Henry Horsfaile: The Information of Henry Horsfaile 21 August 1703

Lancaster Ss The Information of Henry Horsfaile of Lancaster aforesaid Chymist taken upon Oath the 21.st day of Aug.t 1703

Who saith that Joseph Smithhurst of this Town Watchmaker, did importune this Informant to Engrave or cut a seal or Stamp to Counterfeit Stamp paper, which he this Informant did doe, and delivered the Said Stamp to the Said Mr Smithhurst, about 6 or 7 years agoe, and received One Guinea for the Said Stamp or Seale from the Said Smithhurst, And further saith that much about the same time, One William Greenopp and Thomas Nealson of Furness in this County bought each of them a stamp or Seale of this Informants cutting for counterfeiting Stampt paper withall, and gave to this Deponent about 26. Shillings a peice for the same, and Saith that he did See the Said Thomas Nealson make use of the Said Counterfeit Stamps by <1v> Trying it upon paper, and further saith that the said Nealson did shew unto this Deponent a counterfeit Stamp for paper which he told this Informant 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 Said County of York, And that about 4. Years agoe he did see the Said 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 Said Wm Taylor, brought a pair of Blank dyes to this Informant to cut or engrave, to counterfeit halfe Crownes, and at another time broughtalso a pair of of blank dyes to be engraved to counterfeit Crown peices withall which were delivered back (when finished) to the Said Willm Taylor by this Deponent the Said Michael Lawson being also present: and did at times receive from the Said Taylor and Lawson, about fifty Shillings for cutting the 2. pair of Dyes as aforesaid. this Deponent further saith that the Said W.m Taylor brought him first acquainted with one Joseph Claughton (since executed for high treason) as also with the Said Michael Lawson and John Airey alias Verey, whome this Informant hath been told is a notorious Coyner. And he the Said Airey did bring unto this Informant one Single Dye to finish to counterfeit shillings withall. And one Anthony Richardson in Over Wyarsdale Smith did call upon this Informant for the same Dye, but this Deponent did never finish it, and the Said Richardson did also bring one other Single Dye to counterfeit halfe Crowns withall, And doth further say that According to the best of this Deponents memory he has made and furnished about 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 Deponent doth own that he did counterfeit Stamp paper in the town of Lancaster with a Stamp of his own makeing and did sell the paper sometimes to Richd Green of Kendall (an Acquaintance of the Said John Aireys & sometimes to Tho.s Nealson aforesaid And saith that about two year agoe, he did sell Stamp paper to the Said Will Taylor at a very Small vallue. And further saith that George Taylor of this Town of Lancast.er & brother to the Said Willm Taylor, did receive from this Informant a counterfeit stamp for paper, for which he sometimes gave this Informant 6.d at a time or a shilling, or a small Treat, & further upon his Oath saith that he hath seen the Said George Taylor use the Said 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 Said Stamp by him now at this present. he further saith that the aforesaid In.o Airey told this Deponent that 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 Shilling in the town of Lancaster Capt. et jurat &ct coram me Tho: Sherson.                      Hen: Horsfaile