Henry Smithson: The Information and Further Information of Henry Smithson 1 and 4 June 1702 Isaac Newton c. 1,913 words The Newton Project Oxford 2019 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 1 and 4 June 1702, c. 1,913 words. MINT 15/17/457, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 15/17/457 Henry Smithson (Junior)YeomanJohn Button [Broadley]Christopher ShawEdward BlandWilliam BusbyGrocerHenry HorsfaileChemistJohn Button [Broadley]Joseph ThompsonMichael TurnerJonathan SmithsonJames WhartonHenry RobsonTailorJoseph ClarkJohn FawcettJoseph ClaughtonGeorge WareupWilliam BowesJohn GreenEdward WilsonRichard WarwickEdward GaresBlacksmithWilliam BlackettDavid HodgsonChristopher SheildJoshua HutchinsonRuth AddingtonWilliam HarwoodWhitesmithMary ButtonDaniel OttyRobert Greer 1 and 4 June 1702 England English Unknown Hand MintClippers, Coiners and Embezzlers Transcribed by Kees-Jan Schilt

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

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

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

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

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

That about two years ago, yethe SdSaid Button and William Busby of Thirsk in the north Riding of the SdSaid County of York Grocer were (as the Informant hath been assured) surprized in yethe very fact of coyning Guineas at Cubeck aforesdaforesaid whereupon the SdSaid Button fled and some of his tools were seized, that about a year and a half ago, James Blades aforesdaforesaid sent the Informant to Lancaster to know if one Horsfale, a Chymist, Comm̄itt.d to that Here the hand switches from clerical to normal. Goal could furnish him with a pair of Crown Dyes or Stamps, who had none ready but Shew'd him one unfinished, and told Inform:tInformant that he had made John Airey nigh Kendall in Westmorld all his dyes or Stamps.

And the Inform:tInformant further deposeth, that he hath heard from diverse ꝑsonspersons that the said John Airey hath coyn'd diver Great Quantities of Crowns & 12 Crowns covered with Silver.

The Inform:tInformant further saith, That the same James Blades and Joseph Thompson (now in Durham Goale) and Michael Turner of Wharton Dykes in Country Westmorl.d ab.tabout the beginning of Jan.ry 1700. came to the Dwelling house of yethe Informants Father at Larthington aforesdaforesaid And ytthat yethe SdSaid James Blades Joseph Thompson & Michael Turner togeather with Togeather with the Informants Brother Jonathan Smithson and this Inform:tInformant went into a private place in Snaiths pasture nigh Larthington aforesdaforesaid where they the SdSaid James Blades Joseph Thomson made a fire, and did then and there in yethe presence of ysthis Informant and his said BroerBrother Coyn Mill'd halfe Crowns to yethe tale of 10.£ or thereabouts. The Informant further deposeth that about Christmas was 12. months, he saw the SdSaid Joseph Thompson cut (with a Ppair of Sheers) diverse Six pences round about, with designe (as he told yethe Inform:tInformant) to put the SdSaid clippings or Rings about half penny peices, and ytthat he likewise (at the same time ) saw yethe SdSaid Joseph Thompson cut divers new milld ShillsShillings into 4. Quarters in Order to beat them out to a thinness for covering the SdSaid halfpenny peices, which he told the Inform:tInformant were to be made into halfe Crownes Counterfeit. The Inform:tInformant further deposeth ytthat he hath see the SdSaid Joseph Thompson Severall times produce at Henry Robsons house in Newcastle Taylor. And ab.tabout 10. months agoe in Swaldiale aforesdaforesaid Thompson shewed the Cross-side of a Shilling Dye, and at yethe same time said he would Get a Face side made to it at Newcastle, and further saith ytthat yethe SdSaid Joseph Thompson told him, That James Wharton of Penrith, and Joseph Clarke nigh Rowley hill in Cumberland, were both concerned in the Counterfeiting the currt.currant coyn of this Realm. The Inform:tInformant further deposeth, that John Fawcett near Sedberg in yethe County of York hath, (as this Inform:tInformant is well assured) Utter'd great quantities of Cover'd Crowns and halfe Crownes, coyn'd (as this Inform:tInformant hath been told) by one Joseph Claughton, who ab.tabout 2. years agoe, was for such like Offences com̄itted to Carlisle Goale, whence he made his Escape. And the Inform:tInformant further deposeth, that he togeather with Mr Geo: Wareup Sr Wm Bowes's Clerk by Order of the SdSaid Sr Wm Bowes did on the 4.th of this Instant June Apprehend the said Joseph Claughton in the house of John Green near Hutton Roofe in Westmorland aforesdaforesaid in an Upper Room, where yethe Inform:tInformant 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, yethe remaines of a Brass Kettle wchwhich had in ꝑtpart 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 aforesdaforesaid togeather with divers Tools & Instrumts.Instruments for Coyning, all wchwhich were seized & delivered by yethe Inform:tInformant and yethe SdSaid Mr George Wareup into yethe custody of Edward Wilson Junior Esqr.Esquire a Justice of Peace for Westmorld who thereupon com̄itted the SdSaid Joseph Claughton togeather with yethe SdSaid John Green to yethe Goale of that County. The Inform:tInformant further deposeth that one Mr Richd Warwick of Placy-Hall in the county of Northumberland did about X.masCristmas was 12. months, and at divers other times Employ yethe aforesdaforesaid James Blades and Joseph Thompson Michael Turner & Edward Gares of Shotton Edge in the SdSaid County BlksmithBlacksmith to coyn 12 Crowns at yethe house of yethe SdSaid Gares, and supplyed them with Dollars to melt down for ytthat purpose, and the SdSaid Michaell Turner ꝑducedproduced to this SdSaid Inform:tInformant Some halfe Crowns wchwhich (he said) he had coyned there, And the SdSaid Richard Warwick showed the Inform:tInformant Divers Tools and Instrum.tsInstruments for coyning at his the SdSaid Richd Warwicks own house in Newcastle. And yethe SdSaid Inform:tInformant further deposeth that Sr Wm further deposeth That Sr. Wm. Bowes haveing Ordered him to lay his InformaionInformation before Sr Will Blackett one of her MatiesMajesties Justices of yethe peace for the SdSaid County, the SdSaid Sr W.m Blacket granted his warrant thereupon to this Inform:tInformant agt.against the SdSaid Mr Richd Warwick & Edward Gares, and they were accordingly thereupon apprehended by the Inform:tInformant and yethe SdSaid Richd Warwick com̄itted to Morpeth Goale and the SdSaid Edward Gares bound by Recognizane with Good Sureties to appear at yethe next Assises for ytthat County the Inform:tInformant further deposeth that Henry Robson of Westgate in New Castle Taylor Entertained the SdSaid James Blades Joseph Thompson & Michaell Turner, in his Dwelling house there, and told this Inform:tInformant ytthat he could cover over false moneys & Shewed him Some which he said he had done - The Inform:tInformant further deposeth that David Hodgson Christopher Sheild, Joshua Hutchinson & Ruth Addingson were all concerned in Uttering Counterfeit Moneys, and that Wm Harwood whitesmith (all in or near Bernards Castle about a year agoe span'd an Instrum.tInstrument for the SdSaid James PBlades call'd a cutter, for Cutting out peices for 12 Crowns and a loop belonging to a wedgs press, and being ExaiedExamined further saith not Hen: Smithson Capt et Jurat &c.t coram Will Bowes
June 4. 1702 The Inform:tInformant further deposeth and Saith, that he hath heard the SdSaid John Button alsalias Broadly and yethe aforesdaforesaid x.per Shaw (now in York Goal) say that they togeather with one Will Busby aforesdaforesaid a place to be digged under Ground near Healey in Coverdale for coyning, and ytthat they had Actually coyn'd considerable Sum̄s of money there, the Inform:tInformant further saith ytthat he hath often seen the SdSaid Busby at yethe SdSaid Buttons house at Cubeck aforesdaforesaid and that the SdSaid William Busby brought Tools or Instrumts.Instruments for Coyning to the SdSaid Button to be repaired and amended by him. And likewise see a Bond under the hand and Seale of the SdSaid W.m Busby for yethe paym.tpayment of 10.£ to the SdSaid Button alsalias Broadly, wchwhich yethe SdSaid Button & Mary his wife told this Inform:tInformant was given to him by way of satisfaionsatisfaction for coyning InstrumtsInstruments made by the SdSaid Button for they said willm Busby, And further deposeth that ab.tabout 5 years agoe at Butcher house in the County of York, the said W.m Busby desired the Inform:tInformant & the SdSaid Xper Shaw to Kill one Dan:le Otty his father in Law, and who he told the Informant ytthat he was apprehensive he would inform agtagainst him for Clipping, the Inform:tInformant further deposeth, ytthat he doth verily beleive ytthat the SdSaid Xper Shaw in the Coyning trade with the SdSaid John Button and Willm Busby. The Inform:tInformant further deposeth that one Robert Greer of Whorton in Westmer came on the Sixth day of May 1702 to the Inform:tInformant at Nuteby in the SdSaid County & wished him not to proceed any farther ag.tagainst the SdSaid Richard Warwick, and ytthat he shud have as a reward 20 Guineas or more, to which this Inform:tInformant replyed ytthat the præmium for his convionconviction would be 40.£ whereunto yethe SdSaid 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 Inform:tInformant not to proceed against the SdSaid Richard Warwick Hen: Smithson Capt' &ct coram me Will Bowes. June 4th. 1702. Westmer Ss.The InformaionInformation of the aforenamed Henry Smithson taken upon Oath before Edward Wilson junior Esqr.Esquire one of her Ma.tiesMajesties Justices &ct. Who saith that he this day went to John Green's house of Hutton Roofe in the County aforesdaforesaid and there found in a room above staires one Joseph Claughton late of Addle Parish near Leeds in the County of York wthwith 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 SdSaid Claughton pretended his name was Robinson, he found also then & there divers Instrumts.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 yethe SdSaid Claughton Capt jurat &ct Edward Wilson jun.ior Hen: Smithson