Reference
HSA1680/W/82
Title
Deposition: William Nedham, Southwell (Southill), blacksmith. 1679 Travels to look for work. Met Ric.Knight and Ellis, who hired him to drive sheep, but he refused when they began to look for sheep to steal. They said they would sent them to Jn. Gurney. R. and E. denied they were man and wife. E. and 'she had gone 2 yeares about the country a mumping (as she called it) with a pretended husband who feigned himselfe dumbe.' The Information of William Nedham of Southwell in the County of Bedford Blacksmith taken upon oath before me Wm Duncombe Esqr one of his Majesties of the peace for the County. att Battlesden this 31th of Augt 1679. Informt saith that on tuesday last being the 26th inst he came from Newport in Buckinghamshire through Wooburne (where he had wrought journey work with one James Larrett blacksmith for the space of six weeks) to Battlesden to enquire for work, but finding none there he went that night from thence to Leighton, & took up that night at the three horse shoes, the next morning he went again to enquire for work but finding none he went to the Checker to spend his penny & there mett with one Richard ----- (he forgatt his sirname) & this woman (says he pointing to the woeman who pretends to be the sd Richards wife) & there they drank together, then the sd Richard called him out of doores & told him, that he found he wanted work, & that if he would goe with him (he would employ him) to Winsloe in Buckinghamshire to drive a few sheep to one Mercy Jenkins in Hockliffe, to which this Informt agreed (supposeing they had been his owne) but going towards Winsloe about Swanburne some two miles from Winsloe the aforesd Richard & his pretended wife sought about for sheep, & the sd Richard went up the hills to see where any sheep were feeding, & he & his wife did choose out some parcells, but they made exceptions to 'em, as being some of them fallow sheep, & some of them lay too neere the towne so not lighting upon any that pleased them they went through Winsloe to seeke after their prey, but it hapning to thunder & lighten very much that night this Informnt left them perceiveing their purpose, and said he would have nothing to doe with any such business. he further saith that they would have taken some sheep away beyond Winsloe, but that they could not bring them through the towne, nor could they drive them any other way, because the waters were up. And further saith that by the way as they were going to Winsloe the abovesd Richard & his wife told him that they were to send tenn sheep to John Gurney Butcher of Hockliffe, & three 3 to his sonn. And further saith that Richards pretended wife told him at the Chequer att Leighton, that she was not Richards wife, but that she had gone two yeares about the country a mumping (as she called it) with a pretended husband, who feigned himself dumbe. And that this day in his hearing in the house where the sd Richard was apprehended he the sd Richard did deny this woman (pointing to her) to be his wife. and further saith not. William Needdom Capt et jurat Coram me W Duncomb
Date free text
1679
Production date
From: 1679 To: 1679
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No. of pieces: 1
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item