This deponent being at Aughton with Ann the wife of Richard Molineux, butcher, and discoursing of the said George Burches, Ann told this deponent that her husband had a licence and George married them (which was not long before) in a public alehouse in Ormskirk in the afternoon and that he demanded 10 but took 7 for so marrying them... There is a common report in the neighbourhood that George is and has been a great frequenter of ale houses and keeper of bad company of men and women, a stirrer up of strifes and suits among his neighbours and that he has very much neglected his duty as a Minister.
This deponent being a near neighbour to him hath known George Burches ever since he came to be curate at Maghull, which is two years and an half ago or thereabouts, but hearing at the beginning of his coming thither, a bad character of him in Liverpool, this deponent forbore to come frequently... George, very frequently, if not daily when at home resorted to an alehouse in the same village of Maghull, the sign of the Ship, kept by one Elizabeth Molineux a Quaker which for all the time was accounted an house of bad reputation, entertaining bad persons and at uncanon times. About two yeas ago particularly, George was there with three persons who were supposed to be cheats, one pretending to be a cider merchant, another a fencing master, the third a sailor, and each a stranger to each other, as was said. They and George continued if not altogether, then most part of three days together in which team they made three races (two horse races and a foot race) in all which George was concerned as a gamester or maker of the matches, his own horse running the two horse races. This deponent observing how public an offence this conversation was spake to the chapelwarden Richard Hesketh advising him to admonish George of it. Richard told this deponent that (coming from a Visitation Court at Wigan) he did so, upon which George broke his head, telling him that what he did do, he would do, that he would live above the town, or he would not live in it, as Richard told this deponent, and he shewed this deponent his broken head... George frequenting the said ale house or tippling house so very much it was reported that there was more than ordinary familiarity betwixt him and the said Landlady Elizabeth Molineux's daughter, and that he had presented her with his own handkerchief and his wives ring and that she commonly wore them... George having given out that the said Landlady's daughter, Mary Molineux, was with child, this deponent told him of it and he denied it not, but said he was not the first that reported it. And this deponent heard the Landlady speaking of George say he was a lying fellow and she hoped her daughter was not with child for she washed her smock... George did so much and constantly frequent ale houses and drinking and sometimes coursing and setting, that he verily believes he very rarely applied himself to... studies or reading of the scriptures. He hath frequently seen him come late home on Saturday nights from coursing or setting with his dog and stick and often from Liverpool he frequently going thither and staying till market day which is Saturday. George's clerk told this deponent that for a half a year together, George had neither pen or ink and that he believed he had no books to read and George's landlord Thomas Barton told this deponent the same thing, and the occasion of this discourse was from deponent's saying (which he had indeed heard) that George had promised some boys each a piece to write out sermons for him and he did not pay them... Easter Sunday last, this deponent and several others of the chapelry of Maghull going to Aughton church having left their own chapel and done so frequently, at dinner Mr Siddall the Rector there asked them why they came to Aughton to church? And this deponent told him, because they did not like Mr Burches! And Mr [Alexander] Hesketh being then present, [Mr Siddall] asked him whether he could say any thing by (or against) for his reason why he did not like Burches? Alexander answered, that it was reported that he, Mr Burches and Thomas Tyrer kept a whore among them, and that he [Alexander] was to pay one half and they two the other half of her maintenance. Upon which he blushing said that he would tell the truth, that there was indeed twelve shillings a month paid for a young woman who was set to be sold to go for Virginia at one Pye's in Liverpool and that he had not yet received their money. Thomas Tyrer had brought her to the Stags Head in Aintree where they could have her kept for 8d a month... It is a common fame and report... that George was a frequenter of alehouses and very bad company both men and women and that he neglected his studies and the duty of a Minister of the said Chapelry.
This deponent working at his trade, in Liverpool, and one day about 3 weeks or a month before Christmas last being in company with some of his acquaintance of the same trade, at the house of Margaret Pye in Liverpool, which is a place noted for lewd women, and by some called a whore house, this deponent saw, in the said house 2 women both being said to be bad women, one was called Margaret who seemed to be big of child and the other (who seemed a pretty young woman) was called Betty Gregson. The same Betty after some time, went from the company, up stairs, and when she was there, this deponent perceived that somebody was with her talking but he could not understand certainly who it was, and this deponent not long after left the house; but afterwards at night and this deponent suspecting that the person who was upstairs was one Thomas Tyrer and having a mind to be satisfied, he went into the said Pye's house and there found George Burches and Margaret and Betty with him. This deponent being-born at and come from Maghul and known to Burches perceived he was something disturbed at his appearing, but he rose up and invited this deponent to sit down and drink but it being late (viz past 10 if not 11 a clock) he did not stay but the said Burches engaged him to meet him there the next day and the next day it snowing and preventing this deponent's work, he went according to his promise betwixt 11 and 12 a clock to Pye's house to enquire for Mr Burches, and they told him he was not come. Upon which he went home to his (this deponent's) Dame's house to dinner; where being sat Margaret Pye came and said that parson Burches was in her house and desired to speak with this deponent. Upon which this deponent's Dame said, she could not believe that the parson would be there, but said she feared it was likelier that some bad women were there, or that effect. Yet by reason of his promise this deponent went to Pye's house, and found Burches with the two women, and a fiddler being sent for, came and played to them, and Mr Burches danced with the big bellied woman (he believes with both) and this deponent by the freedom in amongst them thought there was more than ordinary acquaintance and familiarity betwixt Mr Burches and the 2 women. They continued merry and he sang several unseemly songs to them and in this discourse he frequently swore, cursed and damned very extravagantly. While they were at this diversion, some carpenters, this deponent's acquaintances, came about the door, called this deponent out and then in a deriding manner, threw snow balls at this deponent and at the door, and called this deponent the parson's pimp. When this deponent went back into the company Mr Burches charged him not divulge or discover any thing concerning him, and that if any notice was taking about him, he should say it was Mr Burches' brother and put it off. This deponent's Dame sending her maid and daughter for this deponent, he came from them about 8 or 9 a clock at night, and Mr Burches parted at the same time. Betty Gregson was said and reported to be a young woman from Preston or that way that being given to lewdness she had disobliged her parents or friends. She then had sold herself for Virginia. But Mr Hesketh of Aughton and Mr Burches had bought or cleared her again. Margaret was accounted also to be a very ill lewd woman given also to drink, swear and curse, and was reckoned a common whore, though she pretended she had a husband... Mr Burches has a very ill report of him in Liverpool and the country about. He is generally reckoned to be a great drinker a frequenter of bad company both men and women, at ill and suspected alehouses and whorehouses.
This deponent hath known George Burches ever since he came to live at Maghull (for this deponent then lived there and came from thence to live at Liverpool Saturday last). He well remembers that at Mr Burches his first coming to Maghull as Curate there he behaved himself with respect and modesty to the neighbours and seemed to have little or no inclination to drinking or keeping company. But the neighbours observed that after he had with some success promoted a subscription or contribution to himself, on stamped paper, he altered much in his humour and behaviour and became a great frequenter of alehouses and suspicious company and particularly a little alehouse in the same village the sign of the Ship kept by one Elizabeth Molineux a Quaker. About or rather above two years ago, it was observed with some scandal and offence that Mr Burches continued mostly at that house, for three days together in the company of three strangers of suspicious behaviour, one pretending to be a ciderman, another a fencing master, and the other a mariner, the said three and Mr Burches appearing a stranger to each other yet making and carrying on matches or races and the management of them was so odd and unusual, each pretending to be a stranger to each other and yet continuing so long together at the same place that some people suspected the three strangers were cheats well acquainted among themselves and that Mr Burches was not ignorant of their designs though he lost two horse races at that time. Mr Burches after the time continued to frequent alehouses and tippling houses and ill company and when at home, for the most part, the said ale house the sign of the Ship in Maghull. This deponent remembers that about a month before Christmas last, Mr Burches inviting this deponent to go thither with him, saying he would give him half a dozen of ale there, he went with him. And while they were there Elizabeth Molineux, the Landlady took occasion to tell him that she had heard that he had said something concerning her daughter's being with child or to that purpose and asked him why he would say so? And to that effect. Upon which he in some passion said, "Damn it. Thou may well hold thy tongue, thou knows I have fucked thee and thy daughter many a time" and she replied, "Ay ay, thou may say what thou will; I never heed thee what thou says" and they soon after parted them... This deponent being in company on Saturday last with Richard Molineux of Aughton, butcher, Richard upon discourse of Mr Burches and Raph Tyrer putting the question to him, he confessed Mr Burches married him in an alehouse (one Jane Hey's house) in Ormskirk and that he had a licence... There is a common fame or report... that George Burches is a great drinker and frequenter of alehouses and ill company, both men and women, and that he neglects his cure and his study.
At the Episcopal visitation held at Wigan in May 1701, this deponent being then Chapelwarden of Maghull, he attended and gave in his presentment, and returning thence in company with Mr Burches their Curate they called at an alehouse in Upholland. This deponent being then freely in company with him and other neighbours, he took upon him to advise or counsel Mr Burches privately and more apart not to frequent Alehouses and drinking so much, for that several people were offended at it... And he asked this deponent who those were? And this deponent answered Mr Ireland and several others. But Mr Burches taking it ill to be admonished... fell into a passion and with his whip (and he believes the heavy end of it) striking this deponent, broke his head... Mr Burches lives under a bad and scandalous character in the country, and is generally... taken to be a very great drinker and frequenter of ale houses and a keeper of bad and scandalous company both men and women.
When George Burches came first to Maghull, which is about two years and a half ago, this deponent was sometimes in his company and at an innocent recreation viz at shooting in the bow with him and he then seemed obliging to the inhabitants of the Chapelry, but in some time after this deponent hearing he [George Burches] was given to frequent ale houses and bad company was seldom of his conversation... George Burches is generally reported to be a frequenter of ale houses or tippling houses, a lover of pot companions, and keeps company of both men and women of evil report and very much to neglect his duty in his function. It is also reported he has made clandestine marriages, and particularly that he married Richard Molineux, a butcher of Aughton in a public alehouse in Ormskirk to his now wife.
This deponent, as servant to Thomas Hesketh of Aughton (Gentleman), several times attended him to Rochdale when he made application by way of courting, to Elizabeth the daughter of Samuel Birch who lives near Rochdale. He was also present in the house of one James Taylor (being an alehouse) in Rochdale, upon the month of March last as he verily believes for the month, when a certain person though he was then in a grey riding coat and who was as this deponent remembers then called by the name of Oldfield did marry Mr Hesketh and Elizabeth Birch together about eleven a clock in the forenoon. He remembers that a writing was then shown and produced by the said person which was said to be a licence. The person said, if it must be done meaning the marriage, it should be done in lawful time, or to that purpose. And the deponent saith, that upon seeing Mr Burches since the time of the said marriage, several times, considering his face, voice, mean and person, and laying other circumstances together he is induced to believe and he doth verily believe and is confident in his belief that the same Mr Burches was and is the same person who married Mr Hesketh and Elizabeth Birch, now his wife, together.
About Martinmas last this deponent being at Liverpool and her brother Thomas Tyrer being at the home of Ellen Carter, there, she went to him and found him, Mr Alexander Hesketh of Aughton, and George Burches, drinking together their drink being sugared ale, and a young woman who seemed to be about 18 years of age was then only with them. This deponent stayed till they parted, and this deponent hath been since informed that the young woman's name was Gregson and that she was sold for Virginia, but Mr Hesketh and Mr Burches bought her off. And this deponent's brother told this deponent that Mr Burches ordered him to bring the young woman to the Stag's head in Aintree. This deponent further saith that she was informed that the said young woman had a bastard child about two months ago... George Burches lies under a very bad report in the neighbourhood of being a great frequenter of alehouses, and of keeping bad company both men and women.
In the neighbourhood and parishes adjoining... and for a year and upwards hath been a common and scandalous report that Mr Burches did very much neglect his cure and his studies, that he very much frequented alehouses and company of men and women of suspected and bad conversation.
Burches... is and has been a great frequenter of alehouses and keeper of bad company both men and women.
'This deponent lodged at the house of George Pye in Pool Lane in Liverpool, which is reckoned a house of ill repute, and he well remembers that in one or more of the said months and as he remembers more particularly in October or November, he was several vid. three times in company with Mr Burches and particularly in one of the times he remembers in that two women were in company with him at the same time and they were both reported and said to be of very ill reputation and especially one of them was reckoned to be a very light young woman and a whore. George was very free and familiar with them, and sometimes kissed them on the lips and they were merry and had music playing. One William Tyrer, a young man, upon the invitation of Mr Burches was some part of the time with them. And this deponent about 10 a clock at night left Burches (together with the said women) and went to his (this deponent's) bed. And after he was in bed, he still heard (for some time for his room was near) that they were together. And the next morning at 8 or 9 o clock this deponent found Mr Burches in the same house with the women but whether he stayed all night there or not he can't depose.