Reference
HSA1671/S?30
Title
Deposition:
Mary, wife of Jeremye Farre, Shefford, innkeeper. 10 May 1671. William Norton came to her house. Next morning she and his wife found he and the maid had left together, taking some of her linen. Thomas Crouch, Hollwell, farmer. He and William and John Handscomb arrested William Norton and Sarah Spencer. William Handscomb, yeoman As above. William Norton, Woolaston (Northants), piper. Went away with Sarah Spencer, she carrying a bundle, 'and he bid her take none but her own.' Robert Smart, Shefford, tobacco-pipe maker. Pursued wifeN. and S.S. at Mary Farr's request. Found stolen linen with them. Sarah Spencer, servant to Jeremy Farr. William Norton enticed her to leave her place and to take with her some of her mistress's linen. DEPOSITIONS The Informacon of Marye Farre wyefe of Jeremye Farre of Shefford Inkeeper taken uppon oath before mee this 10th of Maye 1671. This Informant sayth that one William Norton (as hee called hymselfe of Woollaston in the Countye of Northampton piper with hys wyefe Elsabeth Norton came to hyr house on fridaye night last for Lodging and laye there untill Mondaye morning last and that on Mondaye night about nyne of the clock the sd Will: Norton did come alone to her house for Lodging and went awaye on the next Morning being Tuesdaye before sun rising and about halfe an houre after the sd Elsabeth Norton wyefe of the sd Will Norton came to thys Informants beddside and demaunded of hyr if hyr Husband weare not there and thys Informt telling hyr that hyr Husband laye there that night shee the sd Nortons wyefe bidd thys Infort to rise and goe downe and see if shee missed anyething for hyr Husband and thys Informts Mayd weare gone together whereuppon thys Informt did rise and went downe with the sd Elsabeth Norton to see if anye of hyr Lynen weare lost and uppon search ther weare wanting one Lockram shift and one shift of Hempetowe of the value of 2s 6d foure coarse Handkerchiefs one shilling sixpence two pynners one shilling a payre of Holland sleeves eight pence, two foreheadcloathes two pence, one Holland Apron one shilling, two blew Aprons one shilling one Holland Cayse foure pence then she the sd Elsabeth Norton wished thys Informt to sende after them one waye and shee the sd Elsabeth wold follow them Hitching Rode and thys Informt did accordinglye sende one Robt Smart of Shefford pipemaker after them and farther shee deposeth not. Mary Farre The Info Macon of Thos Crouch of Hollowell fermer taken uppon oath the daye and yeare above wrightten This Infort sayth that hymselfe with one Will Handscomb and John Handscome both of Hollowell aforesd yeomen did the 9th of Maye apprehend one Will Norton and one Sarah Spencer servant to Marye Farre above wrightten in the sd Parish of Hollowell uppon suspition of stealing the Goods of the sd Marye Farre The Infcn of Will Handsom of Holl yeoman take uppon Cath the daye and yeare above wrightten This Informt sayth that hymselfe with John Handscome & Tho Crouch aforesd did the 9th of May aforesd apprehend the sd Will Norton and Sarah Spencer at Hollowell uppon suspition for stealing the Goods of the sd Marye Farre that demanding of the sd Sarah Spencer whither shee had not taken any of the Goods of the sayd Marye Farre shee confessed that shee had taken some of the sd Goods and that the piper viz Will Norton did wish hyr not to come away empty-handed; that when they were apprehended the sd. William Norton had a bundle at hys backe and the sd. Sarah Spencer had a box of laces. The information of Jn Handscomb is the same with that of of Wm Handscomb The examination and confession of Wm Norton of Wooleston, Northants piper. This examinant sayeth that he and his wife did lodge att the house of Jeremiah Farr of Shefford aforesd. from Friday the 5th May till Munday morning the 8th of May, and on the sd. Munday night he came alone and lay there againe and that the next morning he did goe away with Sarah Spencer servant of the sd. Jeremiah Farr and that the sd. Sarah did carry with her a bundell wrapt in a coate and he bid her take none but her owne and doth confesse that when they were apprehended he did carry the sd. bundell to ease her the sd. Sarah Spencer. The informant of Robert Smart of Shefford tobacco pipe maker taken uppon path the 11th of Maye 1671. Hee sayth that uppon Tuesdaye morning the 9th present Marrye Farre wyefe to Jeremye Farre of Shefford Inkeeper tould thys Deponent that she had lost severall parcells of lynnen that shee was sure that the man that laye at her house and played uppon the pipe and Drum and Sarah Spencer her mayd had stollen them and desired hym to pursue them and to make staye of them that hee did overtake them at Hollowell in the custody of the constable thereof & of other persons where they did set together upon the ground and that there laye by them a Bundle wrapped up in a Petticoate and a flatt woodden Box that when the Bundle was opened there ware in it 2 shifts which she sayd weare hyr Dames, a payer of Holland sleeves, one laced Handkerchief and [two] or three other Handkerchiefs, a Dressing and a forehead cloth and a Childs Lynnen Capp all which the sd Sarah Spencer sayd weare the goods of hyr Dame and that in the Box weare Laces and Capps hee farther sayth that Sarah Spencer being asked why she did take away her Dames goods in such a maner shee sayd that hee the sd. Wm Norton wished her not to goe awaye emptye-handed and the sd. Wm Norton sayd that he wished her to take noething awaye but what was her owne that he did love her more then hys wyefe, that he did intend to marry hyr and leave hys wyefe The examination and confession of Sarah Spencer spynster servant to Jeremye Farr of Shefford innkeeper taken before me thys 11th of Maye 1671 She sayth that on Frydaye the 5th of thys moneth one Wm Norton a player of a pipe and drum with a woeman in his companye whych he tould this ex. was hys sister, that the sd. William tould hyr thys ex. that he wold give hyr ten pounds to leave hyr place and goe with him, that he would carry hyr into a brave countrey and where she should live bravelye and that hee wold buye hyr new clothes and marry hyr; that uppon his enticing of hyr shee did goe awaye with hym and carryed awaye some small parcells of lynnen which weare the Goods of Marye Farre hyr Dame.
Date free text
1671
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From: 1671 To: 1671
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No. of pieces: 1
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item