Edward Smith: The Information of Edward Smith of Islington in the county of Middlesex Gardener 11 January 1698/9

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The Informaīon of Edwd Smith of Islington in the County of Middx Gardiner 11 Ianry 169$\frac{\mathrm{8}}{\mathrm{9}}$

He saith yt. abot. 9 or 10 weeks ago he went to mr Sadlers house at Strettam in the Isle of Ely in Cambridgesh pretending to come to the said Sadler from Wm. Thornton and Henry Holder who had lodged at yt said Sadlers house for severall months and were gone from thence abot. 3 or 4 dayes or a week before the Depont. came thither and that the said Sadler carryed the Depont. up one pair of Staires into Two Rooms on a floor and in one of the Roomes shewd. the Depont. a stove or Furnace and told the Depont. that there they melted their metall for making false money and that they made Spanish Pistolls by casting worth abot. 12s. a piece that they made also $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ Gineas {sic} by casting and cast ym. very fine and that they made shills of a mixt metall worth almost 4s. an oz + run it into barrs and flatted ym. in a Flatting Mill and yn cut ym into round pieces with a Tool they called a Pin and afterwards stampd with Dyes and a sledge Hammer and going down staires he fetched an Edger or Edging Tolle with which they edged their money + shewd the Depont how they edged by running a shilling through the Mill and pulling out of his pocket a ꝑcell of abot 20 or 30s told ye Depont. yt here Thornton + Holder above menioned made yt money + yt Thornton was ye Head workmen + yt Holder could also work well + was Confederate wth one House a Norwich Factor who had great quantitys of their counterfeit money to put off and wn ye sd Sadler shewed ye Depont. ye sd Edger + pin ye Depont. asked ye sd Sadler how if any body should search his house + find those things + ye sd Sadler answrd yt he defyed all ye Sharpers in England to find ym there were hid so safe

the mark of
Edd Smith

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