Katherine Matthews: The Information of Katherine Matthews of Earles Court in Cranborn Ally in the parish of St Ann's Westminster 21 January 1698/9
The Information of Katherine Matthews of Earles Court in Cranborn ally in the parish of St. Anns Westminster
This Informant saith that she has known Thomas Carter these 10 years when he lived with the Earle of huntington and that she hath known William Chaloner these 6 yeares or thereabouts that she came acquainted with Chaloner by the means of Carter about five yeares ago the Chaloner coyned fake Gineas as he told this Informant at his brother Graveners house the said Gineas were made of silver and this Informant has seen Chaloner guild them at the Lodging she hired for him at Mr Carter behind Westminster Abby
This Informant had about 10 of those counterfeit Gineas from Chaloner and gave him 8s a piece for them this Informant having paid away some of the said Gineas that were turned upon thin hands the Guilding wearing off and she carryed them to Chaloner who guilt them over again about that time Chaloner was accused by one Blackford for Cliping and Coyning <54r> so that he was forced to abscond and he gave a Ginea stampt to this Informant to keep for him which this Informant kept about a fortnight and then Chaloner askt her for it he had it again Some time after that this Informant had counterfeit silver money of Chaloner in half Crownes and shillings she gave him 20s. in litle clipt money and had from Chaloner 25s. of his Counterfeit money which past without being questioned
About Iune last Chaloner came to this Informant and askt for Carter telling her he could put him in a way to get money about 3 or 4 days after Carter and Chaloner came togeather to this Informants house who lived then in a house belonging to David Davis near Grafton street then chaloner and Carter saying it was as good a time now as ever if people were but true to one another immediatly after that Chaloner borrowed a shilling of this Informant and went and bought a Leathern skin which he cut into two round pieces and sewed it up and then filled it with sand Chaloner carryed it up staires and sent this Informants maid to Carter's Lodging to fetch him from thence a botle with oyle a litle botle of aqua fortis and another oyle stone which the Maid brought him Chaloner staid above staires about 2 or 3 houres when Chaloner came down againe he left with this Informant a litle Copper plate in the shape of a Card desiring that Informant to keep it safe this Informant looking upon the said plate saw some scratches upon it like letters and some thing like a Flourish upon the sides 3 or 4 dayes after Chaloner called for the said plate and took it away with him soon after that this Informant removed to another Lodging in King street St. Gyles Chaloner came thither to this Informant and gave her the same plate to keep she then found it was more finished when Chaloner came for it againe in two or 3 days of This Informant told him she saw he was making bills and that he would come to be hanged for it as Price was Chaloner answered that Price was in for Exchequer Bills and this was but for Mault Tickets and if it came to the worst it would be but a misdemeanour and he promist this Informant he should have some of them when they made any Number of them but she never had any Tickets from him The morning that Davis was taken up this Informants Lodging was searched for Carter whereupon this Informant sent her maid to Chaloner to give him notice of it The next day Chaloner sent to this Informant that she should caution Carter to keep out of the way
Source
MINT 15/17/116, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK21 Jan 1698/9, c. 656 words.