Com Lancastr. SsThe InformaionInformation of Thomas Beesley taken upon Oath
before Cha Rigby &c.t Feb. 6.th 170.
Who upon his Oath Informeth and saith that on or ab.tabout the 8th day of October last, this Informant came to the house of one Edwd Gervace ab.tabout a mile from Garstang towards Harnworh Moor with whome he this Depon.tDeponent hath been acquainted some time before, And after some little discourse, this Inform:tInformant told him yethe SdSaid Gervace of yethe Inform:tInformants Art of makeing Counterfeit Crown peices from Copper halfpence, & desired the SdSaid Edward Gervace to let him make them in his house, which he willingly consented unto, this Inform:tInformant went to work, and laying two Copper halfpence beaten out thin togeather wthwith some Solder between he then put them into the fire and so fixed them, and after that this Depon.tDeponent covered the peice over with a thin p.speice of beaten Silver, laying Solder between the Silver and the Copper peice and then putting it into the fire, this Inform:tInformant covered the Copper peice on both sides with Silver, and the Edges with thin silver alsoo, and at that time he stayed 4. Nights at that Gervaces house, and the second day of his comeing, he made five of those peices covered as aforesdaforesaid at the makeing whereof the SdSaid Edward Gervace was present, and assistant, by Ham̄ering out the Silver Thinn for covering the same, but 2. of those 5. peices miscarried the Silver being too much burnt; and upon the fifth day after this Depon.tDeponent first comeing thither, this Inform:tInformant telling the SdSaid Edwd Gervace that he design'd to go into Yorkshire, ab.tabout 3. miles from Askrigg, the SdSaid Gervace told this Depon.tDeponent that he would furnish him with an horse if he were mindfull to ride, and this Inform:tInformant leaving his house in the Evening of the 13. day of October last, the SdSaid Gervace betwixt 7. & 8. a clock that same Evening met this Inform:tInformant near Goverthwait bridge, ab.tabout 2. Miles from the SdSaid Gervace's house, with a Mouse coulour'd Gelding with a Dun white starr in his forehead, desireing this Inform:tInformant to fest him at some pasture, till in Yorkshire, untill he shud call or send for him, so this Inform:tInformant told the said Gervace he would leave him with one Abram Tennant in Marcet ab.tabout three miles
three miles from Askrigg, which this Inform:tInformant did on sunday night the 14. day of October last desireing him to put him into some pasture near him, till this Inform:tInformant or some frdfreind of his should call for him, this Depon.tDeponent leaveing with the SdSaid Abram Tennant 12s-6d in good money by Order of the said Edward Gervace to pay for the Horse's graseing &c.t This Inform:tInformant doth beleive the SdSaid Gervace, Stole the same Gelding from Alice Solisbury: since that the said Abram Tennant told this Inform:tInformant ytthat he had fested the SdSaid Gelding with one william place of Blackamoor Edge in Yorkshire. On tuesday the 16.th day of October last this Inform:tInformant went with his before mentioned 5. plated peices, to the house of Miles Berk (with whome this Inform:tInformant had been acquainted with before) and shewing him all the 5. peices desired him to stamp them three of which (the other two being burnt) the SdSaid Miles Berk stamped them on both sides and mill'd them on the Edges, but did not let this Informant stand by or see them so stamped, but after Shew.d this Depon.tDeponent 2. pair of Crown Stamps or Seales, and one pair for halfe Crownes, all wchwhich he said were cut by Henry Horsefaile of Lancaster, and brought to him the SdSaid Berk by one John Tree alsalias veray, the SdSaid Berk also told Shewed this Inform:tInformant both his Mills wherewith he Mill'd both Crowns & halfe Crowns - upon this Inform:tInformants leaveing the SdSaid Miles Berk he sold unto this Inform:tInformant 13. Counterfeit halfe Crowns for halfe the vallue good money and at the same time Anthony Berk his son sold to this Inform:tInformant 2. Counterfeit Crown peices for 2s: 6.d Good money. And that the Weeke following he this Inform:tInformant sould hos aforemenion'daforementioned three Crown peices and the 17. Corwns to the aforesdaforesaid Abram Tennant, for (vizt) five ShillsShillings counterfeit for 3.s Good money. And further upon his Oath saith that about a fortnight before last York Assizes, this Inform:tInformant being at the house of Thomas Townsend, at Linn-Gill about Six miles from Settle and five from Clapeham in Yorkshire this Inform:tInformant did see Michael Turner, cast 13, counterfeit Shillings in a mould made of Chalk, and about 4. days after Turner told this Inform:tInformant he had given them all to one John Hardy who lived near the aforesaid Abram Tennant to put off for him. And further saith that ab.tabout June last this Deponent being listed as a Souldier under Capt.Captain Lee, in the Earl of Derby's Regiment he run from his Coulours, and goeing to the house of the beforenamed Miles Berk bought of him 4. Counterfeit Crown Pspeices for 10.d in good money, and after wards sould 2. of the said peices to John Goose of Bonds in this County Tanner (telling him they were counterfeit) for 7.s in good money. That a little before last Christmas the SdSaid John Goose, told this Inform:tInformant that he being paying away 5.£ (and amongst it the SdSaid 2. Counterfeit Crown peices) to a man in poulton in this County, who suspecting them to be Counterf.tCounterfeit broak or cutt one of them, and finding the same to be bad kept them both as yethe SdSaid John Goose told this Inform:tInformant - And also saith that on Michlemas day last at Lancaster one Thomas Charnley about 3 miles from preston bought of this Inform:tInformant 2. Counterfeit Crown peices for 5s. good money he knowing them to be Such, he the SdSaid Charnley haveing before
haveing before that time bought of this Inform:tInformant Severall parcells of counterfeit money. And further upon his oath saith that about the month of June last William Burn of Barniker in this County, bought of this Inform:tInformant at the SdSaid Burns own house two Counterfeit Crown peices (knowing them to be bad) for Six ShillsShillings good money. And further saith ab.tabout two years ago one Richard Williamson of Neather wyresdale, bought of this Inform:tInformant in Weddicar pasture one Counterfeit Crown peice for 3.s & Sixpence and about the same time this Inform:tInformant Sould to Widdow Ellin Bryry at Carters house in Barnicar one Counterfeit Crown peice for three Shillings Tho.s Beesley Capt. et jurat apud Lancaster anō et die suꝑ dict coram Cha: Rigby