middlesex. In whose service she lived almost two years, in which time aforesaid she came acquainted with Martin Williamson, to whom she soon after married at Chesterfield in the county of Derby, by whom she hath one child alive, 4 years old, named William, and is now with her uncle Ward in the parish of Rippon, a farmer. That about three years ½ past her said husband was pressed for a soldier and is voluntarily listed in Lord Heines' regiment now in Germany, and was shipped off from Cowes in the Isle of White, from the camp there. That before . . her said husband was sent to Germany . . . he told this examinant that his settlement was in the parish of Chelsea in this county, which he gained by being a hired servant by the year to Mr Davies, or some such name, in the said parish of Chelsea, with whom he lived about sixteen months. [She] does not know at what wages, or where the said Davies was a house keeper or not, or what business he was of. And her husband never was a hired servant afterwards. The mark of Ann Williamson. Sworn before me, 11 Jan. 1759, Samuel Bever. [See 374].

379. [p. 163] Middlesex, to wit. Sarah Freelove, aged 60 years, lodged at Mr Clarke's in Lordship Yard in the parish of St Luke Chelsea, upon her oath saith she is the widow of Francis Freelove, who died about fifteen years ago, to whom she was married at Stratford Le Bow in the year 1713. That he was a brewer and lived in and rented an house at Wapping Wall in the parish of St Paul Shadwell in the county of Middlesex for the space of five years at the yearly rent of £40, besides taxes. [He] quitted the same about thirty years ago. That he never kept house, rented a tenement of £10 by the year, paid any parish taxes afterwards, nor hath she, this examinant, nor been a yearly hired servant in any one place since her said husband['s] death. Sarah Freelove. Sworn, 22 Jan. 1759, before Benjamin Cox. Passed to St Paul Shadwell.

380. [p. 164] Middlesex, to wit. Bridget Cowley, aged about 34 years, in the workhouse of and in the parish of St Luke Chelsea, upon her oath saith she never was married, that she was a yearly hired servant to Mr James Fitzgerald at the Elephant and Castle in the Strand (near Temple Bar) in the parish of St Clement Danes in the county of Middlesex for the space of fourteen months at the yearly wages of £4, diet and lodging, quitted the same about thirteen years ago. That she never kept house, rented a tenement of £10 by the year, paid any parish taxes, nor been a yearly hired servant in any one place for twelve months together since. The mark of Bridget Cowley. Sworn, 22 Jan. 1759, before Benjamin Cox. Passed to St Clement Danes.

381. [p. 165] Middlesex, to wit. Mary Phillips, aged 80 years, lodging in Jews Row in the parish of St Luke Chelsea, upon her oath saith she is wife of John Phillips, now in gaol, to whom she was married at the Fleet about fourteen years ago. That he served six years apprenticeship to John Chipperfield, a baker in the parish of St Margaret in the liberty of Westminster. That he never did any thing to gain a subsequent settlement. The mark of Mary Phillips. Sworn, 22 Jan. 1759, before Benjamin Cox. [See 308, 345].

382. Middlesex and Westminster, to wit. The information of John Booth, a stone mason on Chaney Row in the parish of St Luke Chelsea in the county of Middlesex, taken upon oath, 1 Feb. 1759. The informant upon his oath saith that about six years ago he lived in and rented a house in Tufton Street which is in the parish of St John the Evangelist in the liberty of Westminster in the county of Middlesex, at the yearly rent of £9 10s. a year beside taxes. At which time one Ann Booth lived with the informant as a servant and was there delivered in the said house of a female bastard child named Sarah Hadley, now with the informant. [Preceding entry crossed out in the original.] [See 383].

383. [p. 166] Middlesex, to wit. The examination of John Booth, a stone mason in China Row in the parish of St Luke Chelsea in the county of Middlesex, taken upon oath 1 Feb. 1759. This examinant on his oath saith that he very well knows Sarah Booth, an infant aged 6 years, now with this examinant and is likely to become chargeable to the said parish of St Luke Chelsea. That the said Sarah was born of the body of Ann Booth, single woman, at this examinant's house, who then resided in Tufton Street in the parish of St John the Evangelist in the liberty of Westminster. John Booth. Sworn the day and year above said before Benjamin Cox. Sarah Booth passed to St John the Evangelist in the liberty of Westminster. [See 382].

384. [p. 167] Middlesex, to wit. Elizabeth Mercer, aged about 34 years, lodging at Mrs Carteris in Turks Row in the parish of St Luke at Chelsea in the county of Middlesex, upon her oath saith she is the wife of Thomas Mercer (gone to sea), to whom . . . she was married at the Fleet about thirteen years ago. That he was bound an apprentice by an indenture for seven years to James Hull, a waterman in the parish of Wandsworth in the county of Surrey, and there served one year and then went to sea and served the remainder of his said time at sea. That he never kept a house, rented a tenement of £10 a year, paid any parish taxes, nor been a yearly hired servant since the expiration of his said apprenticeship. That she hath three children living by her said husband; to wit, William, aged 10 years, Thomas, 8 years, and Richard, aged 9 months. All now with this examinant. The mark of Elizabeth Mercer. Sworn, 12 Mar. 1759, before Benjamin Cox. Elizabeth Mercer and her three children passed to Wandsworth, 13 March 1759.

385. [p. 167] Middlesex. Examination of Charity Snell. On her oath says that she is about 47 years of age, that about nineteen years past she was married at the Fleet to her late husband John Snell who is lately dead. That the father, [blank] Snell, was an inhabitant in the hamlet of Hammersmith, and that her late husband was born in the said hamlet, and that the father's settlement was in the said hamlet, and when he died he left his wife, the mother of the said John Snell to the value of £300. She, the mother, married a 2nd husband whose name was John Lamborn, a poulterer, and further says that she hath often heard her late husband declare that he never was an apprentice or any covenant or hired servant to any one to live with one whole year, or ever rented a tenement of £10 per annum, or paid any parochial taxes, or served any office. And always declared that his settlement was in the hamlet of Hammersmith. That she hath now with her a girl named Ann, about 14 years of age, the child of her late husband. The mark of Charity Snell. Sworn before me, 24 May 1759, Samuel Bever. Passed to Hammersmith.

386. [p. 168] Middlesex. The examination of Margaret Spears, who is sent to the parish of Chelsea from the parish of Thirsk in the county of Yorkshire in the North Riding, and was brought by [blank] Adams, the contractor for conveying of vagrants for the county of Middlesex by a vagrant pass. N.B. No order was made thereon to be delivered at Chelsea by any magistrate for the county of Middlesex. This examinant on her oath says that she is the wife of Andrews Spears, a cordwainer and a soldier in the 36th regiment of foot commanded by Lord Robert Maners. That as it appears by indenture . . . her said husband was apprentice to William Wallis of Castle Garth, a cordwainer in the town and county of the town of Newcastle upon Tyne in the county of Northumberland. And that he never did any thing by being a hired servant by the year, or renting any tenement of £10 per annum, or paid any parochial taxes, nor gained any other settlement. That she hath two children by him, Jane and John. That she left the said place of Castle Garth aforesaid about five weeks past to wander about to seek her husband, and was allowed by the said place of Castle Garth aforesaid, 1s. 6d. per week while she was there [as]. . . their own parishioner. The mark of Margaret Spears. Sworn before me, 28 June 1759, Samuel Bever.

387. [p. 168] Middlesex. The examination of Winifred Wilson, alias Jones (Smith her maiden name), who on her oath says that she is about 63 years of age, born in the parish of Higham Green. That she never was apprentice, or a hired servant by the year. That when she was about 22 years of age she was hired to John Brown, a butcher in the parish of Woughton (near Harwich) in the county of Suffolk, and lived with him about two years at the wages of £3 per annum. And in the last year of her service she married William Jones, a sergeant upon duty in Langard Fort, and that the said Jones was a sergeant in the guards several years before, and kept an alehouse in Queen Ann's time at the Two Fighting Cocks in the parish of Chelsea. And she, this examinant, lived with him at the said house, but does not know what rent he paid, or ever paid any parochial taxes, or ever received any wages from him, she being then very young. That she was the wife of the said Jones about fifteen years, but knows nothing of his settlement. He listed in the guards when about 18 years of age and then died, leaving her one child, William Jones, who was lost with Admiral Baleten in the year 1734. As appears by a Fleet certificate she was married again to John Wilson, a pensioner in Chelsea College, and knows nothing of his settlement. And [he] left her one child named Sylvia Wilson, about 23 years of age, born in the parish of Chelsea, and who has not done any thing to gain a settlement of her own. And this examinant now comes and demands relief of the parish of Chelsea. The mark of Winifred Wilson. Sworn before me, 5 July 1759, Samuel Bever. Married at Badingham in Suffolk.

388. [p. 169] Middlesex. The examination of Mary Holder, alias Johnson, who on her oath says that she was the widow of Luke Holder, and that soon after the said Holder died she was examined to her settlement, as appear by an examination in this book dated 18 Sept. 1755, and this examinant being now asked the question, if she is married to Timothy Johnson? To which said question this examinant is not willing, but refuses to testify upon oath. 5 July 1759, Samuel Bever. [See 301].

389. [p. 169] Middlesex, to wit. William Brasier, aged about 49 years, residing in the parish of Chelsea, upon his oath saith that he is a tailor by trade, that he never was bound an apprentice. That before his intermarriage and while single, he was a yearly hired servant to Mr Peter Dickson, a tailor in Kings Arms Court on Ludgate Hill in the parish of St Bridget, vulgarly St Brides, London, for the space of four years at the yearly wages of £2 for the second year, £3 for the third year, and £5 for the last year, diet and lodging. [He] quitted the same several years ago. That he never kept house, rented a tenement of £10 by the year, paid any parish taxes, nor hath been a yearly hired servant in any one place for twelve months together since. That he was married to his present wife, Mary, at Chelsea about three months ago. William Brasier. Sworn, 29 Oct. 1759, before Benjamin Cox. Passed them both to St Brides in the city of London.

390. [p. 170] Middlesex sessions. The voluntary examination of Mary Glover, single woman, taken before me . . . Who being on oath saith that she is now with child, and that the said child is likely to born a bastard and be chargeable to the parish of St Luke Chelsea in the said county of Middlesex. And this examinant saith that in the month of March last one Richard Longford of the parish of St Martin in the city of Worcester, breeches maker, had carnal knowledge of this examinant's body diverse times. And this examinant saith that the said Richard Longford is the father of the child she is now pregnant with, and no other person whatsoever. Mary Glover. Taken and sworn before me, 19 Sept. 1759, Saunders Welch.

391. [p. 171] Middlesex. The examination of William Haines. This examinant on his oath saith that he is 43 years of age and never kept house, or rented £10 per year. That he is a gardener by profession, but never was an apprentice. That he was married to his present wife Ann at the Abbey Church at St Albans in Hertfordshire, by whom he has two children living; Elizabeth, aged about 10 years, and Samuel, aged about 2 years. That this examinant's father lived in and rented a house for many years at Warminster in Wiltshire, where this examinant was born. William Haines his mark. Taken and sworn 12 June 1760, before Benjamin Cox.

392. [p. 171; a numbering error in the original manuscript] Middlesex. The examination of Elizabeth Cox, who on her oath says that she is about 22 years of age and now a single woman, that she was born in the parish of Chelsea in the said county and is now troubled with the venereal disease. That she was apprentice to Robert Ellis in St George Hanover Square for seven years, and at the end of five years of her apprenticeship her said master removed to the town of New Windsor in the county of Berkshire. And this examinant went with him and served her said master the last two years at the said town of Windsor, whom this examinant left about twelve months past and hath not lived in any place since above three months, or hath been married to any man. The mark of Elizabeth Cox. Sworn before us, 4 July 1760, Samuel Bever, Thomas Rea. Pass by an order.

393. [p. 172] Middlesex. The examination of John Shanno, who on his oath says that he is about 40 years of age, born in the parish of St Anne Soho, Westminster, and was apprenticed by indenture for seven years to Mrs Baronyn, a watch case maker in Bolt Court in the parish of St Dunstan in the West in the city of London, and served her the whole time (except a fortnight). [He] never was a hired servant, or rented any house of £10 per annum, but hath ever worked as a labourer since his apprenticeship. At or about nine years past he married Margaret Cox, his now wife, by whom he hath two children; vizt, John, aged about 7 years, [and] Abraham, aged about 3 years. All now likely to come chargeable to the parish of Chelsea. John Shanno. Sworn before us, 4 Aug. 1760, Samuel Bever, John Mackin. Pass by a order.

394. [p. 172, a numbering error in the original manuscript] Middlesex, to wit. Anne Jobbins, aged about 35 years, lodging at Mr Richard Water's in Church Lane in the parish of St Luke Chelsea in the county of Middlesex, upon her oath saith that she is the wife of Thomas Jobbins (gone from her), to whom she was married at the Fleet about nineteen years ago. That her said husband is a farrier by trade and was bound an apprentice by indenture for seven years to Mr John Meares, a farrier in Wood Street in the parish of St John the Evangelist in the liberty of Westminster, and there served part of his time, but how long this examinant cannot tell. When his said master removed to the Horse Ferry in the said parish of St John, and this examinant's husband with him, and there served the remainder of his time out. But when his said time expired this examinant knoweth not. That he never kept house, rented a tenement of £10 by the year, paid any parish taxes, or was a yearly servant in any one place for twelve months together. That she hath three children living by her said husband; to wit, James, aged 8 years and upwards, Thomas, aged 5 years and upwards, and Joseph, aged 1 year and upwards. All now with this examinant. Ann Jobbins. Sworn, 15 Oct. 1760, before Benjamin Cox, Philip Dyos. Passed by order.