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Thomas Wright and Mary Wright (late Crow) in or about November in the year of our Lord 1713, being, as they were free and at liberty from matrimony and all matrimonial contracts did with each other contract pure and lawful matrimony and the same being contracted did solemnize or cause to be solemnized in Lincolns Inn chapel, London, according to the form and usage of the Church of England in that behalf... and did consumate by carnal knowledge of each other at the dwelling house or place of abode of one aunt or reputed aunt to Mary Wright (late Crow) situated in Clare Market, London, where Mary Wright lodged, and whether Thomas Wright often resorted and accompanied... Mary Wright in the spring or summer season in the year of our Lord 1715 lodged at or frequented the house of one Mr Parry situate in St Giles's in the Fields parish, London, and there became acquainted with one John Cooper (a sergeant in Brigadier Morrison's regiment in Colonel Colombian's Company of Foot) who lodged at the same house and that Mary Wright in the months of December, January, February and March in the year 1715 last past and in March and April in the year 1716 now running or in some one or more of the said months and before and since did accompany John Cooper at Mr Perry's house, and from thence or some other place in or about London did follow him to meet him at several places, viz at Colchester in the county of Essex, Hadleigh, Bildeston, Stowmarket and Bury St Edmund's in the county of Suffolk, and that at the house of one Edmund Cooke situate in St James' Parish in St Edmund's Bury being a public inn and commonly known by the name of the Spread Eagle, they (John Cooper and Mary Wright) within the space and time abovementioned did live, lodge and cohabit together as man and wife, and did pretend, behave and carry themselves as such, and did keep in one and the same chamber or room, and did lodge and lie together in one and the same bed, and were seen so lying in bed together, and going to and coming from bed from each other, and then and there Mary Wright (late Crow) did once and more times actually commit the foul crime of adultery with John Cooper and was by him carnally known… On or about Wednesday the eighteenth day of April in the year of our Lord 1716, being the day upon which the primary citation under seal of this court was served upon Mary Wright (late Crew) at St Edmund's Bury, to answer to her husband Thomas Wright the party urgent in this cause, she at first affirmed and declared that John Cooper and she were man and wife lawfully married together, but presently after, upon Thomas Wright's coming into the room, or being shewed to her, she wept or pretended to weep, and called out, and declared that he, Thomas Wright, was her husband, and that she was not married to John Cooper or she spake and declared to that or the like effect in the presence and hearing of diverse credible persons… On or about Wednesday the 10th day of April in the year 1716 now running, one Margaret White and one Edmund Cooke and Elizabeth his wife, all of Bury St Edmund's and also Mary Wright did give information upon their corporal oaths concerning the premises, before Thomas Moore of Bury St Edmund's Esquire, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the county of Suffolk and did then and there depose and say as in the original paper writing, beginning, ‘The examination of Margaret the wife of Stephen White etc.' and ending 'and have cohabited with him, as his wife ever since, at the Spread Eagle Inn in that town, the mark of the said Mary the wife of Tho. Wright... 18 April 1716', was and is contained, which paper writing the party proponent doth exhibit... Mary Wright is a middle sized woman, of a brown complexion, and long visage, and by her aspect seemeth to be a little turn'd of thirty years of age.
Upon the 30th of November 1716, she was married at Lincoln's Inn chapel to Thomas Wright who several times after that marriage came to her at her aunt's house in Clare Market in London between that time and the March following. About three-quarters of a year since she lodged at the house of one Perry in St Giles-in-the-Field's, London, where John Cooper a [soldier] in Brigadier Morrison's Regiment in Colonel Columbia's company of footmen there likewise lodged. By reason whereof they became acquainted and about five weeks since she [at] the appointment of John Cooper went to Colchester in order to meet him. Cooper the next day came to her and continued there until Sunday following from whence Cooper marched to Hadleigh whither this examinant followed and was with him and from thence Cooper going to Bildeston, she was also with him there and Cooper going from thence to Stowmarket she likewise met him... and from thence she and Cooper came to St Edmunds Bury which was about a month since and have cohabited with him as wife ever since at the Spread Eagle Inn in that town.
About fourteen days since she saw John Cooper sergeant in Colonel Columbia's Company in Brigadier Morrison's regiment in bed with Mary the wife of Thomas Wright now known who was commonly taken the wife of John Cooper and took upon her and answered to that name in the house of Edward Cooke commonly called the Spread Eagle Inn in Bury.
About a month since John Cooper and Mary the wife of Thomas Wright gentlemen both now present came to this deponent's house for lodging and that soon after their being entertained there and before their going to bed they declared themselves to be man and wife. And this examinant asking how long they had been married Mary declared that they had been married about two years. From thenceforth until this time they have cohabited together in the house of the husband of this examinant as man and wife.
About a month since, John Cooper a sergeant in Brigadier Morrison's Regiment of Colonel Columbia's Company together with Mary the wife of Thomas Wright gentleman both present came to this deponent's house as lodgers where being received they cohabited as man and wife and have done so from that time of their coming until now.
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In the months of March and April last past, John Cooper and Mary Wright alias Crow came to and lodged at this deponent's house, went up together into a chamber every night where was only one bed, and there laid together constantly for six weeks or thereabout behaving themselves always in that time as man and wife, and using expressions as are usual between man and wife and particularly, one morning, this deponent receiving a letter for John Cooper carried it up to the arlate's chamber, where she delivered it to him and saw somebody in bed with Cooper, and believes it to be Mary Wright alias Crow because afterwards this deponent saying to Mary Wright alias Crow, did you not hear me when I brought the letter to Mr Cooper and she replied, I was asleep. And this deponent asking Mary Wright alias Crow, what made her so uneasy at John Cooper's (who went then for her husband's) going abroad, Mary Wright alias Crow replied, He has given me once the foul distemper and I am afraid he should keep bad company and give it me again, for which reasons this deponent believes that Mary Wright alias Crow did once or more times actually commit the foul crime of adultery with John Cooper and has him carnally known.
On or about Wednesday the eighteenth day of April 1716 in the evening, this deponent having a warrant (and 2 Constables to assist him in the execution of it) from Thomas Macro Esq. one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Suffolk to take up Mary Wright alias Crow as a disorderly person, this deponent with the Constables and others with him went to the sign of the Spread Eagle the house of Mr Edmund Cook in St Edmund's Bury and by virtue of the warrant the room, lodgings or chamber of John Cooper and Mary Wright alias Crow was broken open, and there, Mary Wright alias Crow was found behind the bed and soon after John Cooper came up in a violent manner and drew his sword, and swore, what had anybody to do in his room with his wife. They took her away and carried her before Thomas Macro Esquire by virtue of his warrant.
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About six months ago, John Cooper and Mary Wright alias Crow did come and lodge at the house of Edmund Cooke this deponent's father, commonly known by the name of the Spread-Eagle in Bury St Edmunds and behaved themselves as man and wife together and accordingly went up as man and wife into their chamber to go to bed together, and this deponent further saith that having occasion to go up into their bed-chamber for some sealing-wax in an evening saw them in naked bed together as man and wife and that John Cooper and Mary Wright alias Crow did continue to cohabit together as man and wife till by a warrant they were carried before Thoms Macro Esq.
This deponent on or about the fourth day of April 1716 going to see her husband who was then brewing at Mr Edward Cook's at the sign of the Spread Eagle in Bury St Edmunds, was sent up for hops into the garret along with one Henry Godfrey a soldier belonging to the Regiment arlate, and Godfrey opening a door of the room up this deponent stepped in there and the curtains at the foot of the bed being opened by Godfrey, this deponent saw John Cooper and Mary Wright alias Crow naked in bed together. And being frequently at the house by occasion of her husband's being brewer there, John Cooper and Mary Wright alias Crow used to take a candle and go to bed in one and the same room where there was only one and the same bed this deponent saw them in as predeposed. And often helping to make the bed predeposed, this deponent always observed the next morning after seeing John Cooper and Mary Wright alias Crow going thither together that there was the impression of two persons the on the bed predeposed, and believes they were the same persons. And farther this deponent believes that Mary Wright late Crow did once and more times actually commit the foul crime of adultery with John Cooper and was carnally known by him... On or about Wednesday the eighteenth day of April 1716, this deponent being at Mr Crack's in the presence of Thomas Macro Esquire, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace at St Edmunds Bury, Mary Wright alias Crow did at first affirm and declare that John Cooper and she were man and wife lawfully married together, and soon after upon Thomas Wright's agent in this cause coming into the room, Mary Wright alias Crow wept or seemed to weep and declared that Thomas Wright was her husband, and that she was not married to John Cooper.