Gender and Defamation in York 1660-1700

Anne Mitchell v. Grace Tennant

Reference: CP.H.4988 , CP.H.4984

Related cases: CP.H.4979

Year: 1682

Plaintiff: female

Defendant: female

Defamatory words:

she was with child; Thomas Dalkin had gott one bastard & yt it was well if hee had not a finger in getting the aid Anne Mitchell wth child

Tagged: bastardy, impudent, whore

Depositions

NB: these transcriptions are a work in progress and are provided without any guarantees of accuracy; checking the original documents wherever possible (via the reference links above) is recommended.

Common abbreviations:

  • exte: examinate (the witness being examined)
  • arlate, arte: articulate (ie, person referred to in the articles of accusation)

H4988

Anna Mitchell, York, spinster

... in May or June last past... one afternoone about Con-time, this exte went to the arte Grace Tennant's house in Nesse gate at Castlegate... and to the best of this extes remembrance she carryed along with her something thing to be baked at ther the sd Grace Tennant's house being a comon~ bakehouse, and as this exte was about to goe away from the sd Grace Tennant's house, the arte Grace Tennant called this exte back to looke at Anne Mitchell... daughter to one Elizabeth Mitchell in Castlegate that was goeing by the doore to Con~, and said to this exte see thou this brazen faced whore And when this exte asked whome she meant, she said Nanny Mitchell meaning the aforesd Anne Mitchell ..., and this exte said to her Na sure it is not soe, to whome the sd Grace replyed, Yes hang her she's with barne, and further she said that Dalking ... was very kinde with her, and that it was well if he had not a finger in the pye... and she alsoe sd that arte Thomas Dalking was a rancke whoremaster and that he had gott one bastard already, or words to that effect...

... in this exte oppinion the good name and credit of both the sd Anne Mitchell and Thomas Dalking are much hurt and impaired by speakeing words predeposed for that since the speaking thereof severall persons have cast the same in theire teeth...

Mary wife of William Hutchinson, York, pewterer

... in May, June or July last past... this exte being at the arte Grace Tennant's house in Nessegate at Castlegate end... Grace Tennant begun to rale against the sd Anne Mitchell... and said they say Nanny Mitchell... is with barne, and pritty forderly too...