John Ignatius Lawson: Informations undated, of 13 February 1698 & of 13 January 1698/9; and Letters to Isaac Newton dated 9 February 1698, 13 February 1698, 29 January 1698/9 & 3 April 1699

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The Informacon of Iohn Ignatius Lawson vizt

William Iohnson Farryer helpt to coyn five pistolls French and spanish in 169$\frac{\mathrm{8}}{\mathrm{9}}$ in a Chamber at on Dickonson's that this Iohnson is in great confederacy with Shaw's wife and this ann Duncomb

A woman yt goes by the name of Katherine Smith hath often sollicited me to learn her to cast given me 40s I learnt her something of it by casting of Medalls refusing to cast any coyn, since that she was at my house in Boswell Court and shewed me 6d yt she had cast by halfes I know not her aboad she is very importunate to know farther of me and hath left a place where I may hear of her

Shaw the smith made the blankes of the Pistoll Dyes + has pair of blanks more the one he struck whilst hott with a Cast punch for a Ginea {sic} but could not mark it deep enough that stamp hath three pins and 3 holes I suppose now in his shop he likewise made the steel work for a Ginea {sic} William Oskar of New Prisoner Walk Hocken Frame Knitter learnt by Meddalls to cast of me for which he was to give me 4li. and a pair of fine hose the stockings and 8s he gave me but no more before this he brought me three rings to lay in Flaskes to letter Crowns withall I gave him them again in 1698 I believe I can bring further evidence agt. Oscar Henry Burden a Non Iuring parson Clipt 20 $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ Crows 100s. + at Mason a Farmhouse nearr Worksop in Nottinghamshire I know where to find him the fait done silversmith on ouze Bridge in York

Iohn Wright of Waltham Abby {illeg} exchanged at Moll Quale money with me gave me 40s of good money for 52s of Counterfeit sixpences of the old money at another time at Waltham likewise a squinting man a Cheesemongr of the same Town I know not his name this was 97

Thomas Shaw of Wapping at severall times hath struck a 100 pistolls of Spain for 4d each the 20 that Ball had was carryd down by one Ann Duncomb Servant formerly to my wife who since her departure from me hath shewd five pistolls at a time asking a man of her aquaintance if he could guild them she said she could <097r> have 500 take of her hands I am possitive these Shaw struck and can bring the man in witnes agt. her that saw them

Sarah Shaw's wife had two that were left at our house for wch she gave 5 or 6s in money and stopt 5s more which was owing for Door Locks– The man that saw ye pistols in ann Dumcomb's hand saw her buy lead gold and Quick silver to guild them withall

Ino Ign Lawson

[2]

Iohn Ignatius Lawson's Lettr to Is: Newton Es

Hond Sr. Whatever my memory can produce at present I have acquainted you wth. all in this Inclosed wt. I may Recollect of Circumstances thereaftr. shall be faithfully put down in writing as soon as thought of the matter menconed I Question not but will effect satisfactory means to discharge my Duty promissed to yor. self mr Mollineux likewise proffitable to the Governmt. whose interest all men yt deal justly will acknowledge you espouse I have been Injenious in unfoulding Matters wholy relying on two honble men's promisses I desire I may be examined concerning of taking up any one by me menconed supposing I may add the best method of effecting this Intencon being I have been acquainted with the Transaccons here in related which if well mannaged will turn to the Governmts Governmts profitt yor honrs satisfatiation and my Credditt in yor honours esteem which I am highly obliged to value

who is yor honrs most humble obligd servt.

Ion. Ingn Lawson

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Perkins the smith in March last got the Brass work of Mr Deacon's Edger last the Pattern he came by as followeth

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Mrs. harry and my self being at one Mr. Crags at Chelsea the Gardenr. and his wife house keeper to Mr. Modena the Iew who both are in the same station at Richmond Mr Crag + his wife told as they could fetch us a piece of Curiosity which they believed was an Edger so mr crag went to London for it + brought to us in a bag for that purpose with another litle C Punch for edging of Gineas {sic} which knew as soon as I saw being I had seen Thomas Kirkby reedge Gineas with the same Instrument after they were defaced with filing so I saying that punch was Tom Kirkby's Mr. Cragg and his wife told me that it was old Hickes's of Twitham and that it was left at a Brandy shop by Charing Cross mrs harrys made use of it and likewise cast all the Form of it in pewter wch <097v> form lips now in Perkins's hands the descripcon is as foll The outside was of brass the other of steel and Iron according as necessity required the graining was twofold the one fine & close for Gineas {sic} the other to put in their places wn. need required these last were more remoat assundr. and for edging shills upon experimt I found it would edge 40li in shillings every hour it was carryed back and produced another time but on the third entreaty could not be produced telling us it was in the hands of the proprieters likewise that I saw in Tom Kirkbys hands he told me it was his father in law's and that used to be left in the Brandy shop above menconed– Mrs. Cragg was once mr Hickes maid– My acquaintance with Kirkby was first when I came to London which was in the plott time– I shall repeat nothing concerning the old money only mencon Matt of Fact in the New vizt) that which represent the similitude of this present King William. A litle before Midsomer last was 2 year Mr Kirkby my self, with Iohnson made an Experimt and made 12 or 14s afterwards Iohnson and myself made severall poundes more at the house of Mr Cragg near the D of Beaufords in Chelsea some of which Iustice Ireton had in custody which was taken from Drury by Mr Rowse to the value of 30 or 40s. afterwards abot this time was two years or scarse so much one Button a Smith was taken into custody and discoverd Mr Kirby who made his refuge at my Lodgings then in play house yard in Drury Lane where he edged severall half Crownes wth. an Edger that was Coffee's and shewd me sevl Counterfeit pieces of his and one Smith's making that lodged in his house and wth. spaud that he brought of that Smith making that lodged in his house he made five half Crownes in in {sic} a Cellar at mr Clancy's he was preparing some Chymicall Preparacons for Mr. Hammings an Organ Maker that lives in the same house May after I went to Flanders and never was in company with Mr Kirkby since though a litle before Mrs. Harris dyed which was Christmas was 2 years mr. Kirkby lent he a pair of Dutch skillings Dye cutt by the before menconed Button

Honr Sr I have menconed what I can think on at present if yor honor. thinks fitt I shall sent to morrow to see if I can procure mrs. Broadhurst Bayle which if I can and your honor pleases to admitt of it as soon as she is at liberty I shall send her to Dr Cooke to sett abbott <98r> if she can or lefst wise make some speciall remarks how he may be taken

yor honors most humble and most obligd servt. Ion. Ign Lawson

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A litle before Christmas last was 2 years Katherine Coffee wife of Patrick Coffee went down into the countrey with one Mrs. Harris now deceased to see mr Coffee from whom they brought a pair of half Crown stamps of King Williams which had three pins and 3 holes for the pins to enter into which method mrs. Coffee in the presence of 5 or 6 people said was the same way that the Ginea {sic} stamps were made that Mr Chandler and her husband used to work wth She sitting with a Wooden Disk to receive the Gineas {sic} as they two had struck them Moreover there was a punch for a half Crown face and an Edger for $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ Crowns that came from Coffee all inclosed in a black leather bagg this the case of a small Bible these things were brought by mrs. Coffee and mrs Harris into a Chamber at the sign of the Red Cow in markt Lane near St. Iames's markt + produced openly before Penny Dice Iohn Harris William Harris Patrick Long Rebeca Borthog and my self most of these people I can produce, afterwards the stamps and punch for half Crowns were carryd to one Thomas Perkins a smith in Clerkenwell where they were left who not above four months prior told me he had them buryd under Ground Mrs. Coffee Guilt 2 blanks for 2 half Gineas {sic} that was already edged Rebecca Borthog was by wn she guilt them and taught her of guilding with leafe Gold saying that that was the Method that her husband and Mr. Chaloner used and how that she used to be lockt up in a room untill she had guilt the number of Gineas {sic} that they had set her as a task and that all their Gold was bought of Mr. Grainger a Gold Beaketee in New street and that the Gold that they generally guild withall was of a large sort 13 leaves for half Crowne to Confirm this when I was at Mr Morris's last that I was bayled out I lay with Mr Chandler who told me Mr Graunger hath had above a thousand pounds of him for Gold and that he was a great Rogue and came in agt. Grosvenr a brother in Law of his which the Warden had made him do by threatning

The aforemenconed Perkins the Smith soon after I knew him one morning I came into his shop where he and his man Tom was striking with a Cast punch the face of a King Williams shilling he told me that It was for one Wood a Thief Taken that cast strike Punches very well and how that with a pair of Ginea {sic} Punches that Wood had brought him he had struck a pair of Ginea {sic} stamps that he said Wood confessed to him that he sold for 20li the Perkins struck wth severall punches that was cast by mrs Harrys but he never perfected any stamp for fin being he could not strike deep enough but he made <98v> 2 Edgers for shillings that were all Iron and Neeb and was to strike down with a hammer the one Edger was made of mr Harris and the other for Escarr one whom I have menconed before in writing Perkins abot. Lady day last got the bras work of Mr Dakins Edger cast in that one and had 5s for it the rest of the work Shaw and the swead did

Abot. this time 3 yeares I was at the house of Nicholas Ball senr. where he and his 2 sons Chirstr. a Butcher and Francis a Flannell Draper with one William Austen a Notorious Coyner these same peopel carryd on the Trade of Coyning by casting quantitys of old money and striking Crown pieces and Gineas {sic} yt that were King Charles sending for a smith at Tissington half a mile from Balls house to help them to strike which was ꝑformed by striking in a Ground room where stands all a bole of an O'ke tree wth. a hole in it for that purpose since my departure from that countrey my wife hath taken a great many false pieces of new money from old Ball and Francis his son this Francis came in Summer last to London told me since my departure out of the countrey that they had young Higgot at his father's house who cut them a pair of Ginea {sic} stamps of King William that was hollowed on the face side to gain weight and that they were well done and that they had severall more stamps cut by him likewise at the same time he was here in London his father writt to him to send him Polygraphy the last Edicon and a considerable quantity of Quick Silver and that Moor had been at his house I askt who was that Morr he told me that he was an Injenious Smith from Cheadle that had made them a fly for a Press and that they had got them the blanck of a screw made at Barton forge that cost 25s. and that this same Moor had turned it for ym likewise his father in his Letter said he had been at New Castle Francis said his farther went thither to have Gineas {sic} of a Coyner there that had the best art in that work in all that countrey who was to let his father have 13 or 14 on tryall then greater <099r> quantities afterwards as they was approved on and could agree for the price moreover he told me that his farther brought home with him a litle before he came up to London a pair of Copr moulds for half Crownes that would cast a long time and that the smith at Sheadle struck them th when they were hot and sold them to his father and that their way of Coyning at present untill the press was ready was to make Crownes and $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ Crownes in such moulds and that all while Moor was at work upon the same lay which caused the Receivrs. of the Taxes to take sheers with them to try them they being made of a Copper plate saudered and set up with 3 or 4 small pins of silver in this Copper mould so the silver run abot. them he said that they had a smith at Tissington that was going forward with a Press for them that was different from the other smith's work and thought it would prove a good one wn. finisht all these things were made privy to Mr Whitfield who was to help Ball to a correspondt. here in London that was to take off what ever they in Derbysh could make or procure either Gineas {sic} or silver at the same time offering him a room in his house to work up wt. money he pleased which he assured him was very private and need not suspect the least Discovery people having coynd in it before that were gone out of it after this the pistolls were made which I have given a former accot. of then mr. Ball declind my Company for 10 dayes or a fortnight being continually at mr Whitfields till he was taken up what mattr. was Carryd. on in yt. time Mrs. Miller I believe knows best I am alltogeater unsensible off but ye buissines was ꝑfected so farr that wn they were both in Newgate vizt Mr Whitfield and Ball they sent up for Old Ball and had agreed on Mattrs. so far that as soon as they should procure their liberty a man was agreed withall to bring the Returns of base money from Derbysh to Whitfields and so back again wth money that was good in return for it and things from London that could not be procured in the countrey the man that was to come backwards and forwards was to have a horse of Mr Balls whose colour and marks was described him with promisses of extraordinary gaine this man I can bring any day to justify wt I have said concerning Ball and Mr. Whitfields affaires and since Whitfield's being bailed not above two dayes before I was taken up the first time I saw a lettr. from Ball to Whitfield assuring him he would be with him soon in London and all affairs that was betwixt them should be ꝑfected mrs Broadhurst and the Taylor saw the same letter <099v> Mr Whitfield saying he had reced one before and that for 6li he would not bring one to swear himself Francis Ball in open Court and thereby clear himself and him and asked me if I would go wth him to Mr Balls in Derbyshire for he expected to be there presently being the old mane came not up to him

Iohn Ignats Lawson

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Mr Lawson's Lettr. to Isaac Newton Esqr.

honrd Sr. I am sorry to hear that you are incensed agt. me concerning mrs Broadhurst fault her mannagemt in yt affair I was as ignorant of as him that never saw her I hope you examin into the mattr. with all strickness imaginable and if you find me to have the lest knowledge of it I desire to find no favour but to be prosecuted to the utmost rigour of the Law but as I shall be found wholy ignorant of it I hope (Good Sr) you'l consider wt. service I have done and wth. wt. willingnes I have endeavoured to serve the Governmt. and if I had had my liberty I had done a great deale more wt. reports I have given you of any one I am sure are conciencious and true anything of another kind I utterly abhorr and am sure now one can tax me wth. I hope Sr. you'l remember what promisses I had how I have lost that litle all I had in the world been afflicted with sickness poverty and Imprisonmt. and unjustly accused by people of ill life and principles all through mallice being I gave an Informacon agt. them first it will prove hard me asure on my behalf if what I have done and suffered shall stand for nothing Sr. I hope you'l judge my Circumstances wth a Christian Charity and considr my endeavrs with an indifferent Eye I am sensible you'l find me obedt to yor. commands and wholy inclinable to service others have found favour which have much more deserved punishmt then I but{illeg} its my hard fate to lye under all manner of hard Circumstances at present but Sr. I hope Charity will move you to lend me yor hand to pluck me out of them and the commandr. of my life I shall wholy rendr. at yor disposall

Sr. I am

yor most humble & most obedt servt to commd

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Ino Ig Lawson

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Mr Hopkins told me yt he would speak to you that I might speak to yor honour I believe that I can convict one or two provided they may not be made use of agt. me and that the other evidence may be at such libty as they are at present I heat yt ye partys go this evening tyde to Gravesend to putt off false half Gineas {sic} and other money

Sr. Concerning the pistols that Ball and mr whitfield were taken up for is as followeth– Ball sold his horse to a hatter in Southward for to raise money to make ye pistolls with all which he cast in a Garrt. fronting the street at mr whitfields they were cast into 20 blanks and sent down to a Smiths and struck at 4d a piece Mr. Whitfield went up to a French silvr smith near Newport markt. where he gave silver for a good pistoll to put them off with all further it was agreed on betwixt Mr Whitfield Ball and my self yt Whitfield and Ball were to go to Rochester to put them off afterwards Whitfield seemed to decline putting them away himself but had procured mrs Millard to go with him to Rochester and she to pay ym. this agreed on the day being appointed mrs Millard was to have some cloth of Mr Whitfield to set her forth better she being then very shabby the night they was to go mr Whitfield & my self mett togeather at Mr whitfields where I saw Mrs. Millard after a time staying in comes Whitfield and calls us all into his Dyning room where he told us yt he had heard at Billingsgate that 2 men were in Rochester Gaol for putting off counterfeit Spanish Gold so yt jorney {sic} was put by and Mrs. Millard was to put ym away in London and the adjacent places a day or two after I was at Whitfield's he said Mrs Millard had procured a Gent that belongd to Q Dowagr. that would give 10℔ for the 20 and take an 100 more after this I never heard more till Mr Ball was taken upp

Ino Ig Lawson

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Iohn Deacon augt. the 4/98 at the Swan Tavern in Leadenhall markt. sollicited me much for to coyn Gineas {sic} he shewed me a wedge Press but the Wedge was lost and got me to get him one made and on the 4th of augt. he gave me a Ginea {sic} in silver to pay for it of which Welsh the Smith and his wife had s this wdge was alterd twice before it was thick enough Mr Deacon gave me the Box for the Dyes to take a just compas by which box I left at old shaws for above a month Mr Deacon had assizd eale Square wherein lay the Press 3 pair of large Flasks and Brass and 3 of Iron files wyer brush sandifair Tripoly Engravers and other Materialls in the upper Garrt. at the 3 Kings in Kings street by the Guildhall at the end facing the street is a hole under the Tyles wherein lay 10 or 12li <100v> of blancht Copper and highgate sand with a Wooden skrew Mr Deacon hath had a Wooden skrew of me a Ginea {sic} Edger of me which Shaw the smith made

Mr Deacon and one Wootton a Iewellr. gave me a mixture of Gold and silver to coyn them Gineas {sic} with all but I refused it as English money but Ball and I made a French pistole for a Pattern which they came to our house and fetcht away drank a botle of sydr. and Mr Deacon gave me a shilling for making of it

Iohn Deverell brought the Wedge to me on the 5th of augt. to have it enlargd. and afterward he and Mr Deacon gave me again to be enlargd

Ino Ignas Lawson

I think it convent. these 3 houses be searcht– Mr Ino Deacon's at the Swan Tavern by or in Leadenhall markt his son's at the 3 Kings a Confeconer's in Kings street Guildhall– Capt. Murrell an Inn Keeper in Enfield or thereabots. he is a surgeon by profession

The further Informacon of Iohn Igna Lawson as foll

vizt That Mr Deacon came down to his quarters at ye harrow in Rope makers fields and gave him 2 Gineas {sic} to pay for the blanks and to buy other necessaries for making a pair of Ginea {sic} Dyes before that the first fryday in xtmas mett him at mrs Grangers as + art house by bolt and Tun Inn in Fleet street where one mrs Clinton was wth us that first brought Mr Deacon and I acquainted wee had yt day a piece of Roast Beef from the Cookes this was xtmas was 12 months but before I went to Flandrs. Mr Deacon sent me a Crown piece by his wife toward paying for a pair of blanks and sent me a Ginea {sic} by a Yaylor whose name r Deverell knows though I have forgott he likewise made Interest to get my discharge + when I was in the Tower drawn for Flander he gave me 2 Gineas {sic} more at my Cellar in my house in Wapping he mett me another time at the Lamb in Abchurch Lane where he gave me the box to take demension by and that day took me to his house in Kings street shewed me the press in a wooden box from under the Coles in the Cellar that day I dind with him of Salt fish and parsnips and he gave me a litle brass Tack to be mended which I carryd to <101r> old Shawes and he had 15d for mending it moreover he gave me 10s to pay for blanks for a pair of French pistoll stamps and gave me more money to pay for the cutting ym. the Swede made those blanks he cutt the armes but could not cut the face Shaw made these blanks and received a Crown of me for them he farther (Mr. Deacon) told me that he had a merchant that could pay a 1000 Gineas {sic} ꝑ week if I could make them and how there was 3 or 4 concerned that he did not desire to have them worse yn 4s a piece allay– he told me that some man had coynd trim Gineas {sic} by casting in those brass flasks he had but he was cheating Rogue and made too deep allay

Iohn Ignatius Lawson

The Examinacon of Iohn Ignatius Lawson of Boswell Court in the ꝑish of St. Clements Danes practitioner in Physsick taken this 13 day of Ianuary 169$\frac{\mathrm{8}}{\mathrm{9}}$

he saith that abot. last Iuly Francis Ball of Wood Eves in Tissington ꝑish near ashbourn in the Peake in Derbysh. Flannell Draper pull'd out of his pockt. abot. 14 Spanish pistolls and shewed them the Depont rembers not now whether and this was done in the house of Iohn Whitfield in St andrews street in the ꝑish of St. Gyles and the Depont took two or 3 of the said pistolls into hand and being asked by the sd Ball if he knoew wt. they were replyd. that they were Spanish pistols but were naught and would not go being too light and then returnd them the said Ball and that abot. a night or two before the said Ball shewed the Depont. a Spanish pistoll and asked him if he thought it was a good one and the Depont. replyd. that he did not know unles he weighed it

Iohn Igantius Lawson

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