Susanna Broadhurst: The Information of Sussanna Broadhurst wife of John Broadhurst of Birchin Lane in the parish of St Michael's Cornhill London Salesman February 1698/9

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The Information of Sussanna Broadhurst wife of In^o Broadhurst of Birchin Lane in the parish of S^t Michaells Cornhill London Salesman taken this 1   day of February Anno D      169$\frac{8}{9}$

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Who saith that she hath severall times heard one Elizabeth Lawson wife of John Ignatius Lawson be very importunate with her said Husband, to make some counterfeit money as she said in order to Maintain her Children, and about three Months ago this Informant saw the said Elizabeth Lawson came to her said Husband to one M^rs Tickeys in Bathers Court in Holbourne and brought to him there two pieces of Plaister of Paris as this informant doth believe and shewed them to her husband and told him that he might make counterfeit money without any noise for that she had made those two pieces of Plaister of Paris ready to cast money in for there was the Impression of a Shilling in them Viz the arms side in one piece and the head side of the other but her husband seemed to be very angry with her and struck her so that as he was striking her the two Pieces of Plaister of Paris with the Impression in them as aforesaid were broak soe the said Elizabeth Lawson went away but was very angry with her husband for Breaking those pieces of Plaister <128v> of Paris but said that she could make more and the next day the said Elizabeth Lawson returned to the same place & shewed to this Informant a shilling and asked her if it was not a good one and this Informant reply'd that she had no great skill to discern between true and false money soe the said Elizabeth Lawson went out and in about an hours time returned back to this Informant and brought a Cheescake with her & said to this Informant doe you think that I am not a good workwoman that she could pay away a counterfeit shilling for the Laying out of two pence for any thing for that she paid away the said shilling for the said Cheescake which cost but 2^d. and this Informant further saith that through the Importunity and solicitation of the said Elizabeth Lawson the said M^r Lawson did condiscend and promised her to make two or three false Pistoles provided she would not counterfeit the Current Coyn of this Kingdom & about 6 weeks or two Months ago the said Mrs Lawson came to this Informant and desired her to buy some flannell for her and gave her a pistoll to buy it with and told this informant that it was a good pistoll and this informant did buy some Flannell with the said Pisttoll at a flannell shop at Low Deptford and about two or three dayes afterward this the said M^rs Lawson was soliciting her said Husband to make counterfeit money for her (Pistolls as she thinks) but M^r Lawson said plaugue Damm her had he not made two or three for her already so that he would make no more for her and this informant said to the said M^rs Lawson that she supposed that the pistoll was a bad one that she gave her to buy flannell with as aforesaid but M^rs Lawson protested that it was a good one.

And this informant further sayth that upon the fourth day of august Last past one John Deverall came to the said M^r Lawson into an ally near Iuly Street Southwark and the Informant did then hear the said Deverell say that he must goe fetch the Wedge for he must not go near M^r Deacon till he had it for that the Last time he was at Deacons house Deacon was very angry with him and would not let him either eat or drink in his house because he had not brought the said wedge, and Deverell went away from the said Lawson and in about an hours time returned back and brought an Iron or Steel wedge with him about 8 Inches in length & sent for wine & ale to heat the said Lawson and this informant with & said that he now afford to doe soe for that he could get what Money he pleased of the said Deacon, seeing he had got the said wedge and the said Deverell went away and in about two or three hours time he did return again to the said place in Southwark, and brought the said wedge and seem'd to be very angry for that as he said he had been at Deacons with the wedge and that Deacon said that it was not half bigg enough for the purpose it was designed for, & the said Deverell took a sheet of paper and made two cross Lines at either end of the paper and desired this informant to make two Long straight lines to meet both the ends of said cross Lines and this informant enquiring of him what the Lines were designd for, he told her that when she had done he would tell her, so when she had made the said Lines he told her it was a pattern for a wedge for a press to make guineas With and pulled a guinea out of his pocket and askt this Informant if she would not take that guinea, and this Deponent replyd she thought it was a good guinea but Deverell said he had made a great many such guineas with a press that now Deacon aforesaid had got, & cursed Deacon for that as Deverell said he Borrowed five pounds, of the said Deacon and putt the press in pawn to him for the payment of the money, & that now Deacon would not Let him have it & cursed him and said that the press was a very good one and that a great deal of Guineas had been made with the said press <129r> and that it had been sent as far as Exeter to stamp off Guineas with and most other Countryes round but that when Deacon first had the said Press, she promised Deverell that it should stand at Deacons sons at the three kings in king street by guild Hall & that Deverell should make counterfeit guineas there with the said press and that Deacon would give him 10^s. a piece for them till Deverell had paid Deacon the 5^£ that he borrowed of him as aforesaid and that after he had paid the give pounds in the manner aforesaid, that then Deacon should take of Deverell, + that Deverell said he had 12 Guineas of Deacon towards buying of materialls to make false guineas with & that he was to pay for the standing of the press at Deacons said sons, and this Deponent saw Deverell have guineas in his custody which he said he had of Deacon for the purpose aforesaid & said that the said press was removed to one Cap^t Murrells at or near Enfield + that he was going to work there.

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