Susanna Broadhurst: The Information of Sussanna Broadhurst wife of John Broadhurst of Birchin Lane in the parish of St Michael's Cornhill London Salesman February 1698/9
The Information of Sussanna Broadhurst wife of Ino Broadhurst of Birchin Lane in the parish of St Michaells Cornhill London Salesman taken this 1 day of February Anno D 169
Who saith that she hath severall times heard one Elizabeth Lawson wife of Iohn Ignatius Lawson be very importunate with her sd. Husband, to make some counterfeit money as she said in order to Maintain her Children, and about three Months ago this Informt saw the sd Elizabeth Lawson came to her said Husband to one Mrs Tickeys in Bathers Court in Holbourne and brought to him there two pieces of Plaister of Paris as this informtt doth believe and shewed them to her husband and told him yt he might make counterfeit money without any noise for that she had made those two pieces of Plaister of Paris ready to cast money in for there was the Impression of a Shilling in them Viz the arms inside in one piece and the head side of the other but her husband seemed to be very angry with her and struck her so yt as he was striking her the two Pieces of Plaister of Paris with ye Impression in ym as aforesaid were broak soe the sd Elizabeth Lawson went away but was very angry angry with her husband for Breaking those pieces of Plaister <128v> of Paris but said that she could make more and the next day the said Elizabeth Lawson returned to the same place & shewed to this Informt a shilling and asked her if it was not a good one and this Informt reply'd yt she had no great skill {illeg}to discern between true and false money soe the said Elizabeth Lawson went out and in about an hours time returned back to this Informt and brought a Cheescake with her & {illeg}said to this Informt doe you think that I am not a good workwoman yt she could pay away a counterfeit shilling for the Laying out of two pence for any thing for that she paid away the sd shilling for the sd Cheescake which cost but 2d. and this Infomt: further saith yt through the Importunity and solicitacon of the sd Elizabeth Lawson the said Mr Lawson did condiscend and promised her to make two or three false Pistoles provided she she {sic} would not counterfeit the Currt Coyn of this Kingdom & about 6 weeks or two Months ago the said Mrs Lawson came tho this Informt and desired her to buy some flannell for her and gave her a pistoll to buy it with and told this informt yt it was a good pistoll and this informt did buy some Flannell with the said Pisttoll at a flannell shop at L{illeg}ow Deptford and abot two or three dayes afterward this the sd Mrs Lawson was soliciting her sd. Husband to make counterfeit money for her (Pistolls as she thinks) but Mr Lawson sd. plaugue Damm her had he not made two or three for her already so yt he would make no more for her and this informt said to the sd Mrs Lawson yt she supposed that the pistoll was a bad one that she gave her to buy flannell with as aforesaid but Mrs Lawson protested yt it was a good one.
And this informt further sayth that upon the fourth day of august Last past one Iohn Deverall came to the sd Mr Lawson into an ally near Iuly Street Southwark and ye Informt did then hear the sd Deverell say that he must goe fetch the Wedge for he must not go near Mr Deacon till he had it for yt the Last time he was at Deacons house Deacon was very angry with him and would not let him either eat or drink in his house because he had not brought the sd wedge, and Deverell went away from the sd Lawson and in about an hours time returned back and brought an Iron or Steel wedge with him about 8 Inches in length & sent for wine & ale to heat the sd Lawson and this informt wth & sd yt he now afford to doe soe for yt he could get what Money he pleased of {illeg}th{illeg}e {illeg}said Deacon, seeing he had got the sd wedge and ye sd Deverell went away and in abot two or three hours time he did return again to the sd place in Southwark, and brought the sd wedge and seem'd to be very angry for that as he said he had been at Deacons with the wedge and yt Deacon said that it was not half bigg enough for ye purpose it was designed for, & ye said Deverell took a sheet of paper and made two cross Lines at either end of the paper and desired this informt to make two Long straight lines to meet both the ends of sd cross Lines and this informt enquiring of him what the Lines were designd for, he told her yt wn she had done he would tell her, so when she had made the said Lines he told her it was a pattern for a wedge for a press to make guineas {illeg}With and pulled a guinea out of his pocket and askt this Informt if she would not take yt guinea, and this Depont replyd she thought it was a good guinea but Deverell sd he had made a great many such guineas with a press yt now Deacon aforesd had got, & cursed Deacon for yt as Deverell said he Borrowed five pounds, of ye sd Deacon and putt ye press in pawn to him for the payment of the money, & yt now Deacon would not Let him have him have it & cursed him and said that the press saidwas a very good one and yt a great deal of Guineas had been made wth the sd press <129r> and that it had been sent as far as Exeter to stamp off Guineas with and most other Countryes round but yt when Deacon first had the sd Press, she promised Deverell yt it should stand at Deacons sons at the three kings in king street by guild Hall & yt Deverell should make counterfeit guineas there with the sd press and yt Deacon would give him 10s. apiece for them till Deverell had paid Deacon the 5£ yt he borrowed of him as aforesaid and that after he had paid ye give pounds in the manner aforesaid, yt then Deacon should take of Deverell, + that Deverell said he had 12 Guineas of Deacon towards buying of materialls to make false guineas with & yt he was to pay for ye standing of ye press at Deacons sd sons, and this Depont saw Deverell have guineas in his custody which he said he had fsof Deacon for the purpose aforesd & said yt the sd press was removed to one Capt Murrells at or near Enfield + yt he was going to work there.
Source
MINT 15/17/282, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK1 Feb 1698/9, c. 1,192 words.