John Fenton Kistell: The Information of John Fenton Kistell of Westminster Coffeeman 19 February 1698/9
The Information of John Fenton Kistell of Westminster Coffeeman taken this 19th. day of Febrary 169
Hee saith that about a year and three quarters ago when mrs. Cecilia Labree was newly condemned for coyning he being at Newgate saw the said Labree put her hand in her bosom and take out something wrapt in a piece of old ragg and give it to her father in Law mr Samll Tibbs and bid her take great care of it because it might be of use to him after her death and the Deponent accompanying the said Tibbs to his Lodging at the Whittington's Catt in ally in the strand over against York Buildings the said Tibbs in the way told the Deponent that the thing which his daughtr gave him was a Guinea Dye never yet made use of and cost 6 or 7li and when they came to the said house of the said Tibbs the said Tibbs said he would go up staires and hyde it and bid the Deponent stay below till he came down againe and when the said Tibbs came down he said he had his it where the window the Deponent saith further that he endeavoured to perswade the said Tibbs to carry it to a Iustice of peace but the said Tibbs refused saying that he was one of the Kings evidence and therefore noe body would suspect him
The Deponent saith further that about 2 yeares and half ago the said Mrs Labree took a Cellar of the Deponent pretending to lay goods in it and after she and her father Tibbs had been some dayes in the Cellar the said Tibbs called to the Deponent and said come Landlord thou art an honest Fellow come down and see what wee are doing. and when the Deponent went down he saw the said Tibbs and one Laloo pulling at a Press and mrs Labree upon her knees before the press with her back to the Deponent putting guilt blanks into the Press to coyn them into Guineas and while the Deponent staid in the Cellar looking on they coyned about 7 or 8 Guineas and then left off finding the Cellar too litle for them to work in and after a week they removed their things and went away into the Countrey. The Deponent saith further that he hath received of the said Tibbs and his said Daughter litle Clipt money for broad money after the rate of 28 and some time 30s of litle money for 20s <88v> of broad and sometimes the Deponent paid Gold for the said clipt mony and that he hath had of the said mrs Labree severall parcells of counterfeit money newly made by her selfe and that he hath sometime had counterfeit money of the said Tibbs + Sometimes paid the said Tibbs for counterfeit money which he this Deponent hath received of his daughter Mrs. Labree and sometimes when the Deponent hath come to have such money of his daughter the said Tibbs hath desired the Deponent to stay a litle for saying that she had not yet done but as soon as She had finisht it she would come. and that the said mrs. Labree on January the 19th. 1698 being then got out of Newgate said to the Deponent at the Tunn Tavern by Hungerford Market that he had been her friend and she had done him no harm but she must have some money of him and if he would take a house for her she would go on again to do buissines and if he would let her have 10l she would return him 20l for it in 2 or 3 months time and when he could not let her have 10l she prest hard for 5l threatning to swear against him if he would do nothing and that a litle before Mrs. Labree was apprehended by Gibbons he this Deponent carryed to the house of the said Labree at the Whitington's Catt in the Strand as much silver melted down at the Deponent's house into 3 or 4 Lumps or Ingots as a man could well carry he believes to the value of 150l or above and after Gibbons had released her she came to the Deponent's house and desired 10ll. for she said that Gibbons had taken her up and found up her clippings and new made counterfeit money both Gold + Silver and Materialls to the value of 2 or 300l and Stamps sheeres files and flasks so that if she had not given Gibbons 50l she must have gone before a Iusticeof peace and if she had gone she must have been burnt
John Fenton Kistell
Source
MINT 15/17/183, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK19 Feb 1698/9, c. 799 words.