John Handcock: The information of John Handcock 19 February 1700/1

Author: Isaac Newton

Source: MINT 15/17/401, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK

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  - 5 June 2019
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|Middx Westm^r } Ss| The Informaion of John Handcock Carver of the Parish of S^t Giles's Cripplegait taken this 19.^th day of Feb^r. 170 $\frac{0}{1}$ .

He saith he this Informant going to carry some money to Mary Webster (w^ch he owed unto her) upon Sunday the 12.^th day of Jan^ry last he this Informant did se the S^d mary Webster in a Parlour belong{ing} unto her dwelling house in Wine-office-Court in Fleet street, and did there and then see the S^d Mary Webster fileing or deminishing with a small file a peice of gold coyn, but whether it was a French Pistole or a Guinea this Informant is not very certain.

He further upon his Oath sayeth that there lay upon the table just beofre her a great Quantity of Guineas to the number (as this Informant veryly beleiveth) of 50. or 60. and did likewise see some fileings of Gold dust in a paper upon y^e S^d Mary Webster's Lapp.

This Deponent further saith that he did then and there see one John Chapman brother to the afores^d Mary Webster weigh one Guinea in a pair of Small Scales, upon the S^d table where the afores^d Quantity of Guineas lay.

And this Deponent further saith, y^t he did then and there see Mary the daughter of the aforesaid Mary Webster blowing the fire with a pair of Bellows, in w^ch fire there were severall Tobacco-pipe-heads which (upon this deponents comeing in) were p^resently Snatcht away by y^e S^d Mary the Daughter, who togeather with Mary y^e Mother, and y^e afores^d John Chapman the Brother, were in a very great consternation & Surprise and were not able to Speak unto this Examinant for near halfe a Quarter of an houre.

And this Inform^t further saith upon his Oath, that the S^d Mary Webster the Mother did cause a certain Furnace to be made in her Garrott: but for what use he doth not know for that he this Informant has enquired of her, and her answer to this Informant has been, that what she did there was for her Fancy, and y^t she did what nobody else could do, And that he this Informant hath seen a Sack of charcole at a time in the afores^d Garrott, and that he verily beleiveth She useth some illegall practices in reliaon to the Counterfeiting of the Currant Coyn of this Kingdome.

John Handcock Capt & jurat aid et die Sꝑdict coram me J Stanley