Ann Duncomb: The Information of Ann Duncomb of Black Check Ally in East Smithfield Spinster 5 February 1698/9

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The Information of Ann Duncomb of Black check ally in East Smithfield Spinster 5 Feb: 169$\frac{\mathrm{8}}{\mathrm{9}}$

She saith that about a month before last Christmas she being a Servant to Mr John Lawson at the blew ball in Boswell Court near to Clement's Inn was sent upstaires by mrs Lawson about 7 or 8 a clock to put the Children to Bedd and going up two pair of stairs backwards she found in the Bed Chamber the said mr. John Lawson and one Bazill Turton a Taylor whom the said Lawson employed to go on Errands and in the Chimney was a great Charcoal fire and the floor between the Bed and Chimney was strewed with ashes and the Two men tood before the fire with their back to it so that she could not see what was in the Chimney besides the fire and as soon as she had laid the Child down upon the Bedd the said Lawson bid her be gone and send her Mrs. up and he would put the child into Bedd And the Informant did so. and that about three weeks or a month ago upon the said Lawson's removing from Boswell's Court to Wildstreet where he lodged last the said Bazill Turton being left alone went to one Shawe's a Smith to lodge and comeing to the Informant's mother's house askt the Informant if she did not remember such a time when she went up staires to put the Children to bed and she replying she did and asking him why he mentioned it he replied that her master the said Lawson was then making of Guineas and upon her comeing up had made a parcell which were so hott that he was forced to throw themabout the floor and throw ashes over them not having time todispose of them better and the said Bazill asked the Informant if she did not observe ashes on the floor and she told him that she did and the said Bazill told the Informant further that when she sent her mrs. up the said John Lawson beat her for sending the Informant up to him unawares

And that about a week or 10 dayes before the said Lawson left Boswell Court mr. Turton came up into the Lodging Room and felt in the Corner of the Chimney above for something and the Informant pulling him by the Arm he went down again + the Informant looking in the same corner found a Copper farthing silvered over with the Impression of a shilling head on one side

the mark of
Ann Duncomb

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