Sarah Pusey

A case against Sarah Pusey in the Somerset court records: "We of the Jury do present Sarah Pusey of Coventry parish Spinster for bearing a bastard Child about the fifteenth day of October in 1724 John Scott foreman
Thereupon Command was given to the sher of Somersett County that he should take the said Sarah Pusey of Coventry parish Spinster if she should be found in his Bailywick and her Should safe Keep so that he might have her body before the Justices of his Lordships County Court of
Somersett the third tuesday of March then next at dividing Creek to answer unto his said Lordship
Concerning a Certain presentm.t against her found &c and that thereof he should not fail &c. Att which said third tuesday of march to witt the sixteenth day of the Same month ann Dom One thousand seven hundred and twenty four being the day of the return of the said Writt Cometh the sher of Somersett County to whom the foregoeing Writt was directed Cometh and Maketh Return thereof Endorsed in these words following viz.t Cepi Corpus P Joseph MccClester Sherr
Whereupon the said Sarah Pusey in her Own Proper person appears and being sett to the bar is thereupon Instantly demanded how she would acquitt herselfe of the premisses afd so as afd
upon her Imposed says that of the premisses afd upon her Imposed she is guilty thereof and makes Oath that a Certain William Langford is the begetter of the Child she stands presented for
but hath not wherewithall to pay her fine for the fact afd. Wherefore it is Considered by the
Court that the said Sarah Pusey be whipt at the publick whiping post with fifteen Lashes on the
bare back well Laid on untill the blood appear and as to the Corporall punishm.t Command is
given to the Sherr of Somersett County that he doe thereof Immediate Execution by whiping the afd Sarah Pusey at the publick whiping post with fifteen Lashes on the bare back well Laid on untill the Blood appear And afterwards in the same Court the said sher Returns that he hath done the
Execution of the Judgm.t afd as to the Corporall punishm.t afd he was Commanded Whereupon its ordered by the Court that the said Sarah Pusey give Security for all Fees that accrewed due unto the severall officers upon the presentm.t afd thereupon a Certain Peter Frazer & William Pusey both of Somersett County planters undertakes for the said Sarah Pusey to pay unto the severall officers ^their fees^ be by occasion of the premisses afd upon the presentm.t afd by order of Court the said Sarah Pusey Enters into recognizance in ten pounds sterll for her appearance at
Next Court to give Evidence ag.t the said W.m Langford &c." (SoJ-1723/25:265)

Sarah married William Lankford, son of Joseph Lankford and Alice Pusey. (William Lankford was born before 1709 in Somerset Co., MD and died in 1728 in Somerset Co., MD.)