Anthony Richardson: The Information of Anthony Richardson 20 May 1704

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Com Lancast^er Ss. The Information of Anthony Richardson of Craighton in Almonderness in the said County whitesmith taken upon Oath May 20.^th 1704

Who upon his Oath saith that about 12. years agoe (was last Michaelmas {)} this Informant being at Brough fair in the County of York he there by acident fell into company with John Arry alias Verey, who haveing before this time been told (as this Informant understood) by one Carberry an Irishman, that this Informant had been imploy'd in makeing of Stamps or Dyes for counterfeiting money gave this Informant Orders to make or forge for him blank dyes for stamping shillings which this Informant did make, and about 3. months afterwards delivered them to the said Verey's own hand near unto Dolphinham Mills in Nether-Wyesdale in this County, for which the Said Verey paid this Informant 10.^s he at the same time telling this Informant that one Crag (since deceased would engrave the Said Stamps for him, and about $\frac{1}{2}$ a year after that, the Said Verey came over to this Informant^s house, (with one James Grahm of Thornham) and told this Informant that the said Cragg had engraved the stamps which proved very good Ones, and that they two had coyn'd a great deale of money with them and liked them very well.       That from that time untill about 4. years agoe this Informant had no dealings with the Said Verey^{[Editorial Note 1]} brought to this Informant^s house a pair of stamps or dyes ready engraved by the said Cragg (as Verey said) for stamping or counterfeiting broad peices in the Similitude of the Jacoby broad peice of Gold, and the Said Verey haveing also with him severall Copper half pence, did at this Informant^s Shop beat them out to the consistemcy of (for breadth and thickness) with the Jacoby peice, and then in this Informant^s Sight and presence, Stamp't 5. or 6. of them, and also at the same time Gilt or washed them over with Gold, which he the said Verey brought with him, leaveing one of them with this Informant which he passed off (by way of loane) to one Will. Slackers of black burton in the County of York (the Said Slackers knowing it to be Counterfeit) but he never pay'd this Informant for it as thô he Since owned he passed it for good.      And this Informant furth^er Saith that about Christmass last was 3. years agoe, the Said Verey brought to the number of 20. or thereabouts, of the same sort of Counterfeit broad peices ready Stamped (but not Gilt) to this Informant^s house, and there in this Informant^s Sight and p^resence did gilt them over as before, and at his going away at that time, he also left one of those counterefeit Jacobus peices with this Informant which this Informant lent to one Will _ _ _ _ _ to pass off, but was paid for the same, which was all the dealings this Informant ever had with the said Airey alias Verey in that kind; but dureing the time aforesaid this Deponent hath often heard the said Speak of Henry Horsfaile of Lanc^r Chymist, and of his dealings and acquaintance with the Said Horsfaile, and once particularly this Informant remembers he heard the said Verey say, that the Said Horsfaile and one Michall Lawson, were fallen out, and that the Said Horsfaile would cut no more for the Said Lawson (which this Informant understood to be cutting of Stamps or dyes for counterfeiting of money) And at another <1v> time the Said Verey told this Informant that himselfe and the Said Horsfaile were also falen out, and therefore the Said Verey desired leave of this Informant to send blank dyes in the Informant^s name to Horsfaile to be cutt which he this Informant consented unto, and this Informant hath heard the Said Verey say that he delivered two peices of Counterfeit broad Gold to one Burrows alias Emerson to put off:

This Informant further saith that before his first acquaintance with Verey, this Informant forged Severall blank Stamps or Dyes for Shillings and Sixpences (which this Informant delivered into the hands of ) for the above named Carberry as also to one Thomas Jackson of Cutshaw within Wyersdale in this County whome this Informant has heard is now in Ireland.       This Informant has also made blank Dyes or Stamps for Severall other persons who are either dead or, removed out of this County but now he remembers none of them.                                         Antho: Richardson Capt et jurat &c^t. Coram Charles Rigby