The world of Thomas Ward, sex and scandal in late seventeenth century Co. Antrim

摘要

In April 1694 Thomas Ward, dean of Connor, was deprived of his office after he was prosecuted for adultery, fornication and sexual assault. Ward denied the 22 charges -and none of the mothers of the illegitimate children gave evidence against him - but the weight of circumstantial evidence was too great. A number of women gave the name Ward to their children, midwives testified that he was the father, and he paid a number of the mothers to maintain their children. Some of the children were also said to bear a striking resemblance to the dean. If the testimony in the court was to be believed, Ward was a voracious sexual predator, threatening women with rape and demanding sex. Servants were not safe when he was around. His behaviour in London was also a source of scandal - having been caught in 'an act of vileness' with a woman in a tavern in Fleet Street. He seems to have regularly used brothels. He was also a drunkard and, as the court found, subject to 'inconstancy of life.'