Henry Smithson: The Information and Further Information of Henry Smithson 1 and 4 June 1702

|North Rid Com Ebory } Ss. | The Informaion of Henry Smitht|s|on of Rash in Swaledale in the north Riding of the County of York Yeoman taken upon oath before me this first Day of June in the first year of her majestys Reign Ann: Dm 1702

Who Informeth and upon his oath sayth, Hee Hath heard y^tt: one John Button als Broadly came in y^e year (96) by sea from London to Yarum in the north Riding of y^e County of York & took a shop at Yarum afores^d Exercising for some time y^e trade of a Whitesmith there.

That y^e S^d Button was made acquainted with the Inform:^tt by one Christopher Shaw lately of Larthington in the S^d Riding Cooper in the open feilds at Larthington afores^d. That the S^d Button then & often since told the Inform:^tt He could make all sorts of tools & instruments for coyning. Could likewise counterfeit Guineas and milled money to a great likeness, and that he had been comm̄itt. to Newgate for such practices butt had y^e good fortune to make his Escape therefrom

That the S^d Button took a farm in y^e year (98) att a private place called Cubeck in Wensidale in the S^d Riding, and shewed /diverse tools & instrum^tts:\ to the said Informant and James Blades now in Durham Goal for coyning Guineas and half Crowns and Shillings,

That betwixt y^e middle of Ap:^ll and middle of May (98) The Informant saw the said Button coyn half crowns and shillings to the tale of ten pounds in less then 4 hours, att his shop in the day time at Cubeck afores^d setting his wife att some distance from from {sic} his shop to give notice of the approach of any persons, w^ch S^d ten pounds was sent to one Edward Bland of Harker to be uttered,

That he hath seen the S^d Button coyn two or three severall times since at and nigh Cubeck afores^d half Crowns and Shillings to y^e tale of 5^£ and upwards,

That about two years ago, y^e S^d Button and William Busby of Thirsk in the north Riding of the S^d County of York Grocer were (as the Informant hath been assured) surprized in y^e very fact of coyning Guineas at Cubeck afores^d whereupon the S^d Button fled and some of his tools were seized, that about a year and a half ago, James Blades afores^d sent the Informant to Lancaster to know if \one/ Horsfale, a Chymist, Comm̄itt.^d to that ^{[Editorial Note 1]} Goal could furnish him with a pair of Crown Dyes or Stamps, who had none ready but Shew'd him one unfinished, and told Inform:^t that he had made John Airey nigh Kendall in Westmorld all his dyes or Stamps.

And the Inform:^t further deposeth, that he hath heard from diverse ꝑsons that the said John Airey hath coyn'd diver Great Quantities of Crowns & $\frac{1}{2}$ Crowns covered with Silver.

The Inform:^t further saith, That the same James Blades and Joseph Thompson (now in Durham Goale) and Michael Turner of Wharton Dykes in Coun^try Westmorl.^d ab.^t the beginning of Jan.^ry 1700. came to the Dwelling house of y^e Informants Father at Larthington afores^d And y^t y^e S^d James Blades Joseph Thompson & Michael Turner <1v> Togeather with the Informants Brother Jonathan Smithson and this Inform:^t went into a private place in Snaiths pasture nigh Larthington afores^d where they the S^d James Blades Joseph Thomson made a fire, and did then and there in y^e p^resence of y^s Informant and his said Bro^er Coyn Mill'd halfe Crowns to y^e tale of 10.^£ or thereabouts. The Informant further deposeth that about Christmas was 12. months, he saw the S^d Joseph Thompson cut (with a P of Sheers) diverse Six pences round about, with designe (as he told y^e Inform:^t) to put the S^d clippings or Rings about half penny peices, and y^t he likewise (at the same time {)} saw y^e S^d Joseph Thompson cut divers new milld Shills into 4. Quarters in Order to beat them out to a thinness for covering the S^d halfpenny peices, which he told the Inform:^t were to be made into halfe Crownes Counterfeit. The Inform:^t further deposeth y^t he hath see the S^d Joseph Thompson Severall times produce at Henry Robsons house in Newcastle Taylor. And ab.^t 10. months agoe in Swaldi|a|le afores^d \Thompson shewed/ the Cross-side of a Shilling Dye, and at y^e same time said he would Get a Face side made to it at Newcastle, and further saith y^t y^e S^d Joseph Thompson told him, That James Wharton of Penrith, and Joseph Clarke nigh Rowley hill in Cumberland, were both concerned in the Counterfeiting the curr^t. coyn of this Realm.     The Inform:^t further deposeth, that John Fawcett near Sedberg in y^e County of York hath, (as this Inform:^t is well assured) Utter'd great quantities of {Cover'd} Crowns and halfe Crownes, coyn'd (as this Inform:^t hath been told) by one Joseph Claughton, who ab.^t 2. years agoe, was for such like Offences com̄itted to Carlisle Goale, whence he made his Escape. And the Inform:^t further deposeth, that he togeather with M^r Geo: Wareup S^r W^m Bowes's Clerk by Ord^er of the S^d S^r W^m Bowes did on the 4.^th of this Instant June App^rehend the said Joseph Claughton in the house of John Green near Hutton Roofe in Westmorland afores^d in an Upper Room, where y^e Inform:^t found a pott or crucible, with hot burning Charcole in it, a great Quantity of thin Silver beat out, 2. papers of the fileings of Silver, y^e remaines of a Brass Kettle w^ch had in ꝑt been cutt with Sheeres a great Number of Copper Blanks appearing by their Sizes to be for Crowns and halfe Crownes many of them being cased over on One side with Silver and also a Silver RImm round, and some cased on both sides with the thin SIlver leaves beaten out, as afores^d togeather with divers Tools & Instrum^ts. for Coyning, all w^ch were seized & delivered by y^e Inform:^t and y^e S^d M^r George Wareup into y^e custody of Edward Wilson Jun^ior Esq^r. a Justice of Peace for Westmorl^d who thereupon com̄itted the S^d Joseph Claughton togeather with y^e S^d John Green to y^e Goale of that County. The Inform:^t further deposeth that one M^r Richd Warwick of Placy-Hall in the county of Northumberland did about X.^mas was 12. months, and at divers other times Employ y^e afores^d James Blades and Joseph Thompson Michael Turner & Edward Gares of Shotton Edge in the S^d County Blksmith to coyn $\frac{1}{2}$ Crowns at y^e house of y^e S^d Gares, and supplyed them with Dollars to melt down for y^t purpose, and the S^d Michaell Turner ꝑduced to this S^d Inform:^t Some halfe Crowns w^ch (he said) he had coyned there, And the S^d Richard Warwick showed the Inform:^t Divers Tools and Instrum.^ts for coyning at his the S^d Richd Warwicks own house in Newcastle. And y^e S^d Inform:^t further deposeth <2r> further deposeth {sic} That S^r. W^m. Bowes haveing Ordered him to lay his Informaion before S^r Will Blackett one of her Ma^ties Justices of y^e peace for the S^d County, the S^d S^r W.^m Blacket granted his warrant thereupon to this Inform:^t ag^t. the S^d M^r Richd Warwick & Edward Gares, and they were accordingly thereupon app^rehended by the Inform:^t and y^e S^d R^ichd Warwick com̄itted to Morpeth Goale and the S^d Edward Gares bound by Recognizane with Good Sureties to appear at y^e next Assises for y^t County the Inform:^t further deposeth that Henry Robson of Westgate in New Castle Taylor Entertained the S^d James Blades Joseph Thompson & Michaell Turner, in his Dwelling house there, and told this Inform:^t y^t he could cover over false moneys & Shewed him Some which he said he had done - The Inform:^t further deposeth that David Hodgson Christopher Sheild, Joshua Hutchinson & Ruth Addingson were all concerned in Uttering Counterfeit Moneys, and that W^m Harwood whitesmith (all in or near Bernards Castle about a year agoe {span'd} an Instrum.^t for the S^d James P|B|lades call'd a cutter, for Cutting out peices for $\frac{1}{2}$ Crowns and a loop belonging to a wedgs press, and being Exaied further saith not            Hen: Smithson Capt et Jurat &c.^t coram Will Bowes

June 4. 1702

The Inform:^t further deposeth and Saith, that he hath heard the S^d John Button als Broadly and y^e afores^d x.^per Shaw (now in York Goal) say that they togeather with one Will Busby afores^d a place to be digged under Ground near Healey in Coverdale for coyning, and y^t they had Actually coyn'd considerable Sum̄s of money there, the Inform:^t further saith y^t he hath often seen the S^d Busby at y^e S^d Buttons house at Cubeck afores^d and that the S^d William Busby brought Tools or Instrum^ts. for Coyning to the S^d Button to be repaired and amended by him. And likewise see a Bond under the hand and Seale of the S^d W.^m Busby for y^e paym.^t of 10.^£ to the S^d Button als Broadly, w^ch y^e S^d Button & Mary his wife told this Inform:^t was given to him by way of satisfaion for coyning Instrum^ts made by the S^d Button for they said willm Busby, And further deposeth that ab.^t 5 years agoe at Butcher house in the County of York, the said W.^m Busby desired the Inform:^t & the S^d X^per Shaw to Kill one Dan:^le Otty his father in Law, and who he told the Informant y^t he was app^rehensive he would inform ag^t him for Clipping, the Inform:^t further deposeth, y^t he doth verily beleive y^t the S^d X^per Shaw in the Coyning trade with the S^d John Button and Willm Busby. The Inform:^t furth^er deposeth that one Robert Greer of Whorton in Westm^er came on the Sixth day of May 1702 to the Inform:^t at Nuteby in the S^d County & wished him not to proceed any farther ag.^t the S^d Richard Warwick, and y^t he shud have as a reward 20 Guineas or more, to which this Inform:^t replyed y^t the præmium for his convion would be 40.^£ whereunto y^e S^d Robt Greere said that if a Bagg of Moneys was dipt in his way would he not Stoop to take it up? and often requested this Inform:^t not to proceed against the S^d Richard Warwick                      Hen: Smithson Capt' &c^t coram me Will Bowes.

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June 4^th. 1702.

|Westm^er Ss.|The Informaion of the aforenamed Henry Smithson taken upon Oath before Edward Wilson jun^ior Esq^r. one of her Ma.^ties Justices &c^t.

Who saith that he this day went to John Green's house of Hutton Roofe in the County afores^d and there found in a room above staires one Joseph Claughton late of Addle Parish near Leeds in the County of York w^th a Charcole fire burning, and a great Number of round blanks of Copper design'd as he beleives to have been made into Crows and half Crownes some of them being covered over & on the Edges with thin plates of Silver the S^d Claughton p^retended his name was Robinson, he found also then & there divers Instrum^ts. as Sheers plyers files on eham̄er some thin plates of Silver with Crucibles, lying about the Room & on the floore and that he heard them dropt as he beleives by y^e S^d Claughton Capt jurat &c^t Edward Wilson jun.^ior                                Hen: Smithson