1777-12-20 (static/transcriptions/1777/12/056.jpg)

1777. Sessions. Sat: December 20th.

Present
Impey
Chambers
&
Hyde.
The first proceeding was on the Inquest by the Jury of Matrons. A very proper Jury had been summon’d by the Sheriff, and attended, and the Sheriff being call’d on, made a return, that he had according to the award of the Court caused the under named Persons to be summon’d, and there were twenty two Names, some were English Women and some were the Black Wives of English Men, and some the Wives of Portugueze. After some consideration on the Number that ought to be sworn was agreed that it was best to swear twelve and no more. We agreed that this assertion of the Woman that she was with Child, was not a plea, but an application for a Reprieve, and that the Jury of Matrons was an Inquest to satisfy the Conscience of the Court.
And hereupon we agreed that in any future case we might instead of this manner of inquiry by a Jury of Matrons, enquire by the Oaths only of three or four Men-Midwives, or such other way as might satisfy our Conscien=
=ces