James Blades: The Examination of James Blades 11 July 1702

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{Dunhelen} Ss The Examination of James Blades in custody taken 11.^th July 1702

Who saith that about 4. years ago John Button alias Broadley late of Cubeck in the north Rid of the County of York & Christopher Shaw late of Larthington in Rid p^red Cooper went to W^m Busby of Thirsk in the said Rideing Grocer, then in York Goale and the Said Button, and Busby had there a private conference together, and the Said Button shew'd the said Busby an Instrument for coyning call'd an Edger which the Said Busby declar'd was a very good one, and also Said that as soon as he got out of Goale he would Joyn with them in carrying on the trade of Coyning and would supply them from time to time with money, as they shud have occasion, and accordingly order'd Isaac Buby his Brother (who kept his Shop in Thirsk aforesaid) to pay unto John Button 4. guineas, which this Examinant saw paid by the Said Isaac to the Said Button, at Thirsk aforesaid The Examinant further saith, that the Said Wm Busby said he was ill used by Dan.ll Otty his father in Law, who had given him no portion with his Daughther, and also said <1v> that when he got out of Goale he would be revenged of him and would have prevail'd with this Examinant to have burnt the Said Danll Ottys house, and Said he would get some others to assist him, And further saith that about 4. years agoe, he see the aforesaid X^tP Shaw fileing Iron and Steel at Orton in Westm^er {ly} to make Instruments for coyning, and about $\frac{1}{2}$ a year after, he saw him a Henry Smithsons house Sen.^er at Larthington fileing of the like Instruments for coyning and that his Examinant before the fileing of the same, see the said X^tP Shaw assist the Said In.^o Button in forgeing the same, and further sath that Robert Hutchingson of Gateside in the County of Durham Gentleman and Ambrose Sympson of the same Marchant about 2 Years agoe bought a pair of Dyes or Stamps for halfe Crowns of this Examinant and gave him 4.^£ in good money for the same, And that the Said Robt Hutchinson and Henry Smithson jun^ior of Rash in Swaldale about two years agoe went to Morpeth Goale (as the Said Henry Smithson hath confessed) to one ..... Fox a prisoner there to be instructed how to whiten Copper. And further saith, that about 3. Years agoe the Examinant delivered to one David Hodgson of Westp. in the Said County of Durham, Sixteen Counterfeit $\frac{1}{2}$ Crowns to utter for him and allowed the Said David 2.^s6^d per Pound for uttering the same. that about the same time the Said David Hodgson invited this Examinant to his house, who accordingly came and there met one ChristoP Sheild of Toft hill in the Said County of Durham Corver, who desired some Counterfeit money of this Examinant and Brought a Bottle of white wine to the Said David Hodgsons house, which he Said Henry Young of Toft hill aforesaid Gentleman sent to drink with the Examinant and about 8. weeks after this Examinant met with the Said Christ Sheild at the house of ...... Burdon of Cockfeild in the Said County of Durham, where he delivered unto him 40.^s in Counterfeit $\frac{1}{2}$ Crowns, and allow'd him 2.^s6.^d per Pound for uttering the same, And further saith that because he this Examinant not furnishing the Said Sheild with such summs of false money as the Said Henry Young had Occasion for, he therefore the Said Young turned the Said Chr: Sheild off from Corving. And further saith that W.^m Harwood of Bernards Castle whitesmith received from this Examinant about a year & $\frac{1}{2}$ agoe Six Counterfeit $\frac{1}{2}$ Crowns, and had from this Examinant after the rate of 2&6.^d per Pound for uttering the same, and that about 3. Years agoe he repaired a Loop & wedge for coyning belonging to the Examinant And further Saith that Ruth the wife of Mark Addington of Bernards Castle aforesaid Cordwain^er about 4. years agoe received from him 8. Counterfeit $\frac{1}{2}$ Crowns of Mix't Metall, he allowing 2.^s6.^d per Pound for uttering the same, and that about 2. months after the said Ruth received from this Examinant 8. $\frac{1}{2}$ Crowns more of the like Counterfeit money at the same rate, And farther saith that about a year & $\frac{1}{2}$ agoe the Said Ruth received a farther sum̄e of 8. $\frac{1}{2}$ Crowns of the like false moneys he allowing her as before; And this Examinant further saith that he see the Said Chr: Shaw hold in his hand (at Whiteside in Swaledale aforesaid) a peice of Steel which was laide on a Shilling Dye till the Said John Button Struck thereon with a ham̄er and gave the Impression of a Shilling - And further saith that about a year and $\frac{1}{2}$ agoe, Edward Gares of Shotten Edge in Northumb^er black Smith mended two wedges for Coyning, which the said Edward Gares Said were brought to him from M^r Richd Warwick of Placey-hall (now in Morpeth Goale) in the County of Northumbe^erd aforesaid and at the same time the Examinant coyned <2r> in the Said Edward Gares house at Shotton Edge aforesaid for the Said Rich Warwick betwixt 4. & 5. pounds of Counterfeit money, which Said Money this Examinant gave the next day to the Said M^r Warwick, who then prohibited to settle this Examinant and one Michael Turner, at the house of the said Edw.^d Gares to coyn for him, and paid their Quarters, and accordingly took the Said house of the Said Gares for that use. and further saith that the Said Rich Warwick hath often promissed this Examinant he would from time to time supply this Examinant with moneys, and other necessarys for carrying on the Trade of Coyning, And that the last Winter this Examinant did coyn in the house of the Said Richard Warwick, in NewCastle to the tale of about thirty Shillings of Counterfeit money made of mixed Metall the said Richard warwick being p^resent at the Coyning thereof, and gave the Examinant 3. good Silver halfe Crowns to mix therewith. And further saith that about a year and halfe agoe, Thomas Greive of NewCastle Fitter, had about 3. pounds of Counterfeit $\frac{1}{2}$ Crowns of the Examinant and had Six Shilling per Pound for uttering the same, and that the Examinant was brought to the acquaintance of the Said Tho^s Greeve by the aforesaid Richd Warwick Capt. et examinin.^t coram Will Bowes                      James Blades