Henry Horsfaile: The Information of Henry Horsfaile 21 August 1703

Lancaster Ss The Informaion of Henry Horsfaile of Lancaster aforesd Chymist taken upon Oath ye 21.st day of Aug.t 1703

Who saith that Joseph Smithhurst of this Town Watchmaker, did importune this Inform:t to Engrave or cut a seal or Stamp to Counterfeit Stamp paper, which he this Inform:t did doe, and delivered the Sd Stamp to the Sd Mr Smithhurst, about 6 or 7 years agoe, and rec.d One Guinea for the Sd Stamp or Seale from ye Sd Smithhurst, And further saith yt much ab.t the same time, One William Greenopp and Thomas Nealson of Furness in this County bought each of them a stamp or Seale of this Inform:ts cutting for counterfeiting Stampt paper withall, and gave to this Depon.t about 26. shills a peice for the same, and Saith that he did See the Said Thomas Nealson make use of ye Sd Counterfeit Stamps by <1v> Trying it upon paper, and further saith that the said Nealson did did {sic} shew unto this Deponent a counterfeit Stamp for paper wch he told this Inform:t he had from Ferdinand Croudson (since Executed) And further saith that one William Taylor of Hammond head, in the County of York, did bring this Informant unto Michall Lawsons house near Stelle in the Sd County of York, And that ab.t 4. Years agoe he did see the Sd Lawson, make a counterfeit Shilling, by strikeing it with a Hammer, between a pair of Dyes upon an Anvill. And that about 12. months agoe the Sd Wm Taylor, bro.t a pair of Blank dyes to this Informant to cut or engrave, to counterfeit halfe Crownes, and at another time bro.talso a pair of of blank dyes to be engraved to counterfeit Crown peices withall which were delivered back (when finished) to the Sd Willm Taylor by this Depon.t the Sd Michael Lawson being also present: and did at times receive from the Sd Taylor and Lawson, about fifty shills for cutting the 2. pair of Dyes as aforesd. this Deponent further saith that the Sd W.m Taylor brought him first acquainted with one Joseph Claughton (since executed for high treason) as also with the Sd Michael Lawson and John Airey als Verey, whome this Inform:t hath been told is a notorious Coyner. And he the Sd Airey did bring unto this Inform:t one Single Dye to finish to counterfeit shillings withall. And one Anthony Richardson in Over Wyarsdale Smith did call upon this Inform:t for ye same Dye, but this Depon.t did never finish it, and ye Sd Richardson did also bring one other Single Dye to counterfeit halfe Crowns withall, And doth further say that According to the best of this Depon.ts memory he has made and furnished ab.t 3. pair of Dyes for the said John Airey to counterfeit Crowns and halfe Crowns withall, and has been importuned to engrave or make more but refused so to doe. And he further saith that one Ann Harrisson, did frequently bring and carry Dues and Messages between this Informant and the said Airey, whome this Informant is told she lives at Cockram in this County of Lanc. This Depon.t doth own that he did counterfeit Stamp paper in the town of Lancaster with a Stamp of his own makeing and did sell the paꝑ sometimes to Richd Green of Kendall (an Acquaintance of ye Sd John Aireys & sometimes to Tho.s Nealson aforesd And saith that ab.t two year agoe, he did sell Stamp paper to the Sd Will Taylor at a very Small vallue. And further saith that George Taylor of this Town of Lancast.er & broer to ye Sd Willm Taylor, did receive from this Inform:t a counterfeit stamp for paper, for wch he sometimes gave this Inform:t 6.d at a time or a shilling, or a small Treat, & further upon his Oath saith yt he hath seen ye Sd George Taylor use ye Sd stamp upon paper severall times, and that the last time he did see him was not above 3. months agoe, and doth beleive he hath the Sd Stamp by him now at this present. he further saith that the aforesd In.o Airey told this Depon.t yt he had Got a pair of $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ Crown dyes cut at Leverpoole, by 2. men in one Afternoon, And he doth own he did once cast one counterfeit shlling in ye town of Lancaster Capt. et jurat &ct coram me Tho: Sherson.                      Hen: Horsfaile