Just to explain ... the document is a record of an interview held in the parish of St Martin in the Fields, to determine if Tobias Quin had settlement rights there and was eligible for poor-law relief from the parish.
Tobias Quin aged 40 Years upon his Oath saith that he was while single and unmarried a Yearly hired Seven to Mrs Mary ffordham a ffishmonger the corner of Hungerford Street Strand in the Parish of St. Martin in the ffields ...
Seven is a mistranscription for
Servant. Service for a year and a day ('a yearly hired servant'), with board and lodging, within the parish, was a standard qualification for settlement in any parish, and would have entitled him to consideration for poor-law relief.
... for the space of Three Years all under one hiring at the Yearly Wages of Twelve Guineas Diet & lodging & during all which Time he lodged in his said Mistresses house quitted the same in the year 1779 ...
This confirms that it was continuous employment (
all under one hiring) for three years, from 1776 to 1779, with board and lodging.
... since which she hath not rented Ten Pounds by the Year not done any act to gain a subsequent Settlement ...
She must be a transcription error for
he. If Tobias had paid rent of ten pounds/year in any other parish, it would have gained him settlement rights elsewhere, and would have disqualified him from receiving relief from St Martin’s.
... that he was married to his late Wife Martha at the Parish Church of SaintAnn Soho February 13th 1779 by whom he has issue Seven Children to wit Mary Maria Born December 8th/80 Sarah Born May 3d 4/82 John Born February 25th4/84 James Born July 17th/87 Thomas Born August 74/91 Charles Born July 21st/93 & Elizabeth Born December 21st4/90 for all now living ...
Seven children are listed, with birthdates 1780-1793, all living (though you say six?)
... & removed from St James ...
Tobias and children had been
removed, under poor-law regulations, from the parish of St James Westminster to this parish of St Martin in the Fields, because he had no settlement rights in St James. St Martin’s is now shown to be their parish of legal settlement (children took their father's place of settlement until they gained another in their own right).
... Sworn this 27th Day of January 1795 before me John Collick Tobias Quin his Mark
Married to Mary at Christ Church Newgate St Novr 4/96
This is a
subsequent marriage, in 1796 (added after the end of the examination), and it was to another
Mary, not Mary Fordham. The marriage register for Christ Church Newgate was destroyed by bombing in 1940, so there is no original that can be viewed, only extracts and indexes. But the marriage is shown in Pallot’s Index to have been to a
Mary Smith, who, like Tobias, was
widowed.
I hope that helps.