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

North Rid Com Ebory } Ss. The Information of Henry Smithson 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 that one John Button alias Broadly came in the year (96) by sea from London to Yarum in the north Riding of the County of York & took a shop at Yarum aforesaid Exercising for some time the trade of a Whitesmith there.

That the Said Button was made acquainted with the Informant by one Christopher Shaw lately of Larthington in the Said Riding Cooper in the open feilds at Larthington aforesaid. That the Said Button then & often since told the Informant 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 committed to Newgate for such practices butt had the good fortune to make his Escape therefrom

That the Said Button took a farm in the year (98) att a private place called Cubeck in Wensidale in the Said Riding, and shewed diverse tools & instruments to the said Informant and James Blades now in Durham Goal for coyning Guineas and half Crowns and Shillings,

That betwixt the 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 aforesaid setting his wife att some distance from his shop to give notice of the approach of any persons, which Said ten pounds was sent to one Edward Bland of Harker to be uttered,

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

That about two years ago, the Said Button and William Busby of Thirsk in the north Riding of the Said County of York Grocer were (as the Informant hath been assured) surprized in the very fact of coyning Guineas at Cubeck aforesaid whereupon the Said Button fled and some of his tools were seized, that about a year and a half ago, James Blades aforesaid 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 Informant that he had made John Airey nigh Kendall in Westmorld all his dyes or Stamps.

And the Informant further deposeth, that he hath heard from diverse persons that the said John Airey hath coyn'd Great Quantities of Crowns & $\frac{1}{2}$ Crowns covered with Silver.

The Informant 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 about the beginning of Jan.^ry 1700. came to the Dwelling house of the Informants Father at Larthington aforesaid And that the Said James Blades Joseph Thompson & Michael Turner <1v> Togeather with the Informants Brother Jonathan Smithson and this Informant went into a private place in Snaiths pasture nigh Larthington aforesaid where they the Said James Blades Joseph Thomson made a fire, and did then and there in the p^resence of this Informant and his said Brother Coyn Mill'd halfe Crowns to the tale of 10.^£ or thereabouts. The Informant further deposeth that about Christmas was 12. months, he saw the Said Joseph Thompson cut (with a pair of Sheers) diverse Six pences round about, with designe (as he told the Informant) to put the Said clippings or Rings about half penny peices, and that he likewise (at the same time {)} saw the Said Joseph Thompson cut divers new milld Shillings into 4. Quarters in Order to beat them out to a thinness for covering the Said halfpenny peices, which he told the Informant were to be made into halfe Crownes Counterfeit. The Informant further deposeth that he hath see the Said Joseph Thompson Severall times produce at Henry Robsons house in Newcastle Taylor. And about 10. months agoe in Swaldale aforesaid Thompson shewed the Cross-side of a Shilling Dye, and at the same time said he would Get a Face side made to it at Newcastle, and further saith that the Said Joseph Thompson told him, That James Wharton of Penrith, and Joseph Clarke nigh Rowley hill in Cumberland, were both concerned in the Counterfeiting the currant coyn of this Realm.     The Informant further deposeth, that John Fawcett near Sedberg in the County of York hath, (as this Informant is well assured) Utter'd great quantities of {Cover'd} Crowns and halfe Crownes, coyn'd (as this Informant hath been told) by one Joseph Claughton, who about 2. years agoe, was for such like Offences com̄itted to Carlisle Goale, whence he made his Escape. And the Informant further deposeth, that he togeather with M^r Geo: Wareup S^r W^m Bowes's Clerk by Ord^er of the Said 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 aforesaid in an Upper Room, where the Informant 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, the remaines of a Brass Kettle which had in part 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 aforesaid togeather with divers Tools & Instruments for Coyning, all which were seized & delivered by the Informant and the Said M^r George Wareup into the custody of Edward Wilson Jun^ior Esquire a Justice of Peace for Westmorl^d who thereupon com̄itted the Said Joseph Claughton togeather with the Said John Green to the Goale of that County. The Informant further deposeth that one M^r Richd Warwick of Placy-Hall in the county of Northumberland did about Cristmas was 12. months, and at divers other times Employ the aforesaid James Blades and Joseph Thompson Michael Turner & Edward Gares of Shotton Edge in the Said County Blacksmith to coyn $\frac{1}{2}$ Crowns at the house of the Said Gares, and supplyed them with Dollars to melt down for that purpose, and the Said Michaell Turner produced to this Said Informant Some halfe Crowns which (he said) he had coyned there, And the Said Richard Warwick showed the Informant Divers Tools and Instruments for coyning at his the Said Richd Warwicks own house in Newcastle. And the Said Informant further deposeth <2r> That S^r. W^m. Bowes haveing Ordered him to lay his Information before S^r Will Blackett one of her Majesties Justices of the peace for the Said County, the Said S^r W.^m Blacket granted his warrant thereupon to this Informant against the Said M^r Richd Warwick & Edward Gares, and they were accordingly thereupon app^rehended by the Informant and the Said R^ichd Warwick com̄itted to Morpeth Goale and the Said Edward Gares bound by Recognizane with Good Sureties to appear at the next Assises for that County the Informant further deposeth that Henry Robson of Westgate in New Castle Taylor Entertained the Said James Blades Joseph Thompson & Michaell Turner, in his Dwelling house there, and told this Informant that he could cover over false moneys & Shewed him Some which he said he had done - The Informant 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 Instrument for the Said James Blades call'd a cutter, for Cutting out peices for $\frac{1}{2}$ Crowns and a loop belonging to a wedgs press, and being Examined further saith not            Hen: Smithson Capt et Jurat &c.^t coram Will Bowes

June 4. 1702

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

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June 4^th. 1702.

Westm^er Ss.The Information of the aforenamed Henry Smithson taken upon Oath before Edward Wilson jun^ior Esquire one of her Majesties Justices &c^t.

Who saith that he this day went to John Green's house of Hutton Roofe in the County aforesaid and there found in a room above staires one Joseph Claughton late of Addle Parish near Leeds in the County of York with 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 Said Claughton p^retended his name was Robinson, he found also then & there divers Instruments 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 the Said Claughton Capt jurat &c^t Edward Wilson jun.^ior                                Hen: Smithson