Joseph Horton: The Examination of Joseph Horton 17 October 1699

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|Citty of Chester Ss}|The Exaiaīon of Joseph Horton Gent taken before Will: Bennett Esq^r. Mayor of the Citty of Chester & John Williams Esq^r. Deputy Recorder of the Same Citty upon Tuesday the 17.^th day of of {sic} October in y^e 15.^th year of his Ma.^ts Reign King William y^e 3.^d over England &c. Anno dmi 1699.

Joseph Horton Cittizen and Goldsmith of London but now resident in the Citty of Chester being Exaīed Saith that on fryday last at night he Lay at his Country house at Cotton Hook near Chester & came from there to his house in Chester on Satturday Last about 11. of y^e Clock in y^e Forenoon and returned thence to Cotton-Hook about Eleaven of y^e Clock in the night of <1v> the same day and stay'd there till Yesterday being y^e 16.^th day of this Instant October and came from thence on foot to his said house in Chester about 8. of y^e Clock of the fore noon of y^e Same day, and then haveing Lime sand and Bricks in readiness in y^e Sellar of the said house he im̄ediately Sett himselfe to Work and made up Some Mortar, and haveing about 3. days before lay'd y^e Foundaīion of a Furnace in y^e S^d Sellar and raised the Same about 3. brickes high from the Flo{illeg}er this Exaīant ꝑceeded therein Yesterday in y^e Morning and finished and ꝑfected the Same with his own hands, by 11. of the Clock in the forenoon of y^e Same day haveing carried the Worke also to make up the Mortar with his own hands, And then this Exaīant im̄ediately built a \fire upon y^e said/ furnace and put ab^t 50 or 60 pounds of brass Mettall into Severall potts upon the S^d fire, in Order to be Melted and refined, intending therewith to make some Images of fine Brass to be used at his said Countrey house at Cotton Hook. And ab^t 12. or 1. of y^e Clock y^e Same day he went to dinner haveing the said Potts upon y^e S^d fire, and dined on a peice of Porck haveing no other Company att dinner than his own Children and Maid Serv.^t And further this Exaīant saith y^t for ab^t 7. years last past, he hath been acquainted with one M^r Bery alias Roberts born and bred in Westm^er as this Exaīant hath heard and beleives, and is Intitled to an Estate of 200.^£ ꝑ an̄ in Westm^er aforesaid (as this Exaīant hath also heard and beleives) and y^e S^d M^r Rob^ts for about 12 months last past hath usually lived & reseided with this Exaīant, but this Exaīant hath not Seen him at all within 3. dayes last past, and is very ꝑticularly certain y^t he y^e S^d Rob^ts did not live with Exaīant yesterday nor was he concern'd with this Exaīant in y^e Makeing Setting up or useing the said furnace in this Exaīants Sellar, but this Exaīant alone after dinner Yesterday attended y^e said Metall in y^e S^d Potts, and about 4. of y^e Clock in y^e Afternoon y^e S^d Metall began to Melt, and this Exaīant continued attending and Fluxing y^e Same haveing given dirions to his S^d MaidServant if any body enquired for him to say he was not at home, because y^e said work required continuall attendance, and this Exaīant Expected to have been been employ'd about the Same, the greatest past of the Last night, but about 6. or 7. of y^e Clock att night this Exaīant haveing rec.^d Sev^erall Messages from M^r James Mainwareing y^t y^e said M^r Mainwareings house was on fire, the Exaīant used all the Expediion he could to demollish y^e said Furnace & put out the S^d Fire which was thereon, in w^ch time Sev^erall of y^e S^d melting Potts were broak or overturned and the said Mettall ran into the fire And whereas a Certain great Brass Engine or Instrum.^t haveing a strong Iron Screw at the one End of it and y^e other end or Some part thereof melted away, was found last night upon Search in y^e Cistern of Water there, This Exaīant declareth y^t he never before y^t time used or Saw the Same Engine or Instrum.^t nor doth he know how or by waht means the Same Engine or Instrum.^t was conveyed into y^e Said Cistern                                         Jos. Horton Capt apud Civit Cester: die & an̄o primo Sup^rad. coram Wm Bennet Mayor John Williams                 Vera Copia Exami ꝑ Roger Comberbach                               Cler pacis &c.^t