Richard Jones: The Information of Richard Jones 11 January 1698/9
The Information of Richard Iones 11 January 169
This Informant saith That he is very well acquainted with William Wintoar Gentleman. And hath been for these 10 years last past and this Informant further saith he being employed by the said Wintoar and one Ioseph Millard in the Trade of destilling of Brandy spirits out of severall sorts of Liquors for five yeares during which time most unlawfull and wicked practises have been used by the said Wintoar and Millard in hyding concealing and carrying away 100 large Hoggs heads of Spirits at several times without paying any duty to the King or any account taken by any officer at Wintour's 3 still houses the one being in the parish of Dymock in the County of Gloucester near Wintours Dwelling house one more being at a Certain place called the Hollhouse in the parrish of Ledbury in the County of Hereford which still houses were surveyed by one William Rogers who was an officer appointed for that purpose and this Informant further saith that the said Rogers was privy to most of the said Concealments and did receive one Guinea, two or more every payday which was every 6 weeks that he the said Rogers might stay away while this Informant did work at the said stills and conceal the said Goods and accordingly the said Rogers did stay away for that purpose and did suffer the same to be done and that the said Rogers did receive 10s of this Informant one morning for that <52v> purpose and also did very often come down to the said still houses where this Informant was at work and did advise this Informant what he did conceale to do it neat + clean or words to that effect and that at another certain still house called the How in the parish of in the County of Gloucester where one John Bacon was officer who was privy to very many Concealments and did receive moneys to the value of 11 Guineas for that purpose in the presence of this Informant and that that practise is carryed on every week between the said Rogers and Wintour as heard and doth believe
Rich Iones
Source
MINT 15/17/113, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK11 Jan 1698/9, c. 385 words.