Thomas Beesley: The Information of Thomas Beesley 6 February 1703/4

Author: Newton, Isaac

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Com Lancastr. SsThe Informaion of Thomas Beesley taken upon Oath before Cha Rigby &c.t Feb. 6.th 17034.

Who upon his Oath Informeth and saith that on or ab.t the 8th day of October last, this Informant came to the house of one Edwd Gervace ab.t a mile from Garstang towards Harnworh Moor with whome he this Depon.t hath been acquainted some time before, And after some little discourse, this Inform:t told him ye Sd Gervace of ye Inform:ts Art of makeing Counterfeit Crown peices from Copper halfpence, & desired the Sd Edward Gervace to let him make them in his house, which he willingly consented unto, this Inform:t went to work, and laying two Copper halfpence beaten out thin togeather wth some Solder between he then put them into the fire and so fixed them, and after that this Depon.t covered the peice over with a thin p.s of beaten Silver, laying Solder between the Silver and the Copper peice and then putting it into the fire, this Inform:t 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 aforesd at the makeing whereof the Sd 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.t first comeing thither, this Inform:t telling the Sd Edwd Gervace that he design'd to go into Yorkshire, ab.t 3. miles from Askrigg, the Sd Gervace told this Depon.t that he would furnish him with an horse if he were mindfull to ride, and this Inform:t leaving his house in the Evening of the 13. day of October last, the Sd Gervace betwixt 7. & 8. a clock that same Evening met this Inform:t near Goverthwait bridge, ab.t 2. Miles from the Sd Gervace's house, with a Mouse coulour'd Gelding with a Dun white starr in his forehead, desireing this Inform:t to fest him at some pasture, till in Yorkshire, untill he shud call or send for him, so this Inform:t told the said Gervace he would leave him with one Abram Tennant in Marcet ab.t <1v> three miles from Askrigg, which this Inform:t did on sunday night the 14. day of October last desireing him to put him into some pasture near him, till this Inform:t or some frd of his should call for him, this Depon.t leaveing with the Sd 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:t doth beleive the Sd Gervace, Stole the same Gelding from Alice Solisbury: since that the said Abram Tennant told this Inform:t yt he had fested the Sd Gelding with one william place of Blackamoor Edge in Yorkshire. On tuesday the 16.th day of October last this Inform:t went with his before mentioned 5. plated peices, to the house of Miles Berk (with whome this Inform:t 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 Sd 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.t 2. pair of Crown Stamps or Seales, and one pair for halfe Crownes, all wch he said were cut by Henry Horsefaile of Lancaster, and brought to him the Sd Berk by one John Tree als veray, the Sd Berk also told Shewed this Inform:t both his Mills wherewith he Mill'd both Crowns & halfe Crowns - upon this Inform:ts leaveing the Sd Miles Berk he sold unto this Inform:t 13. Counterfeit halfe Crowns for halfe the vallue good money and at the same time Anthony Berk his son sold to this Inform:t 2. Counterfeit 12 Crown peices for 2s: {illeg}6.d Good money. And that the Weeke following he this Inform:t sould hos aforemenion'd three Crown peices and the 17. 12 Corwns to the aforesd Abram Tennant, for (vizt) five Shills counterfeit for 3.s Good money. And further upon his Oath saith that about a fortnight before last York Assizes, this Inform:t being at the house of Thomas Townsend, at Linn-Gill about Six miles from Settle and five from Clapeham in Yorkshire this Inform:t did see Michael Turner, cast 13, counterfeit Shillings in a mould made of Chalk, and about 4. days after Turner told this Inform:t 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.t June last this Deponent being listed as a Souldier under Capt. 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 Ps 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 Sd John Goose, told this Inform:t that he being paying away 5.£ (and amongst it the Sd 2. Counterfeit Crown peices) to a man in poulton in this County, who suspecting them to be Counterf.t broak or cutt one of them, and finding the same to be bad kept them both as ye Sd John Goose told this Inform:t - And also saith that on Michlemas day last at Lancaster one Thomas Charnley about 3 miles from preston bought of this Inform:t 2. Counterfeit Crown peices for 5s. good money he knowing them to be Such, he the Sd Charnley haveing <2r> haveing {sic} before that time bought of this Inform:t 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:t at the Sd Burns own house two Counterfeit Crown peices (knowing them to be bad) for Six Shills good money. And further saith ab.t two years ago one Richard Williamson of Neather wyresdale, bought of this Inform:t in Weddicar pasture one Counterfeit Crown peice for 3.s & Sixpence and about the same time this Inform:t Sould to Widdow Ellin Bryry at Carters house in Barnicar one Counterfeit Crown peice for three Shillings                           Tho.s Beesley Capt. et jurat apud Lancasteranō et die suꝑ dict coram Cha: Rigby