Tiverton, Bristol County, Massachusetts,October 1731 quarter session of the Court of General Sessions, examination of Tabitha Dennis of Tiverton, singlewoman, being with child at the time of examination, 20 September 1731. Examination taken by Thomas Church, Justice of the Peace, in which she names the father of her expectant child Robert Taylor of Little Compton. The recognizance bond for Tabitha's appearance at the next court of quarter sessions to answer a complaint for fornication or bastardy, was signed by Tabitha Dennis and Robert Woodman, as her surety. Robert Woodman was married to Elizabeth (Briggs), a sister of Susanna (Briggs) Dennis. There was also a recognizance bond signed for the appearance of Robert Taylor of Little Compton, Cordwainer, (shoemaker) signed by Robert Taylor, and his sureties, Benjamin Brownell and John Wilbore. Robert Taylor is presumably the son of Robert and Deborah (Peckham) Taylor, born in Little Compton in Dec. 1695, and died there in July 1770. When Obediah was conceived, about Feb/March 1731, Tabitha Dennis was 18 years old, and Robert Taylor was 35 years old, a widower with several young children. Tabitha's claim against Robert Taylor for support of Obadiah was likely settled before his marriage to Rebecca Rouse, perhaps with a lump sum payment. There are no surviving records of the December 1731 quarter term of the Court of General Sessions, nor any further mention of Tabitha in the Bristol County court records. She bought a 50-acre homestead in Tiverton in 1756, then 43 years of age, which she left to her son Obadiah in 1784. Interestedly, the trade of Obadiah Dennis was cordwainer (shoemaker), like his presumed biological father, Robert Taylor.