According to a 'Settlement Examination' dated 3 Oct 1739 at the Borough of Reading John Lovelock was born in Burghfield, Berkshire. Presumably, his marriage on the same day was connected to the settlement examination and his 'settlement' may have been conditional on it. Establishing place of legal settlement was important if one wished to receive parish poor relief (the equivalent of our modern 'dole' or 'unemployment benefits'.) So it is likely that John Lovelock was seeking parish relief at the time. Four years later, in a Settlement Certificate dated 26 Oct 1743, John, his wife Elizabeth and his three children at that time, John, Lucy and Dorcas (spelt 'Darkis' on Certificate), were stated as legally settled in the parish of South Stoke, Oxfordshire. The 1743 Settlement Certificate was addressed to the Church Wardens and Overseers of the Poor at St Marys, Reading. Presumably John and his family were still living at the time at Reading and were seeking to remain there.
We also know do know from his Settlement Examination that 'he was hired for 4 years to Thomas Jennes of Woodcott in the parish of South Stoke in the County of Oxon with whom he lived as a serv[an]t for the space of two years and saith that he hath not gained any settlement since his service at Stoke as aforesaid'.
Full text follows:
Examination of John Lovelock.
Borough of Reading in the County of Berks To Wit The Examination of John Lovelock when upon the third day of October 1739 before Richard Richards Gent one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said Burrough as followeth:
The Examinant saith that he was born at Burghfield in the said County and saith that abt six years since he was hired for 4 years to Thomas Jennes of Woodcott in the parish of South Stoke in the County of Oxon yeoman with whom he lived as a serv[an]t for the space of two years and saith that he hath not gained any settlement since his
service at Stoke as aforesaid. Sworn within the said Burrough this 3d day of October 1739 before me Richd Richards mayor John Lovelock
Settlement Certificate
Oxfordshire To Wit We Jonathan Bailey, William Lewis, Mary Higgs widow and Thomas James Church-Wardens and Overseers of the Poor of the Parish of South Stoke in the County of Oxford aforesaid, do hereby own and acknowledge John Lovelock and Elizabeth his wife and their three infant children John Lucy & Darkis to be our inhabitants legally settled in the Parish of South Stoke aforesaid. In Witness whereof, we have hereunto set our Hand and Seals, this 26th Day of October in the 17th Year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith. And in the Year of our Lord, 1743. Attested by Jonathan Bayley, William Lewis (Church Warders), Mary Higgs, Tho James's Mark (Overseers), William Chrichfield, W Rogers. To the Church Wardens and Overseers of the Poor of the Parish of St Marys in the Borrough of Reading in the County of Berks or to any, or either of them. We whole Hands are hereunto subscribed, two of His Majesty's Justices of Peace for the County of Oxford aforesaid, do allow of the above-written
Certificate. And we do also certify that William Cretchfield one of the Witnesses who attended the Execution of the said Certificate, has made Oath before us that he did see the Churchwardens and Overseers, whole Names and Seals are to the said Certificate subscrib'd and set, severally Sign and Seal the said Certificate, and that the Names of the said William Cretchfield and William Rogers whole names are above subscrib'd, as Witnesses to the Execution of the said Certificate, are of their own proper Hand Writing. Dated the 26th Day of October in the Year 1743. Phil Powys, John Wattis
