| Examination Text | The Examination of Sarah Bense singlewoman taken upon oath this 27th Day of April 1738. Who upon her oath saith that she is about 26 years old, that she now lodges with her brother Thomas Bense at the house of one Mr Smith a Tallow Chandler in Angel Alley in Long Acre in the Parish of St Martin in the Fields within the liberty of Westminster in the County of Middlesex and hath there lodged a fortnight, that she never was married kept house rented 10 pounds by the year paid any parish taxes or was bound apprentice, that she was a yearly hired servant to Charles Walker, a Victualler in Villers Street in the said Parish of St Martin in the Fields and there served him under a hiring for 3 pounds by the year wages diet and lodging the space of a year and a half, that she came thence upwards of a year ago but hath continued in no service whatsoever the space of a year since, And further upon her voluntary oath saith that she is now Great with child which when born he is or are likely to be born a bastard or bastards and to become chargeable to the said Parish of St Martin in the Fields, and one John Webber a Shoemaker now or lately lodging at one James Smith's with whom she last lived as a servant at the White Swan alehouse in Vere Street near Clare Market in the Parish of St Clement Danes had carnal knowledge of her body some time soon after Michaelmas last past in his lodging room at the said house of the said James Smith in Vere Street aforesaid and several times since at the same place at which or one of which times he begot her with child of the child or children she now goeth with is pregnant of, and that he the said John Webber is the true and only father thereof and no man else. Sworn the day and year above written before Val Hilder. |
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