| Examination Text | The Examination of Martha Gregory singlewoman taken upon oath is 25th day of October in the year of our Lord 1738. Upon her voluntary oath saith that she is about 24 years old, that she now lodges at the house of one Mrs. Dean in Hunts Court in St Martin's Lane in the Parish of St Martin in the Fields where she hath lodged a fortnight, that she never was married nor bound an apprentice or lived a year together in any service, that she never kept any house rented 10 pounds by the year or paid any parish taxes, that her father Arthur Gregory (who was a Bridle Cutter by trade) kept house in Hewits Court in the Strand in the Parish of St Martin in the Fields for the space of seven years, and she this Examinant lived there with him all that time, and that he paid 20 pounds by the year rent for the same and upwards, that he quitted that house about nine or 10 years ago and never took any other house rented 10 pounds by the year or paid any parish taxes afterwards, And further saith that she is now Great with child which 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 Peter Ridge a journeyman Taylor now lately lodging at one Mr. Stingar's, a Piece Broker in White Horse Yard beyond Drury Lane had carnal knowledge of her body the fore Garrett of the house of one Mrs Saunders, a Green Grocer in King Street in the Parish of St Anne Westminster (that being her lodging room) on the eighth day of February last past 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 with which she now goeth and is pregnant of, and that he the said Peter Ridge is the true and only father thereof and no man else. Sworn the 25th day of October 1738 before me Val Hilder. |
|---|