Elizabeth Maddock: The Examination of Elizabeth Maddock, daughter of Joseph Maddock, 24 October 1699

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|Citty of Chester Ss}| The Exaiaion of Elizabeth Maddock Sp^er taken before William Bennett Esq^r. Mayor and Henry Lloyd Alderman his Maj.^ties Justices of the peace for y^e County of y^e S^d Citty y^e 24⁰ day of October in y^e 11.^th Year of his Ma.^ts Raign King William y^e third over Englꝫ &c.^t Anno Dni 1699.

Elizabeth Maddock of the Citty of Chester Sp^er (daughter of Joseph Maddock, of the same Citty Tanner) aged 17. Years or thereabouts being Exaied Saith, that about Six Months agoe One M^r Roberts (whose Christian name she doth not know {)} came to her as she was standing at the her said fathers door in y^e Forest street in y^e said Citty and desired to Make himselfe known to her declareing great love and kindness for her, and ab^t 3. Weeks afterw^ds she went to see Ann Gill att her hause in y^e said Forest Street, And there found y^e S^d M^r Roberts, who Kept this Exaīant about an houre and this Exaīant beleiving the said M^r Roberts to have a real kindness, and affeion for her, did Severall times afterwards entertain & receive him into her fathers house (unknown to the said Father) and ab^t a Month agoe thisExaīants S^d father told her, that he was informed that she had Admitted a strange gentleman into her company without his consent, w^ch this Exaīant did then confess to her S^d Father & told him y^t he y^e S^d M^r Roberts was y^e same person & that he had lately Lodged at the house of M^r Joseph Horton in y^e S^d Citty and was then gone to London, he y^e S^d M^r Roberts haveing frequently told this Exaīant y^t he must goe very shortly to London, thô in truth she did beleive he was not then gone, and the S^d M^r Roberts did continue to visit this Exaīant frequently at ther said Fathers house and Severall times proposed to acquaint this Exaīants said Father of his kindness for her and to desire his consent y^t he might <1v> marry her but this Exaīant was unwilling her said Father should be acquainted with it, because she had told him before the said Roberts was gone to London, and y^e said Roberts Still declared he must goe thither very shortly (his mother haveing Sent for him Severall times) and that he stay'd only for y^e said Mr Hortons company, and this Exaīant further saith that on Munday the 9. day of this Instant October the said M^r Roberts was in company with this Exaīant in M^rs Ridges Rown near the High Cross of y^e said Citty where they Stay'd to See the Bull baiting and afterwards the said M^r Roberts invited this Exaīant thence to M^r Hortons house where she Stayd ab^t half an hour, and she did not See the S^d M^r Robts afterwards till Munday the 16. day of this Instant Octob^er on which day ab^t 2. or 3. a clock in y^e afternoon, he y^e said M^r Roberts came to this Exaīant at her S^d fathers door and she being unwilling to stay with him there at so publick a place acquainted him y^t the S^d An Gill had entrusted her with the Key of her y^e S^d Ann Gills house, there being then no body in it, whereupon y^e said M^r Roberts came to her in the S^d Gills house where they continued ab^t 2. hours and a halfe and parted ab^t between 4. and 5. a clock the same afternoon, the said M^r Roberts walking towards Baughton and saying he would See this Exaīant again the same night (but did not menion what time) And about ten of y^e Clock in y^e Night of the Same day the said M^r Roberts and the said Ann Gill came togeather to this Exaīant at her S^d fathers house (he being then Gone to bed) and they staid all three togeather in y^e Kitching of y^e said house all Night till ab^t 6. or 7. a clock in y^e morning & then the said Ann Gill first went out and p^resently returned and told this Exaīant and the said Roberts y^t M^r horton was taken up for coyning (or to y^t Effect) but y^e said Roberts Sayd he could not beleive it, for y^t he had lived so long with him and never observed any thing y^t was ill of the said M^r Horton and then they parted, and this Exaīant did not afterwards See him or hear from y^e said Roberts untill Wednesday last the 18.^th day of this Instant Octob.^er on which day between 7. & 8. a clock at night he knocked at y^e door of her said Fathers house (her said Father not being within) and this Exaīant let him in, and told him there was great Enquiry made after him in y^e Town upon supion of his being concern'd w^th the said M^r Horton, to which the S^d Roberts made answer, God damm'em y^t business have they to Search after me and p^resently afterwards he desired he might Stay in one of the Upper Rooms of y^e said house till this Exaīant could be at leisure to come to him, w^ch this Exaīant consneted unto and put him into one of the Upper Rooms of the said house, and there left him without a Candle, and returned to the business in y^e Kitching & p^resently afterwards one Samuel Leigh a Constable and Some others came into y^e Said Kitching, and asked this Exaīant if any man was in the said house, to which She answered no, And the said Constable desired to borrow a Candle from this Exaīant w^ch she readily lent him, and y^e S^d Constable with y^e rest of his Company went to search in y^e outside or backside of y^e S^d house, during w^ch time this Exaīant beleives y^e S^d Robts break one of y^e Windows of y^e S^d upper Room & Escaped out of y^e S^d house for y^t this Exaīant p^resently afterwards went up, & found y^e S^d Window so broaken and y^t he was gone thence and had left his hatt & a pair of shoes behind him SInce w^ch time this Exaīant hath not Seen nor heard from y^e S^d Roberts nor doth she know where he is or what is become of him in any wise    Eliz: Maddock

Capt die et Anno sup^rad. Cester coram      W^m Bennett Mayor      Henry Lloyd                     Vera Copia Ex^er ꝑ Roger Comberbatch Cler. pacis &c.^t