John Bates: Untitled, 24 October 1698

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Iohn Bates being examined this 24 day of October 1698 says that Thomas Bodily Watchmaker and Goldsmith living in Stourbridge about a year and $\frac{1}{2}$ since did at Stourbridge make the Nicks of an Edging Mill for shill^s and made a Set of Lett^rs for edging half Crowns and likewise in this Deponents sight guilded over a broad piece counterfeit xxs and passed the same away in his sight and did at the same time guild over a counterfeit French pistoll but what he did with it this Exam^t. knows not also that William Trowman of Dudley ꝑish near the Newpool Naylor about May last was 12 month did make and cast abo^t. 6 or 7 shill^s in 6 pences Groats and 3 pences of the new Milld money and did see him in Derbysh abo^t 3 yeares since made old half Crownes and shill^s and clip much old money and melt down the Clippings and has been concern^d in the Matter of clipping and counterfeiting money abo^t. 14 or 15 yeares in Worcestersh Staffordshire and Derbysh he keeping a considerble Farm in Derbyshire to co{u}lour the matter and has been concern^d in that Trade with (as this Exam^t. believes) at lest {sic} 100 persons also that Thomas Drew living in Hales ꝑish near Sturbridge in Cradley Naylor abo^t 10mber last brought to this Exam^t. at his own house a new pair of Dyes which he said Iohn Harvey made and did there coyn 5 counterfeit shillings and on last Whitson Munday brought this Exam^t. 5 or 6 count^rfeit pieces to be milld which he milld at this Exam^ts house and afterwards coyned at Ioseph Greens shop (as he told this Exam^t._ and Drew knows that Iohn Harvey and William Harvey made Edging Mills and Dyes and afterwards coyned with y^m. also that Adam Clempson of Woolverhampton used the same Trade in like manner many yeares past Also that William Iohnson late apprentice of Adam Clempson living in the house wherein he was so apptice had abo^t 3^s. new money to put off for gain

Iohn Bate

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