John Abbot: The Deposition of John Abbot of Water Lane in Fleet street Refiner 15 February 1698/9

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The Deposition of John Abbot of Water Lane in Fleet street Refiner 15^th. day of February 169$\frac{8}{9}$

He saith that about 3 or 4 yeares ago William Chaloner now Prisoner in Newgate shewed the Deponent 3 or 4 blanck stamps for Guineas which he said he could get to be struck with the Tower Dyes and that they were fitted to be struck on both sides like a Guinea but broader and he said that Patrick Coffee could get them done any day at noon by a journeyman Smith in the Tower and that the said Chaloner afterwards told the Deponent that he had got his buisiness done and that with the stamps that he had got struck he could make as many other stamps as he pleased

The Deponent saith further that the said Chaloner about 4 years ago desired to go into the Deponents Compting house and the Deponent telling him that he could not because what silver and Gold he had was there the said Chaloner desired the Deponent to let him go into his Back Compting house and the Deponent gave him leave to doe soe after the removall of somethings and locking the door upon him and going out left him in the said Back Compting house for about $\frac{1}{2}$ an hour & then returning and unlocking the door of the said Compting house & going in found the said Chaloner there in his shirt fileing of Guineas round the edges and saw him edge them when he had done filing and that he edged them with a piece of Iron which had a grove running along the midle of it the Iron he held between his knees and ran the lower edge of the Guinea along the Grove and at the same time struck the Guinea on the upper edge with a Wooden Mallett to make the lower edge take the imp^ression of the Grove And the Deponent saith that the said Chaloner had then before him above 40 Guineas thus filed and edged and that the said Chaloner said to the Deponent that the said Guineas were too heavy to be parted with and that the said Chaloner took the Gold Filings which lay scattered upon a sheet of white paper and put them into a wooden box and carryed them away with him

The Deponent saith further that the said Chaloner about Midsomer last or a litle after shewed the Deponent about 10 or 12 new Counterfeit shiilings which seemed to be Tin or pewter and askt the Deponent if he could put any of them away, and the Deponent replyed that they could not pass they were so light and the said Chaloner then confessed to the Deponent that he made them himself the night before by casting them in a Mould of Lead in his own Chamber The Deponent saith further that about 3 years ago when the Clipt money was going down the said Chaloner told him that he the said Chaloner and his brother Grosven^r made as much counterfeit money in $\frac{1}{2}$ Crowns at his said brothers house in Mark Lane in 8 weeks time as they 2 got 600^li a piece by and that about 2 or 3 months before when they were preparing to coyn this money the said Grosvenor sent for the Deponent to fetch his sweep away that he might have his room clear to coyn in and whilst the Deponent was at the said <56v> Grosvenor's house taking away the sweep two men like Smiths brought a very great vice with a long handle which the said Chandler being then present said that he designed to make use of for a press + place the Dyes between the 2 leegs to give it the greater force And the Deponent saith that the said vice was as heavy as a strong man could well lift and that while the said Chaloner and Grosvenor were coynign the said money they came sometimes to the Deponent to buy silver and paid the Deponent 50^li in Counterfeit money for the same and by the hands of his servant and the Deponent pressing them to change the said Counterfeit money for good money and to complain if they did not change it thereupon they entered an action in Wood street for part of the silver they were to receive for the said money and threatned to swear that they paid good money and that the Counterfeit money was not theires but afterwards perceiving that the Deponent was resolved to complain to a Justice they changed the said money and gave the Deponent a Treat at the 3 Tuns in Wood street And that the said Chaloner told him that Carter and FitzGerald had offered to help him to an hundred Guineas for graving a Plate to print of Mault Tickets if he would undertake to do it and some time after came and dined with the Deponent and told him that he had done the buisiness and that Tickets would be ready that week and desired the Deponent to come to him and he should not want for money for he was resolved to live poor no longer and this was about 10 or 12 daies before he was taken up

John Abbot

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