Edward Smith: The Information of Edward Smith of Islington in the county of Middlesex Gardener 11 January 1698/9

<34r> ^[1]

The Informaīon of Edw^d Smith of Islington in the County of Middx Gardiner 11 Ian^ry 169$\frac{8}{9}$

He saith y^t. abo^t. 9 or 10 weeks ago he went to mr Sadlers house at Strettam in the Isle of Ely in Cambridgesh pretending to come to the said Sadler from W^m. Thornton and Henry Holder who had lodged at y^t said Sadlers house for severall months and were gone from thence abo^t. 3 or 4 dayes or a week before the Depon^t. came thither and that the said Sadler carryed the Depon^t. up one pair of Staires into Two Rooms on a floor and in one of the Roomes shew^d. the Depon^t. a stove or Furnace and told the Depon^t. that there they melted their metall for making false money and that they made Spanish Pistolls by casting worth abo^t. 12^s. a piece that they made also $\frac{1}{2}$ Gineas {sic} by casting and cast y^m. very fine and that they made shill^s of a mixt metall worth almost 4^s. an oz + run it into barrs and flatted y^m. in a Flatting Mill and yⁿ cut y^m into round pieces with a Tool they called a Pin and afterwards stamp\d/ with Dyes and a sledge Hammer and going down staires he fetched an Edger or Edging Tolle with which they edged their money + shew^d the Depon^t how they edged by running a shilling through the Mill and pulling out of his pocket a ꝑcell of abo^t 20 or 30^s told y^e Depon^t. y^t here Thornton + Holder above menioned made y^t money + y^t Thornton was y^e Head workmen + y^t Holder could also work well + was Confederate w^th one House a Norwich Factor who had great quantitys of their counterfeit money to put off and wⁿ y^e sd Sadler shewed y^e Depon^t. y^e sd Edger + pin y^e Depon^t. asked y^e sd Sadler how if any body should search his house + find those things + y^e s^d Sadler answ^rd y^t he defyed all y^e Sharpers in England to find ym there were hid so safe

the mark of
Ed^d Smith

^[2]