Court Depositions of South West England, 1500-1700

Original Spelling Transcription

Deposition 1

The Information of Millicent Batchelor of Southwraxall in the county aforesaid Spinst[e]r: taken upon Oath before me John Hall one of the Justices of the Peace of the County aforesaid against Francis Iles the wife of Philipp Isles of Southwraxall aforesaid Rough Mason this 23th day of June Anno dom[ini] 1673

Who sayth that twesday morneing last as shee was comeing from Milkeing she mette Ann Bowier wife of James Bowier of South wraxall aforesaid neere unto the said Philipp Iles his house in South wrax[all] w[i]th whome she discoursed some litle tyme untill she saw Francis the wife of the s[ai]d Philipp come out of her house And then. Ann Bowier parted from this Infor[mant]: to goe to her owne house And as shee was goeing the said Francis mett her and Asked her why shee had abused her and her Children in Language. w[hi]ch Ann Bowier denyed that shee had ever given her any Ile Language, But the s[ai]d Francis affirmed shee had and then said shee would have her into the Poole And p[re]sently laid violent handes on the s[ai]d Ann Bowier and eyther threw her or strooke her downe from the highway into the said Poole, which when this Inform[ant] saw shee went p[re]sently to assist Ann Bowier And Just as shee came to them shee saw Francis Iles Rise off from Ann Bowier And being Asked by this Inform[ant] why shee would abuse the poore old woman soe she made Answer to this Inform[ant] did not know how Ann Bowier had abused her, And this Inform[ant] further sayth that she and one Elizabeth keepeing helped Ann Bowier out of the Poole and when she came to her selfe againe she told this Inform[ant] and Elizabeth Keepeing that her Legge was Broke and further Sayth nott

Millicent Batchelor

J Hall

Deposition 2

The Informac[i]on of James Bowier taken upon oath aforesaid the day & yeare first above written before me John Hall Esq[uier] &c. ag[ain]st the s[ai]d Francis Iles &c.

Who sayth that his wife Ann Bowier keeps her Bed her Legge being broaken twesday morneing by the said Francis Iles as his said wife tould him this Inform[ant]:

James Bowier ^his mark^

J Hall

Deposition 3

The examinac[i]on of the said Francis Iles taken the day & yeere first above written &c. before me John Hall [...]

Who Sayth that on Twesday last in the morneing as shee was goeing to a well in South wraxall aforesaid for watter shee mett with James Bowiers wife of Southwraxall aforesaid there who Called this examinatt whore and said that shee and her daughter had been in her garden and broke downe her Colletts or kale, upon which this examinat being much moved went neere her and w[i]th a thrust with her handes shee the said Ann Bowier fell downe But shee Could not have any harme thereby for being helped upp by one Millicent Batchilor the same Anne Bowier went home to her house & further sayth nott &c.

Signu[m] Francis Iles ^her mark^

J Hall

Modernized Spelling Transcription

Deposition 1

The Information of Millicent Batchelor of South Wraxall in the county aforesaid, spinster,: taken upon oath before me, John Hall, one of the Justices of the Peace of the county aforesaid against Francis Isles, the wife of Philipp Isles of South Wraxall aforesaid, rough mason, this 23rd day of June 1673.

Who says that Tuesday morning last as she was coming from milking, she met Ann Bowier, wife of James Bowier of South Wraxall aforesaid, near unto the said Philip Isles his house in South Wraxall with whom she discoursed some little time until she saw Francis, the wife of the said Philip, come out of her house. And then Ann Bowier parted from this informant to go to her own house. And as she was going, the said Francis met her and asked her why she had abused her and her children in language, which Ann Bowier denied that she had ever given her any ill language. But the said Francis affirmed she had and then said she would have her into the pool. And presently laid violent hands on the said Ann Bowier and either threw her or struck her down from the highway into the said pool, which when this informant saw, she went presently to assist Ann Bowier. And just as she came to them, she saw Francis Isles rise off from Ann Bowier. And being asked by this informant why she would abuse the poor old woman so, she made answer: this informant did not know how Ann Bowier had abused her. And this informant further says that she and one Elizabeth Keeping helped Ann Bowier out of the pool and when she came to herself again, she told this informant and Elizabeth Keeping that her leg was broke and further says not.

Millicent Batchelor

J Hall

Deposition 2

The Information of James Bowier taken upon oath aforesaid the day and year first above written before me, John Hall, Esquire, against the said Francis Isles.

Who says that his wife, Ann Bowier, keeps her bed, her leg being broken Tuesday morning by the said Francis Isles, as his said wife told him this informant.

James Bowier ^his mark^

J Hall

Deposition 3

The examination of the said Francis Isles taken the day and year first above written before me, John Hall. [...]

Who says that on Tuesday last in the morning as she was going to a well in South Wraxall aforesaid for water, she met with James Bowier's wife of South Wraxall aforesaid there, who called this examinant whore and said that she and her daughter had been in her garden and broke down her colletts or kale. Upon which, this examinant being much moved went near her and with a thrust with her hands she, the said Ann Bowier, fell down. But she could not have any harm thereby, for being helped up by one Millicent Batchilor, the same Anne Bowier went home to her house and further says not.

Signed Francis Isles ^her mark^

J Hall

Technicalities of the Court

Female depositions: marital status descriptors (e.g. singlewoman, widow, wife) were typically recorded in the brief biographical statement at the beginning of the deposition.

Gloss

A Justice of the Peace was a high-status man appointed to preside over the county courts.

Technicalities of the Court

Occupational or social status descriptors (e.g. baker, joiner, yeoman) were typically recorded for men.

Interpretation

Milking: evidence of women's work taking place in the morning.

Interpretation

Although this is not unusual, women were less frequently charged in the courts with physical violence than men.

Interpretation

Ann is described as a poor old woman. If she was elderly, it is possible that she may have sustained as serious an injury as a broken leg through falling into the pool.

Technicalities of the Court

Those giving depositions were asked to sign their depositions: signatures range from full names to simply initials or marks (sometimes images linked with trades).

Interpretation

Being called a 'whore' could be extremely damaging to a woman's reputation and it was an actionable word in the church courts.

Interpretation

Fetching water: evidence of women's work. In the seventeenth century, few rural houses had their own water supplies and most relied on communal wells.

Gloss

Colletts are a similar vegetable to kale.

Technicalities of the Court

Signature of the Justice of the Peace.

Technicalities of the Court

Marital status descriptors (e.g. singlewoman, widow, wife) were typically recorded for women.