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This deponent hath been seen in company with Barnes Dennis several times within the time arlate, in John Eaton's house in Kinnerton within the parish arlate it being an alehouse, and this deponent not much addicted to keep company or drink much ale hath after some short time (at such times as he has seen and been in company with Barnes Dennis) gone away thence and left him there... Within the time arlate there has been a public report and fame in the neighbourhood that the defendant and his wife's sister Mary Wilcoxon have kept suspicions and unlawful conversation together. That the defendant's wife has been in the said time so offended at their conversation that she has put her away or forbid her to come to her and his (the defendant's) house.
Within or about a year last past, there has been a report and fame within the parish of Dodleston, that Mr Dennis had entertained in his house Mary Wilcoxon his wife's sister against his wife's consent, and that he kept too familiar and suspicious company with her. It has been also reported that there has happened misunderstandings and differences betwixt him and his wife, and that he has sometimes thereupon turned her out of doors, but this deponent can't depose to the particular reason thereof.
About five weeks before Christmas last about an hour and a half before day it being a very cold night, this deponent being in his own house in Kinnerton and at the time up upon occasion of his wife being brought to bed, he was surprised with a noise in the lane and this deponent going out and attending to the noise or disturbance perceived Mr Dennis and his wife passing by homeward, he seeming in a very angry humour to drive or force her forward, and she in a great trouble and terror calling out murder murder and for help. And this deponent perceived that John Johnson the constable and some other neighbours followed and overtook Mr Dennis and his wife and Mr Dennis turned back and made some motion to fight or oppose the Constable. The Constable upon that occasion, seeing this deponent called on him and demanded his assistance, but by reason the women had left this deponent's wife and she was left without company in the house he did not then assist him... There has been a report within the neighbourhood that Mr Dennis and his wife's sister have kept company suspiciously and too familiar together.
He having been a parishioner of Dodleston all his time very well knows Mr Dennis. He (this deponent) was fondly concerned with other parishioners in a complaint to the Bishop against the defendant (Dennis) for his ill and irregular life and conversation. This deponent being an aged person and not frequenting the defendant's company in alehouses he knows nothing personally of his behaviour in these places, but saith that he hath heard from credible persons and that it hath been commonly reported in the neighbourhood that the defendant hath much frequented ale houses and given himself to keeping of company there and drinking strong drink. When he has come from the alehouse at unseasonable times of the night, he has been very abusive to his family, and particularly to his wife, and behaved himself very much unbecoming a person of his function. There is and has been a report in the neighbourhood that the defendant has kept company with or used too familiar and suspicious conversation with Mrs Wilcoxon his wife's sister. This defendant believes that such his behaviour with her has occasioned a difference betwixt him and his wife and the report and fame of it has given great scandal and offence to good people in the neighbourhood.
This deponent very rarely going from home from his business to ale houses and tippling houses doth not remember that he ever saw the defendant in any such house within the time arlate... He is not certain nor can he depose that there has been in the time arlate any such common fame or report...
This deponent hath within the time and places arlate been several times, viz. as he remembers about 3 or 4 times a year, in company with the defendant in ale houses, but this deponent not much addicted to ale and conversation hath left him at such times so that he cannot depose on his own knowledge but hath frequently heard in the neighbourhood that the said defendant hath much frequented alehouses and tippling houses, that he has several times continued there till he has been far in drink, come thence drunk home, and has at such times abused his wife and family and called or taken his innocent children out of their beds and whipped them in such humour... For a year last past or thereabout there has been a common fame and report within the parish and neighbourhood of Dudleston that the defendant has kept unlawful and suspicious company with his wife's sister. That his wife would therefore not permit her to continue in the family. And from thence and differences happened betwixt him and his wife.
Though this deponent hath seldom in the time arlate seen Mr Dennis in the alehouse, yet he hath very often in the said time seen him go to a little alehouse in the neighbourhood near this deponent's house, at several hours of the day, sometimes before noon and sometimes after and he has seen him return thence sometimes sooner other times later in the evenings. He hath been informed that the defendant is given much to drink, and though he is a strong man and can bear (as this deponent has heard) much strong drink, yet he hath sometimes drunk so much ale in the house (as this deponent hath been informed) that he has been overcome and fallen asleep there. This deponent hath been likewise informed that the defendant when in drink has been very troublesome and abusive to his wife and family and this deponent believes this to be very true. For that about a month before Christmas last, one night after midnight about the dead of the night, viz. 1 a clock or there about, this deponent and his family being then in bed at rest, they were disturbed and surprised with a loud complaining voice, and this deponent and his wife listening to it perceived it was the voice of Mrs Dennis the defendant's wife, calling of this deponent he being then Constable to come to help her or she would be murdered or starved or to that effect, and they giving further attention to the complaint, perceived or heard the defendant's voice and that he threatened this deponent if he came out of his house to them. But this deponent did dress himself, took his staff and went out toward them, for by this time the defendant seemed to have forced or dragged his wife further on in the village, and she as they came near a home still called out for help and this deponent followed them in the dark and coming near them the defendant turned to him and asked him who he was, or what he had to do there, or to that effect. And this deponent told him it was his business to keep the peace, and the defendant made resistance, offered to strike as this deponent perceived, and this deponent holding up his staff to ward off a blow he took hold of it and struggled three times with this deponent to take it from him, in which struggle this deponent perceived him to be in drink, otherwise he believes he would have taken the staff from him. This deponent called on the neighbours and some of them came out to his assistance, and when they came his wife got safe from him, and went towards a neighbour's home (where 'tis said she often goes when he turns her out of doors) and this deponent and his neighbours, holding the defendant from pursuing or stopping his wife, he appeared very angry and furious and threatened to kill or shoot them. When they perceived the defendant's wife was secure at David Jones' house, they parted with the defendant and he went homewards. When this deponent came back home, the family being in a consternation from the defendant's threatening, they stayed up the rest of the night it being then about two hours before day, and presently after sunrising the next morning, one of this deponent's family perceiving the defendant to come towards the house with a gun on his back, acquainted this deponent and his wife with it and they being under apprehensions of danger from what he had threatened, kept within the house, shut the doors, and observed him to go past the house and then turned back towards his home again... There has been a common fame and suspicion in the neighbourhood, that the defendant Barnes Dennis hath used suspicious and unlawful conversation with Mrs Wilcoxon, his wife's sister, and that thereupon differences have happened betwixt him and his said wife, and this is of great scandal in the neighbourhood. And this deponent rather believes there is cause and foundation for the said fame and suspicion for that Mrs Wilcoxon's husband taking offence at his wife's residing at the defendant's house and not prevailing with her to come thence to him (as a wife ought to do) he procured a warrant in or about October last from one of her Majesty's Justices of the peace, to fetch her thence and bring her before the said Justice, which warrant was delivered to this deponent as Constable of the place to be executed. This deponent by virtue of it went to the defendant's house, called or knocked at the doors and a servant coming out asked if Mrs Wilcoxon was there, adding he had business with her. The maid went in and returning told this deponent she was not there, and made the door against him. But this deponent having reason to believe she was there stayed some time, made his business known, and advised that she should come to him according to the warrant. And after this deponent (and another with him) had stayed some time in the yard, a servant came from another part of the house and told them that his master (meaning the defendant) sent them word, that if they would not get from about his house they must take what comes. Upon which suspecting to be shot or some such mischief, they came away.