William Chaloner's Letter to Isaac Newton

Author: William Chaloner

Source: MINT 15/17/205, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK

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- Revision History
  - 13 October 2016
    - Transcribed by Will Scott
  - 31 March 2017
    - Numbering amended by Will Scott
  - 25 April 2019
    - Metadata updated by Yvonne Martin-Portugues.
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<102v> ^[1]

William Chaloner's Letter to Isaac Newton Esq^r.

most mercifull S^r.

I am going to be murther^d allthough ꝑhaps you may think not but tis true I shall be murdered the worse of all murders that is in the face of Iustice and unless I am rescued by yo^r mercifull hands

|S^r.| pray consid^r. my unprecedented Tryall 1 That no person swore they ever saw me actually coyn but y^t I should own it 2^ly that Holloway, Abbott Coffee Hitchcock Peck and hanwell what they swore were facts done in the City + Surrey which is directly ag^t. Law to be taken before a Iury in Middx yet their evidence was given in charge ag^t me to the Iury I do not arraign none for the same nor the Court but such a thing tho ag^t. Law has been done ag^t me and I like to loose my life thereby 3^ly that all the evidence (except that ꝑjur^d Carters wife) swore ag^t me to 8 years ago yet the Indictm^t. sets forth only the 24^th of aug^t. last now that was not proved nor could be for I was \yⁿ/ out of Towne not coyning in her house as she falsly swore 4^ly That all the Evidence ag^t. me was perfect mallice I haveing convicted some and others given evidence ag^t them 5^ly That there is no preced^t. of a person being convicted of Coyning without some Circumstances to corroborate the evidences testimony nor indeed can a man be convicted of any other Crime whatever without some Circumstances to prove the fact besides the evidence bare swearing of it Some body must have lost something to prove the Thiefe some person robb^d to prove the highway man besides Evidence only High Treason ag^t. the King must have But poor I am Convicted by malitious evidence without any Circumstances at all 6^ly It was hard for me to be taken out of my 5 weeks sick Bedd the last 3 weeks light headed so y^t I was not provided for a tryall nor in my sences wⁿ tryd <103r> 7^ly w^t M^rs Carter swore ag^t. may appear direct mallice I having 3 yeares before Convicted her husband of Forgery and discover^d where he and she were coyning for w^ch he is now in Newgate But I desire God Allmighty may Damne my soul to eternity if every word was not false that M^rs Carter and her maid swore ag^t. me abo^t coyning and Mault Tickets for I never had any thing to do with her in coyning nor ever intended to be conerned {sic} in Mault Tick^ts nor ever spoke to her abo^t. any such thing M^rs. Holloway swore false ag^t. me or I desire never to see the Great God and I desire the same if abbot did not swear false ag^t. me so y^t I am murder^d + God allmighty knows I am murder^d Therefore I humbly begg yo^r worp will consid^r these Reasons and y^t I am convicted without Preced^t. and be pleased to speak to M^r Chancell^r. to save me from being murtherd O Dear S^r do this mercifull deed O my offending you has brought this upon me O for God's sake if not mine keep me from being murder^d O dear S^r. no body can save me but you. O God my God I shall be murder^d unless you save me O I hope God will move yo^r heart with mercy and pitty to do this thing for me I am

Yo^r near murder^d humble serv^t.

W. Chaloner

^[1] 205