| Examination Text | Martha Lawrence aged 32 years in the workhouse saith that she is the widow of Henry Lawrence (who died about a year ago) in Bell Yard in Westminster, that she was married him at the Royal oak and Two Twisted Posts at the Fleet about 11 years ago, that he was a Baker by trade and served his apprenticeship of seven years for which she was bound by indenture to Mr William Leeson in Castle Street above the Meuse in the Parish of St Martin in the Fields, and that he never kept any house rented 10 pounds by the year paid any parish taxes or was a yearly hired servant, that she hath no child by him now living, and that she hath not married to any other Person since his death, And further saith that she is now Great with child which when born 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 that one James Drayton, a journeyman Shoemaker who lived at the Two Brewers in Rupert Street in the Parish of St. James Westminster, had carnal knowledge of her body some time in or about the month of January or February last past in his lodging room being a room two pair of stairs forward in the said house in Rupert Street aforesaid, being the sign of the Two Brewers, there and several times afterwards 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 and is pregnant, and that he the said James Drayton is the true and only father thereof and no man else. |
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