Robt Osborne
sworn the day and year above written before me
Nath Lawrence
the examination of
Robt Osborne
of the parish of Earls Colne in the said county husbandman taken upon oath this
15.11.1727
who upon his oath saith that about
the latter end of .8.last
according to the best of his remembrance one
Hen Clarke
came to his this examinant's house in Earls Colne aforesaid and brought with him four pieces of hemping cloth containing about 12yd and desired this examinant's wife to make him two shirts with the said cloth and this examinant saith that he suspecting the said
Hen Clarke
had stolen the said cloth asked him he came by it who told this examinant he had it out of his grandfather's yard in the parish of Boxtead in the said county whereupon this examinant sent a letter to
Jn Clarke
of Boxtead who the said
Hen Clarke
told this examinant was his grandfather to know if he had lost any such cloth describing the same in his letter and the said
Jn Clarke
sent to this examinant desiring him to meet him at Colchester the saturday following and bring the said cloth with him and this examinant accordingly met the said
Jn Clarke
who declared the said cloth to be his maidservant's and that the same was taken out of his yard or field
Robt Osborne
sworn the day and year above written before me
Nath Lawrence