Henry Waters: The Examination of Henry Waters 6 October 1696

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|Monmouths Ss| The Examinaton of Henry Waters of the ꝑrish of Penshaw the County of Monmouth afores^d Taken Before me Thomas Morgan Esq^r. one of his Maj^ties Justices of y^e Peace of the S^d County this sixth day of October Ano Rni dni {nei} Willi tertii Regis Anglie et octova Ano dni 1696.^o

The S^d Examinant being duely examin'd upon Oath Saith That he being intimately acquainted w^th Water Harris of Chepstoll in the S^d County Mercet the S^d Water Harris very much in Debt did about the month of June in the year of our L^d one Thousand Six hundred ninety three Importune this Exam.^t to manage his Shop and Trade for him effecting thereof he did, then Say that he would make a bill of Sale of all his shop goods & Wares to this Exam.^t & accordingly Þ^s Exam.^t was then prevailed with to undertake the management thereof and the said Water Harris did then make a Bill of Sales of all his shop goods and Wares to this Exam.^t who for two months & upwards mannaged his the S^d Water Harris his Shop and trade for him During all w^ch time the S^d Water Harris did abscond from his Creditors And this Examinant further Saith That in a Weeks time or thereabout after he came to the S^d Water Harris his house at Chepstoll afores^d to manage his concern as afores^d there came to the S^d house one William Hopkins of Michelldeane in the country of Gloucester Pinmaker Brother in Law to the S^d Water Harris & continued there a Week or thereabouts at that time, During w^ch time this Exam.^t being one day in a low room in y^e S^d House & hearing a noise in a Chamber there near him did look into y^e S^d chamber through a hole in the partition that parted the S^d chamber from another Room, and did then and there See the S^d W^m Hopkins clipping SIlver mony and one Jacob Harris of Chepstoll afores^d Sadler fileing & rounding the Same after it was clipt. Whereupon this Exam.^t went up Stairs into the S^d chamber but before he had got up Staires the S^d Ho William Hopkins and Jacob Harris had hid the S^d Silver money and the Instruments they worked w^th all, saveing a file w^ch the S^d Jacob Harris had in his hand fileing of a Shoe buckle however when th{illeg}|is| Exam.^t came into the S^d chamber he asked the S^d William Hopkins & Jacob Harris what they were doing & the S^d Jacob Harris made answer you See what we are doing I am fileing my shoe Buckle, Whereunto this Exam.^t went down Staires and the S^d W^m Hopkins and Jacob Harris immediately followed him, and \he this Exaiant/ went into a low room in the S^d House and this Exam.^t went about a quarter of an hour after into a yard that belongs to the S^d House, and there found some clippings of Silver w^ch he took up & brought in to the S^d W.^m Hopkins and Jacob Harris and shewed the Same to them telling them this Shews what you were doing, a little While agoe. Whereupon they confessed to this Exam.^t that they had clipped the S^d money as aforesaid and shewed the Clippings and sheares and file they worked withall to this Exam.^t but desired this Exam.^t not to discover the Same w^ch he promised to doe.

And this Exam.^t further Saith That in the Month of July in y^e year of our Lord one thousand Six hundrd ninety three this Exam.^t went in Company w^th the S^d William Hopkins, Water Harris, & Jacob Harris towards Bristoll fair w^ch began the five and twentieth day of July in the Same year, and that in their Journey thither they Lodged at an Inn near Bristoll called Katharines Lodg and next morning the S^d William Hopkins Jacob Harris and Water Harris got up out of bed before this Exam.^t and assoon as this Exam.^t got up he enquired were they were and being told by one of y^e Servants in the Said Inn that they were in the shuffle board room there he went to the |S^d| shuffle board room door & knocked thereat finding the Same fast bolted or locked Whereupon the S^d Water Harris opend the door and then this Exam.^t went in to the S^d shuffle board room and there found & Saw the S^d William Hopkins clipping with a pair of Sheares the curr^t coin of <1v> this Kingdom viz.^t half crowns, shillings & Six pences, and the S^d Water Harris and Jacob Harris fileing them after they were clipt; & this Exam.^t told them they never would Leave off untill they were hanged to w^ch they answered that they would never be hanged unless this Exam.^t would do it.

And the S^d Exam.^t further Saith that the S^d Water Harris Did then desire this Exam.^t to carry the S^d Money (w^ch they the S^d Water Harris William Hopkins & Jacob Harris then & there clipped as afores^d being twenty pounds) with him to Bristoll, one of the Creditoures of the S^d Water Harris \and this Examninant desird y^e S^d W. Harris/ would seal the Same up in a Bag w^ch he accordingly did, and this Exam.^t did deliver the same so sealed up to the S^d George White who accepted thereof.

And this Exam.^t further Sayth, that before the end of the S^d fair this Exam.^t together with the S^d M^r Hopkins and Jacob Harris returned to the S^d Inn, where the S^d Water Harris had continued while they were in the S^d fair) and thence the S^d William Hopkins Water Harris and Jacob Harris & this Exam.^t came to Cheptstoll afores^d the next day, and further Saith that within the Space of a Month or thereabouts after his return from the S^d fair to Chepstoll afores^d & saw at Severall times the S^d Water Harris & Mary his Wife clipping the curr^t coin of this kingdom in his S^d House at Chepstoll afores^d, w^ch they never endeavoured to conceal from this Exam.^t

And further saith that within the Space of a months \or thereabouts/ after his return from the S^d fair, he Saw the S^d William Hopkins & Water Harris clip the curr^t coin of this Kingdom in the S^d Water Harris his house afterwards melt the clippings of the S^d coins therewith coin new Money in Imitation or resemblance of hammer'd half Crownes.

And this Exam.^t further Saith That Some few dayes after he had Seen y^e S^d William Hopkins Water Harris & clipping & coining as aforesaid he the S^d Water Harris did desire this Examinant to go w^th him to Michellsdeane afores^d where this Exam.^t did accordingly go w^th the S^d Water Harris and Lodged there at the S^d William Hopkins his house, and then and there Saw the S^d William Hopkins his Wide Clip, w^th a pair of Sheares the curr^t coin of this Kingdom And this Exam.^t saith That the next day after this Exam.^t {&} the S^d Water Harris came to Michelldeane as afores^d the S^d Water Harris demanded Some mony from the S^d William Hopkins, as a debt due to him whereunto the S^d W^m Hopkins answered that he had none then but that he would have Some by the next day and the S^d William Hopkins told this Exam.^t That he must that night coin Some mony to pay the S^d Water Harris,

And further saith, That the S^d William Hopkins went in the beginning of that night w^th one William Cutler of Michelldean afores^d Pinmaker, int the S^d William Cutlers house, and told this Exam.^t that he would return in an hours time but did not, W^ch made this Exam.^t to goe to the S^d W^m Cutlers house (being over against the S^d William Hopkins his house) to see for the S^d William Hopkins, and looking into a low room in the S^d William Cutlers house in through the Window there he Saw the S^d William Hopkins & William Cutler Setting a Crucible on a fire in the S^d room and afterwards takeing itt off The fire and pouring what was therein into a Mould, and then this Exam.^t returned to the S^d William Hopkins his house, and did not See the S^d William Hopkins till next day when he paid ten shillings to the S^d Water Harris which he said he and the S^d William Cutler had coined the night befoe.

And this Exam.^t further Saith That the S^d Willliam|alter| Harris did then at Michelldeane afores^d Inquire for one George Giles of the County of Hereford Gent: (to whom this Exam.^t had before that time seen the S^d Water Harris deliver Some Clippings of Silver) and |y^e| S^d Water Harris was then told that he might find him at a Village called Legg being about a Mile from Michelldean afores^d, where the S^d Water Harris & this Exam.^t immediately went and found in an Inn there the S^d George Giles & one James Boyle of Leg afores^d Smith and after that this Exam.^t the S^d George Giles & James Boyle had been there together about halfe and houre) the S^d Water Harris being then gone forth) the S^d George Giles asked the S^d {illeg}|James| Boyle whether he had any <2r> {mony.} Whereunto the S^d James Boyle answered that he had none yⁿ ready, Why then replyd the S^d George Giles go & get me some & thereupon the S^d James Boyle went forth and in an houres time returned w^th Six half Crownes, which this Exam.^t takeing in his hand asked the S^d James Boyle whether he had made the Same |So| Soon, to w^ch the S^d James Boyle answered no, but that he had finisht them Since he went forth which Six half Crowned the S^d James Boyle delivered to the S^d George Giles.

And this Exam.^t further Saith, that about the month of Novemb^r in the S^d Year one thousand Six hundred ninety three, he this Exam.^t} haveing then left the mannagem.^t of the S^d Water Harris his Concern) did go to a fair kept then at Michelldean afores^d and haveing occasion to Speak w^th the S^d James Boyle Did then in his return from Michelldean afores^d call at Leg afores^d at y^e said James Boyle his house and inquired for the S^d James Boyle and his Now Wife directed this Exam.^t to him to a Chamber in his S^d house where this Exam.^t going found the S^d George Giles w^th a pair of Shears Clipping the curr^t Coin of this Kingdom and the S^d James Boyle fileing and rounding the Same and this Exam.^t the S^d George Giles and James Boyle came then down Sraires to the S^d James Boyle his shop where this Exam.^t Seeing a pair of Sheares asked the S^d George Giles who the Same Was for to w^ch the S^d George Giles made answer That it was designed for William Morgan late of Chepstoll afores^d, who now as this Exam.^t is informed) Collects the duties charged upon earthen Wares & tobacco pipes w^thin the S^d County of Monmouth And the S^d George Giles then told this Exam.^t that the S^d W^m Morgan had Sold Some Clippings of Silver to the S^d George Giles.

                                         Henry Waters

Jur die & Ano Supradict coram me           Tho Morgan