Katherine Matthews: The Information of Katherine Matthews of Earles Court in Cranburne Ally in the parish of St Ann Westminster 23 October 1698
The Information of Katherine Matthews of Earles Court in Craburne All in the parish of St. Ann Westminster.
This Informant saith that she has known Thomas Carter these 10 yeares when he lived with the Earle of Huntington, and that she hath known William Chaloner these 6 yeares or thereabouts that she came acquainted with Chaloner by the means of Carter about 5 yeares ago the Chaloner coyned fake Guineas as he told this Informant at his brother Graveners house the said Guineas were made of Silver and this Informant has seen Chaloner guilding them at the Lodgings she hyred for him at one Ells Clarks behind Westminster Abby
This Informant had about 10 of those counterfeit Guineas from Chaloner and gave 8s. a piece for them This Informant having paid away some of the said Guineas that were turned upon her hands the guilding wearing off and she carryed them to Chaloner who guilt them over again
About that time Chaloner was accused by one Blackferd for cliping and coyning so that he was forced to abscond and he gave a Guinea stampt to this Informant to keep for him which this Informant kept about a fortnight and then Chaloner asking her for it he had it again
Sometime after that this Informant had counterfeit silver money of Chaloner in half Crownes and shillings she gave him 20s in litle clipt money and had from Chaloner 25s. of his counterfeit money which passed without being questioned
About Iune last Chaloner came to this Informant and askt for Carter telling her he could put him in a way to get money about 3 or four days after Carter and Chaloner came togeather to this Informants house who lived then in a house belonging to David Davis near Grafton street then Chaloner saying it was as good a time now as ever if people were but true to one another immediatly after that Chaloner borrowed a shilling of this Informant and went and bought a leather skin which he cut into two round pieces and sewed it upp and then filled it with sand Chaloner carryed it up staires and sent this Informant's Maid to Carter's Lodging to fetch him from thence a bottle with oyle a litle Bottle of aqua fortis and an oyle stone which the Maid brought him Chaloner staid above staires about 2 or three houses when Chaloner came down againe he left with this Informant a litle Copper plate in the shape of a Card desiring <30v> this Informant to keep it safe, This Informant looking upon the said plate saw some scratches upon it like letters and something like a flourish on the sides. Three or 4 dayes after Chaloner called for the said Plate and took it away with him
Soon after that, this Informant removed to another Lodging in King's street St. Gyles Chaloner came thither to this Informant and gave her the same plate to keep she then found it was more finished when Chaloner came for it againe In two or 3 dayes this Informant told him she saw he was making bills and that he would come to be hanged for it as Price was Chaloner answerd that Price was in for Exchecquer Bills and this was but for Mault Ticketts and if it came to the worst it would but be a Misdemeanour and he promist this Informant he should have some of them when they made any number of them but she never had any Tickets from him The morning that Davis was taken upp this Informants Lodging was searcht for Carter whereupon this Informant sent her Maid to Chaloner to give him notice of it the next day Chaloner sent to this Informant that she should caution Carter to keep out of the way
Source
MINT 15/17/77, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK23 Oct 1698, c. 651 words.