John Harrisson: The Information of John Harrisson 4 November 1704

|Com Westm^er Ss.| The Informaion of John Harrisson of Middleton in this County taken before James Grahme Esq^r. &c.^tt Nov.^er 4. 1704.

The said John Harrisson deposeth upon Oath that on fryday the third Instant he goeing into Lancashire to seek a Horse of his Fathers w^ch he suspected to be stolen or Stray'd, that he met with one John Ham̄and (as he calls himselfe) of preston in Wensedale in the County of york, who being a Stranger and idleing about, seized upon him as a vagrant, & as a suspitious person, being out of the Kings highway, where some Cloaths were hanging on a neigbours Hedge, and did there see the said Ham̄ond handleing and twineing them, he this Depon.^t Stopt him but finding nothing that they could lay to his Charge concerning the Cloaths, he this Depon.^t and severall others of the neighbourhoud let him goe. but this Depon.^t still suspecting that the S^d Ham̄ond did loijter there upon some ill design, stopped him again and upon searching him he and some neighbours finding some Ropes and something like a Slipp, they Suspected might be for catching and leading away horses (there being many Stoln in this Countrey) pursued him again and found him lying on his back in a Wood call'd the Hagg, and then brought him into the Highway where the S^d John Hamond, proffered 1.^s a peice to 3. ꝑsons then p^resent to let him goe away, & this is all this Depon.^t can say.                                              Jo: Harrisson Capt. jurat &c.^t coram me James Grahm.