Christopher Emmerson: The Information of Christopher Emmerson aka Burrows 15 May 1704

Author: Isaac Newton

Source: MINT 15/17/480, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK

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|Com Lancast^r Ss.|The Informaion of Christopher Emmerson als Burrows taken upon Oath before Cha: Rigby Esq^r. &c.^t May 15.^th 1704.

Who Informeth and saith y^t about 6. or 7. Years agoe this Informant became acquainted with Edw.^d Yeats of \Lock in/ this County Stapler, Humphrey Henman and Willm Thomson Smith of the same place Shortly after which this Depon.^t was imploy'd by them from Michhmas till Midsum̄er following in casting counterfeit Crowns halfe Crownes & shillings, w^ch this Inform:^t cast in the p^resence of and with the Assistance of the 3. persons beforenamed in very considerable summs, to the vallue of 5.^£ or more sometimes in a day, in the whole to a very great summ, all in the similitude of of {sic} the then new coyn'd Mill'd mony, w^ch they the S^d Yeates Henman & Thompson, put of at Kirkby Launsdale Market in Com Westm.^er and other places very currently, as they frequently told this Inform:^t but about Midsum^er after this Inform:^t being chased from Lock by M^r Justice Wilson, he went he went {sic} into the Bishoprick of Durham, to which Goale he was (about Michmas after) com̄ited, and there lay untill the sum̄er Assizes then next following when this Depon.^t was discharged; and thence removeing to Wigden in Cumberland, this Informant was suspected for conveying away a Silver Tumbler, from the house of one Will Goldsmith, (the sign of of {sic} the halfe moon in Wigdon) And on search of the same there were found about this Inform:^t^s was com̄ited to Carlisle Goale by M^r Justice Briscoe, where after he had layn a Prisn.^er near two Years he was discharged without any Indictm.^t being found ag.^t him, But this Inform:^t can depose nothing that may be of Service to y^e Governm.^t at any facts com̄ited either in Durham or Cumberland.

From Carlisle this Inform:^t repaired to the house of Richd Fleming, in the County of Westmorld (who haveing before used the art of makeing Counterfeit money) this Inform:^t work'd with him ab.^t a fortnight, and in that time made for him (and Instructed him in casting) counterfeit Crown peices and halfe Crowns: and being told that he this Inform:^t was discovered there, he fled into the County of Lancaster near penny bridge in Cartmell parish where being <1v> app^rehended was carryed before M^r Justice Sandys & by him com̄itted to Lancast^er Castle where being try'd there last lent Assizes was 3. Years for carrying away the Coat of the afores^d Richard Fleming, this Inform:^t was burnt in the Cheek for the same and there upon discharged from Lancaster Goale, but dureing the time of his confinem^t in the S^d Goale one Anthony Richardson of Wyersdale in this County, brought unto this Inform:^t 2. broad Peices of Copper coyn'd or stampt after the likeness of broad peices of Gold, (w^ch the S^d Richardson said he made himself) desireing this Inform:^t to Gild them for him, and for that purpose he left them with this Inform:^t but he never came again for them. - This Inform:^t further saith that after his discharge from Lancaster Castle, he went to Fewley near Beedall in Yorkshire, where this Inform:^t lived for about one Year, and then was again com̄ited to York Goale, and at y^e last sum̄er Assizes there, being Indicted for a com̄on Cheat or some other misdemeanour, upon which bein fined, this Inform:^t was continued in that prison, till last Easter Monday - This Inform:^t further saith that on Munday the 1.^st of this Instant may he went to the house of Thomas Holt near Whaley in this County of Lancast.^er whence the S^d Thomas Holt and Edward Holt y^e father sent this Informant to the house of John Ryley a blacksmith about a mile off, to make tooles to coyn and counterfeit money. this Inform:^t did there make Moulds for casting money (Viz) Crowns and halfe Crown peices, and on Thursday tje 4. of this Instant May this Informant did (in the p^resence of the S^d Thomas Holt, Edward Holt John Ryley and his wife and Judith their Daughter, togeather with Samuel Fletcher & Alexan Fletcher and with their Assistance) Actually cast and coyn the sum̄e of 15.^£ of those counterfeit Crowns & halfe Crowns: All which sum̄ the S^d Thomas Holt tooke into his custody, in order to pay or put of the same to a man near settle in the County of York, which he had by the consent of the rest of y^e company beforenamed, And on fryday last this Inform:^t carryed the S^d Coyning tooles (as namely) Six Iron hoopes fill'd w^th Lead & and {sic} Six unfill'd, and one Iron Ladle to the house of Edm̄^o Staning near Chipping in this County of Lanc.^er husbd man, where this Inform:^t beleives y^e same may be found, this Inform:^t hideing the same there with the assistance and privity of the S^d Edm.^o Staring; this Informant says he first contracted acquaintance with the before named Edw.^d Holt and Edm.^o Staring; dureing dureing {sic} this Informants last Imprisonment in Lanc.^er Goale: Capt. et jurat &c^t. coram Charles Rigby Christoꝑ ^his X _mark Emerson