![*](images/icon-portbooks.png)
On the Thanksgiving day for the Peace being the seventh day of July 1713, one Mary Lacey a poor wench that lives with this deponent being overtaken with drink and laid down under a hedge to sleep in Larling, Buck got upon her and would as this deponent believes have had carnal knowledge of her, had not this deponent came and called him off of her... He is a poor husbandman and takes collection.
Edward Buck is a loose idle fellow and was a labourer or servant to this deponent, but sometime in July last, after he was taken upon the bed with Margaret then Cooper now Buck, Buck deserted this deponent and run away and afterwards this deponent heard Margaret say that Edward Buck had lain with her that very day he went away and upon the Sunday fortnight before. He lived two years in the same house with Margaret late Cooper now Buck, and this deponent don't believe her to be a fool or idiot, for that when her dame was gone to market, she looked after and took care and nursed two children, one in arms and the other three or four years old and gave them victuals and drink and kept them quiet and clean as another servant would have done, and this deponent has often sent her on errands and she always delivered her message without mistakes and brought proper answers. And this deponent has often given her tobacco which (her dame being against it) she would hide up with a great deal of cunning and smoke when her dame was out of the way. Upon the third day of December last this deponent heard that Buck at Justice Harry's house in Old Buckenham before whom he was carried by virtue of a warrant for deserting this deponent's service, that if the townsmen of Snetterton would give him some clothes, he would freely and voluntarily be married to Margaret then Cooper now Buck. On the day arlate this deponent was present in New Buckenham church at the solemnization of matrimony between Edward Buck and Margaret then Cooper now Buck, and as father did give her away in marriage to Buck, and Margaret then Cooper now Buck did behave herself and repeat her part of the office of matrimony prescribed in the liturgy of the Church of England after Mr Colman the Minister distinctly as other women generally do without being prompted by any person. He has often seen Margaret late Cooper now Buck after dinner or supper lifting up her hands say thank God I've got a good dinner, or a good supper, thank you dame. And further, when he retired into his chamber to his devotions or to read he did often say to Margaret then Cooper now Buck, Peg I am going to prayers or to read in my chamber, don't suffer the children to make a noise below, and he has often heard her, when her dame and master was abroad chide the children and bid them hold their tongue and not disturb Austin for he is in his chamber at prayer or reading.
Margaret late Cooper now Buck is not a natural or stark fool or idiot for that when this deponent was overseer of the parish of Snetterton (which was four years ago) he paid her collection at the rate of eighteen pence a week, and that sometimes he paid her part thereof in money and part in goods, and she could always tell when she had her full due and when not, and kept an exact account of what was due to her. And when this deponent has talked to her for not wearing the badge, she would say here it is and show it under another gown or mantle she wore. She would often come to this deponent's house and say pray give me a piece of meat and then pray give me a draught of beer, and when she had eat and drink she would make a curtsey and thanking of them going away, as any other person of right reason and understanding would do... He is a farmer and can't well tell what he is worth after his just debts paid. He has no interest in the town of Snetterton, neither do he pay to any rate there, but leave the town at Michaelmas day next.
Margaret late Cooper now Buck is not a very natural, fool or idiot for that she is capable of nursing and looking after a child of a year old, and that she would give it such victuals and drink as necessary and quiet the child when tedious and crying as well as any other person that has the right use of her reason and understanding. And particularly she nursed a child of her dame's that had a rupture and when it was tedious and frowed with the same she would lay the child and flat on the back and put it up with her hand. She (Margaret) would go on any errand and deliver her message plain and distinctly as any other person would do, and go on to common fetch up her dame's cow from all the others then feeding upon the common, and she is so cunning as to conceal her pipe and tobacco from her dame, who has an aversion to it, and takes the opportunity of smoking when her dame is out of the way, and in all other matters act and behave herself like a person that has the right use of his reason. Her husband is a farmer but what is worth after his just debts are paid she can't answer. Her husband is rated and do pay towards the maintenance of the poor of Snettenham.
Upon a Tuesday in July last, 1713 this deponent going up into his chamber about half an hour after twelve of the clock the same day saw Margaret late Cooper now Buck (who then lived at this deponent's house) lying flat on her back upon the bed with her petticoats up to her middle and Edward Buck upon his knees by her with his breeches down, and this deponent do believe Buck to be a very idle, loose fellow. Margaret is not a very fool or idiot for that she lived with this deponent about three years and an half, during which time she would wash and clean house and go on errands and bring distinct and rational answers, and go on to common and fetch this deponent's cow, from several others then feeding, and when this deponent's wife has been at market (as she often was by the whole day together) Margaret Cooper alias Buck did nurse and take care of a young child about five quarters old and another about four or give years old and quiet them when tedious and froward and give them victuals and drink that was left her by their mother when necessary and proper with as much discretion as another nurse or their mother would do. And Margaret would often smoke a pipe of tobacco when her dame, who was much against it, was out of the way, and would hide and conceal her pipes and tobacco from her dame with a great deal of cunning... He was present at the solemnization of the marriage between Margaret Cooper now Buck and Edward Buck in the parish church of New Buckenham and heard Margaret Cooper alias Buck say after Mr Thomas Colman the Minister distinctly and rationally without being prompted by any person her part of the office of Matrimony as is directed in the Liturgy of the Church of England. He is an husbandman and can't tell what he is worth after his debts paid. He is rated and pay towards the maintenance of the poor of Snetterton.
Upon the Thanksgiving day for peace, being the seventh day of July last 1713, this deponent being in his yard at Larling aforesaid, and hearing a noise of persons quarrelling went out of his yard to them, where he saw Edward Buck and John Buttrell this deponent's contest with his staff up in a posture to strike Buck, upon which this deponent asked what was the matter, and Buttrell made answer here this rogue (meaning Buck) would ravish the wench, I pulled him off her, and then Buck run away. Then this deponent saw one Mary Lacy, a poor foolish wench, who was overtaken with drink that day, laying under the hedge with her clothes turned up about her knees... He is a husbandman and can't tell what he is worth after his just debts paid... After solemnization of matrimony between Margaret Cooper now Buck and Edward Buck this deponent went with them to the George Inn at New Buckenham, where she eating some victuals called to her husband Edward Buck saying to him come and eat some victuals or else I'll eat none and declared she loved him and would provide some warm victuals for him always against he came home from work, and being asked what, she answered, pudding and meat. And as she was going home to Snetterton she often asked where her poor husband was, why did he not come along with us; and being told he was gone to another Justice of Peace, but would come and lie with her at night she was very well satisfied. And amongst other discourse said she wanted a pottage pot and dishes and other things to keep house with.