The producent Mr Roger Colman lived several years in New Buckenham before and until the time he went to live at Thompson. At that time and since there was a very good neighbourhood in the said town of New Buckenham. At that time and now it was and is usual for the neighbours to meet sometimes at one neighbour's house and sometimes at another's in an evening and to play for cakes and ale, or a bottle of wine, sometimes at the George or Bull Taverns in New Buckenham. Oftentimes several gentlemen and clergymen of the neighbouring towns hath been so kind to be present as well as Mr Roger Colman. If at any time there happened to be any further gaming than for a bottle of wine, or cakes and ale, other gentlemen and persons did the same as Mr Colman. This deponent hath been in company several times with Mr Colman and the others company which were usually the best sort of persons. But this deponent saith that in all the frolicks or meetings the deponent hath been in which Mr Colman be, this deponent did never observe Mr Colman to be given to women nor do this deponent believe Mr Colman to be guilty of the crime charged upon him by the aforesaid Susan wife of the aforesaid Richard Phillipps. This deponent further saith that he doth not know that Roger Colman hath sat up all night this Christmas last nor hath this deponent set up at night in his company at the George or Bull in New Buckenham aforesaid or elsewhere (to the best of this deponent's remembrance) for several years last past. Further saith that he doth confess he hath heard Mr Colman in passion express himself in such manner as this deponent hath heard other great and good men express themselves. But at other times this deponent never took notice of his being guilty of swearing or misbehaving himself.
Depositions & Examinations
DN/DEP 58/62 (unfol.) Office c Colman
NRO
Immorality
1718
New Buckenham, Norfolk, England
Plaintiff
Office [Not specified]
[Not specified]
Defendant
Roger Colman
male
Church of England clergyman (Inferred)
Thompson, Norfolk, England
Witness
Nicholas Yallop
male
Attorney
Event
Gambling gatherings in New Buckenham
from c. 1700 ('At that time...')
to c. 1718 ('...and now')
evening - evening
George, New Buckenham, Norfolk, England
Components
Gaming and gambling
Company and drinking groups: mixed
Inferred
Food and meals
Mentioned Only
Swearing and cursing
Inferred
Drinking round the clock
Inferred
'up all night'
Clerical misconduct
Inferred
Alcohol | Ale
Settings
Tavern
Location of Event
'sometimes at the George or Bull Taverns'
Household
Location of Event
'sometimes at one neighbour's house and sometimes at another's'
Event
Sexual assault (inferred) during gambling event in a New Buckenham tavern
circa 25 December 1717
New Buckenham, Norfolk, England
Components
Company and drinking groups: mixed
Gaming and gambling
Sexual assault
Inferred
'the crime charged upon him by Susan wife of the aforesaid Richard Phillipps'
Clerical misconduct
Inferred
Alcohol | Unspecified
Setting
Tavern
Location of Event
Inferred
Statement
2 October 1718
Nicholas Yallop