He was at Mr Boughton's house one night at the ending of his harvest 1722, being one of his harvest men, at which time they were making merry together, and saith that about 10 or 11 a clock when this deponent left the company, Mr Boughton began to be merry, was somewhat in drink and toasted healths. And saith that he hath often seen Mr Boughton very drunk since he came to be Rector of Barrow, but the particular times he can't remember, save that upon Wednesday the 8th of May 1723 last past this deponent was drinking in company with Mr Boughton, Thomas Offord, Richard Cheyney, William Dear and Thomas Boulton at a tavern in London somewhere near the Strand till about 11 a clock that night, at which time this deponent, Thomas Offord and Richard Cheyney left Mr Boughton and the rest of the company drinking and went to their lodging at the Sign of the Angel in the Strand the backside of St Clement's church and about 3 or 4 a clock the next morning Mr Boughton and William Dear came to the Angel where this deponent and his company were in bed, and William Dear calling this deponent up he went to Mr Boughton, who was so drunk that he was not capable of undressing himself to go to bed without the assistance of this deponent and William Dear… At the harvest time 1722 when he this respondent was at Mr Boughton's house as afore deposed there were present Mr Thomas Martin, Richard Cheyney, John Murrells, Rebecca Murrels, Anne Dearsly and Daniel Seamor - and saith that the occasion of his being at London with Mr Boughton was his being a witness for him in the Court of Exchequer and a cause of tithes between him and his parishioners and wanting to see Mr Boughton, he found him at the tavern.
Upon Thursday the 20th of September 1722 at the ending of harvest, Mr Boughton entertained some friends and the harvest men at his house with a dinner about 4 a clock in the afternoon after which they continued drinking till 12 a clock at night when this deponent left Mr Boughton and some of his company drinking, and saith that at that time Mr Boughton was pretty much in liquor, and amongst other of his behaviour at that time, he toasted some ridiculous silly healths (as Mother Thumbleton's health, three bare words and no more) and this deponent saith that whilst she lived with him as a servant, which was in the years 1717 and 1718, he was frequently very drunk, and once particularly he was so very drunk, that he was carried up into his bed chamber by two men, and at another time when Mr Ebbet of Gazely and some other company were with him, he was exceeding drunk but the particular days or times she can't remember… She has known Mr Boughton about seven years, who hath been Rector there about 9 or 10 years… Mr Thomas Martin and his wife, Mrs Catherine Martin, Daniel Seamor, Ann Dearsly, William Boggas, John Smith, Richard Cheney, John Murrels and this deponent were all at the said Mr Boughton's, on the 20th of September 1722 as predeposed.
Upon Thursday the 20th day of September 1722 Mr Christopher Boughton treated several of his friends and harvest men upon their making an end of harvest, at his house in Barrow, and entertained them with a dinner and after that the company were merry and drank pretty freely, and continued drinking till about 12 a clock at night, when the company parted and went home, and after they were gone she this deponent being sertvant to Mr Boughton, who had been drinking all the night with the company, did help him upstairs into his bed chamber, and helped to undress him, he being so much in liquor at that time, that he could not get upstairs nor undress himself without her assistance, and this deponent saith that during the time she lived with him, which was from two days after Lady Day 1722 to the 30th of January following, Mr Boughton was very frequently drunk and disguised with liquor to a great degree, in his own house, and sometimes was so for three or four days together, but the particular days and times she can't now remember, and one night he was so drunk that she this deponent and a young gentlewoman who boarded with him, could not get him to his bed chamber, but let him sleep in his great chair till the next morning, and hath likewise observed him very often come home drunk home from Bury and other places… She did not know him till she came to live with him, and doth not know how long he hath been rector there… Upon the 20th of September 1722, there were in company at Mr Boughton's house together with Mr Boughton, William Boggas, John Murrels, Richard Cheney, Rebecca Murells and John Smith, and one or two more that she doth not remember, and that they were making merry at the concluding of harvest and saith that when Mr Boughton was drunk for three or four days together as predeposed, his brother Thomas Martin and his wife, and Mr Sheffield Martins were at Mr Boughton's and continued there most part of the week.
Upon Thursday the 20th day of September 1722 she being at Mr Boughton's of Barrow at dinner, in company with Mr Thomas Martyn and his wife, Mrs Le Neve and Mrs Dixon, who all dined together in the parlour, at which time Mr Boughton having made an end of harvest, had his harvest men to dine in his kitchen, and after dinner was over in the parlour they drank tea and coffee, and sometime walked into the garden till the evening, when returning into the parlour, the harvest men came together, and begged leave to give them a song as is customary at those times, and having sung and received a largesse from Mrs Boughton and the company abovesaid, they retired, then Mr Boughton ordered them some drink and desired when they had drank it to go home, which they did about 10 or 11 a clock, and about an hour after Mr Boughton and the company went to bed, Mr Boughton and Mr Martyn lying together were lighted up, but not by the maid servant who attended the women, but never went near Mr Boughton. And saith that Mr Boughton drank very little all that day and night being no ways disabled or disguised with liquor when he went to bed, but that the maid (whose name she thinks was ann Lawson, now Dearsley) was very much disordered with drink, having been drinking in the harvest men's company. And saith that William Bogas and Rebecca Morrell two witnesses produced sworn to be examined on the behalf of Robert Growse in this cause were gone from Mr Boughton's some time before he went to bed. And saith that Mr Boughton is very abstemious in liquor, and of sober life and conversation.
She boarded with Mr Boughton at his house at Barrow from December 1721 to the November following, and was at Mr Boughton's house upon the 20th day of September 1722 when Mr Boughton having made an end of harvest had the harvest men to dinner at his house in the kitchen and at the same time having invited Mr Thomas Martyn and his wife and sister and Mrs Le Neve, they together with this deponent dined in the parlour with Mr Boughton and after dinner drank tea and coffee and walked some time in the garden to pass away the time, during which time Mr Boughton sometimes looked in upon the harvest men, and told them they were welcome, but never sat down amongst them. And about 8 a clock the harvest men came into the parlour and standing round the room sung some harvest songs, after which having received a largesse from the company they retired into the kitchen; then Mr Boughton desiring this deponent to get them a gotch of ale and put a little brandy in it, it being the last they were to drink there, and that when they had finished the same he desired they would go home which they did; and when this deponent thought the harvest men were gone, she went into the kitchen in the dark and stumbling over something went to fetch a candle, when she found Ann Lawson now Dearsly, a witness produced, sworn and examined on the part of Robert Growse, lying near the table drunk, and raising her up desired her to go to bed, but she would not be prevailed on to go then to bed, but made shift to attend some of the women to bed that night tho she did not in the least help Mr Boughton to his bed chamber, or come near him that this deponent observed, he being always lighted up to bed by his boy, as he was that night, and never upon any occasion or at any time undressed or put to bed by Ann Lawson. And saith that all that day and night Mr Boughton behaved himself with great decency and behaviour, did not commit the least unbecoming action all that while, neither was he disguised with strong liquors when he went to bed that night, but went upstairs without any assistance. And saith that during all the time she boarded and was in Mr Boughton's house at Barrow she never see him disguised with liquor, or ever carried up to bed, or sit up in his chair all night, but always went to bed in good time... William Boggas and Rebecca Murrell two witnesses in the behalf of Mr Growse were gone from Mr Boughton some time before he or any of the company went to bed.
Upon Wednesday the 19th day of September 1722 Mr Boughton being at this deponent's house at Depden in Suffolk, invited him, his wife, and the company that were present to dine with him at his house in Barrow next day when they should see a hawky, or feast upon concluding harvest, and accordingly they went to dinner with him, when were present in the parlour with Mr Boughton, this deponent and his wife, Mrs Hannah Digby, Mrs Catherine Dixon and Mrs Le Neve, and the harvest men dined together in the kitchen; dinner being over in the parlour about 4 a clock, after this deponent had smoked a pipe, he and Mr Boughton and the women walked into the garden about the house, and drank tea or coffee to pass away the afternoon, and about 7 or 8 a clock in the evening the harvest men coming into the parlour sung a harvest song, as is customary at those times which when they had done and received a largesse, they retired, and this deponent, Mr Boughton and the women stayed in the parlour about two or three hours after, till about eleven a clock when Mr Boughton and he this deponent (who laid together) were lighted upstairs by his boy, and saith that during all that day and night Mr Boughton behaved himself with the greatest decency and order and was no ways disordered by drink when he went to bed, neither was carried or helped up to his bed chamber that night, and never remebers to have seen him at any other time (tho' he is very well acquainted with, and related to him) disguised or drunk with strong liquors, but is a sober and abstemious person, of good life and conversation. And farther saith that Ann Dearsley, William Bogas and Rebecca Murrell three witnesses produced, sworn and examined on the part of Robert Growse in this cause were not seen by, nor came near, Mr Boughton or any of the company for near two hours before Mr Boughton went to bed... The harvest men never came into Mr Boughton's company in the parlour all that day and night but to sing a song and then retired.