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

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Citty of Chester Ss} The Examination of Elizabeth Maddock Spinster taken before William Bennett Esquire Mayor and Henry Lloyd Alderman his Majesties Justices of the peace for the County of the Said Citty the 240 day of October in the 11.th Year of his Majesties Raign King William the third over England &c.t Anno Dni 1699.

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

Capt die et Anno suprad. Cester coram      Wm Bennett Mayor      Henry Lloyd                     Vera Copia Exer per Roger Comberbatch Cler. pacis &c.t