590. (L.) Robert Woodman proceedingsdefend was indicted for wilful and corrupt perjury, in an affidavit taken in Doctors Commons to take out a licence to solemnize marriage between him and Catherine Hill, spinster, that he knew no lawful impediment, when in truth and in fact he knew she was the wife of Ezekiel Shepherd proceedingsvictim . *

Ezekiel Shepherd < no role > . I was born in North America, and lived almost all my time in Philadelphia; I am turned of forty-one years of age; I married that gentlewoman (pointing to the woman in question) in Philadelphia, her name was Catherine Hill; I was married to her at Whickeroe at the Swedish church, by Mr. Oliver Leanie < no role > , August the 20th, 1755; we lived together pretty near twelve years; before we came to England I carried on the trade of a joiner ; I had one child by her, and buried it at four years old in Philadelphia, it died of the small-pox; I have been in England about two years and a half, I boarded with her mother in Wood-street, named Christian Hill; we came to enquire after my wife's sister-in-law, named Elizabeth Wilkes < no role > , in Grub-street, there we lived some time as man and wife; I became acquainted with the prisoner within two weeks of my first coming, he served part of his time in Wapping to my wife's brother; we took a house in East-Smithfield, and lived there almost six months; the prisoner lived in Plough-alley, my house was in his way as he went to his business; I did not know that they were so great; I was sued for my board by my wife's sister and her friends, the prisoner was one of my bail, he was diving farther than I imagined he was; they have destroyed my certificate among them; my wife told me I must not be angry, she was going to a relation's, and did not know she should come home that night; I said, I desire you will; she set off, and did not return; I went to Wilkes's, that was the 24th of May was twelve months; said Mrs. Wilkes, how do you do, bachelor; said I, what do you mean; said she, your wife is gone to live with Mr. Woodman, and you had better let her go her own way, for you will never do no good with her; I, like a poor cuckold, could really lose my life for her; still I thought I had better get something than nothing; I said to the old woman her mother, if I had as much money as would pay my passage back again, I would go back; said the old woman, I will give you money and a watch, and a suit of clothes, and you shall go handsomely back; thinks I this will do, she was to meet me at twelve o'clock; I said, where is Kitty; said the old woman, do not ask about her, poor creature, she fainted away, and I sent for a doctor to bleed her; when I saw her, she said she never would live with me, take what my mother has offered you, you had better take something now, for if you do not you never will get any thing; then the old woman said, I must trust her for 16 l. and the money for a watch, which she was to give me; I said, I would not trust her for a farthing; said she, will you trust Mr. Woodman; I said, yes, I would; then he came; your servant, Mr. Hill; then to my wife, you are very good, madam, I will oblige you with any thing in the world; said the old woman, I have agreed for him to go to America, let him take his chance; I agreed for a note for 30 l. which they gave me; then they would have a pot of beer; then I said to my wife, take care that you do not go to the old boy headlong; then Woodman said to my wife, so I understand you are a single woman now; yes, said she; will you have me, said he; yes, said she; I said, take her and welcome, shall I give her away; said he, I have one that will do that: the next morning I heard they were married at Aldgate church.

Acquitted .