John Holland: Untitled, 1 & 3 August 1699
The Deponent John Holland deposeth that about 3 yeares since or above he did with one John Abbot go to see one Arthur Gardner who then lived near Westminster Abby when they came to the said Gardner's house Gardner called up Abbot and in some litle tyme afterwards this Deponent and shewed them a Press which he was coyning Guineas with
This Deponent likewise deposeth that he hath oftentimes sold clippings for the said Gardner and that he hath often seen one James Blundell clipp and coyn old money at one Mrs. Langford's who then kept the Red Lyon in the old Iury and that the said Langford's daughter with one Hannah or martha Cooke with one Robt Wells who was executed for clipping did work with the said Blundell and that since the said Wells was executed he did see the said Blundell cast old money which was about 3 years and odd months since
And that about 4 years since he did see one Charles Morley who then had taken the Shepherd Tavern in Cheapside coyn a mill'd King James's shilling by casting at his house up staires before he was quite settled but upon the Newes that Robt. Wells was taken up the said Morley did gett this Deponent to carry his Tooles to John Abbots but Abbot's wife refusing to take them in they were afterwards lodged with a Poulterer that lived next door to the said Abbots Gate
And that about 4 yeares since he hath seen one Thomas Clay and his wife who then kept a Hosiers shop near Smithfield Barrs clip and coyn old money and that the said Clay being impeached by one Whitebread he hid himselfe with one Collins at this Deponents house untill Clay made his escape for Holland And that he hath often seen one Hector Thomas about 3 yeares and a half ago clipp in his Master John Abbot's house And that he hath seen one Nicho Charleton coyn old money and his wife clipp at a Gardiner's house in Lambeth's Marsh about 4 yeares since And that one Elizabeth Wilson took a room of this Deponent and that one Joseph Simpson did come often to this Wilson with broad money and they used to clip it in the said Wilsons room as this Deponent hath often seen them
And that for many yeares he hath known one Thomas Atkinson and his wife to be Clippers and Coyners he having seen them clipp and coyn Old money and new money and Guineas And that about 2 yeares ago he and the said Atkinson did agree to go to Ireland to coyn as may appear by a letter the said Atkinson writt to this Deponent in Lancashire but the Deponent comeing for Dublin was perswaded to make a Discovery of Coyners which comeing to the ear of the said Atkinson prevented him from comeing to Ireland
<114r>John Holland further deposeth that about 2 yeares and 3 months since he being with one Thomas Atkinson his wife and a yorkshire man in Spitle Fields whom this Deponent thinks went by the name of Robinson the said Atkinson telling his wife that he and his friend Robinson had 2 nights before at the Blackhorse in Goodmans fields where they were forced to pawn their Coates for the Recconing and there arising a Dispute between Atkinson and Robinson as who should go for the Coates at last Robinson agreed to go for them who no sooner had got to the black horse but he was seized by one Morris a messenger there being with Morris one who was Atkinson's Mistres who had made Oath that Atkinson did coyn a Guinea and shilling she had of the said Atkinson and she bid the said Morris take notice of Atkinson's Coat so that morris might know Atkinsons by that Coat as this Deponent was informed by Atkinson's wife this Deponent was likewise informed in some litle time afterwards by the said Mrs Atkinson that the said Robinson was kept in custody 4 dayes by the said Morris and then discharged upon Morris's receiving of 40 Guineas from the said Mrs. Atkinson and that his wife told him at Dublin in Ireland that the aforesaid mrs Atkinson told her in London that her husband Thomas Atkinson was taken into custody by the aforesaid Morris in Octobr. 1697 and that it cost him thirty Guineas to gett off againe which money was paid to the persons that took him in custody
And that he hath seen one Chuter who keeps a Piece Brokes shopp in Cloth fair change broad money with Thomas Atkinson and that the said Thomas Atkinson allowed the said Chuter sometimes 3s, 3s 6d and four shillings in the pound about 4 years agoe
And that 4 yeares and he did carry severall summes of money for one Cepar Life a Furrier to one Robt. Answorth for the use of Richard White and the said Answorth allowed this Deponent 4s per pound for the said broad money
And that he hath often changed money with one Capt Whitfield the husband of Vrsula Whitfield who was Convicted about 5 yeares since for clipping and that the said Whitfield did allow this Deponent 4s per pound exchange And that he hath often seen one John Gurney and Caleb Fowler a Goldsmith change divers summs of broad money with the said Capt Whitfield and that said Whitfield allowed Fowler and Gurney 4s per pound for broad money
And that about a Month before Midsommer in the year 1695 he being in company with one Fielding at the 3 Tunns in Wood street who was then one of the Sherriffes officers the Deponent being complaining that things went cross with him Field swore God damn him he thought that the Deponent know the World better then to complain, The recconing being called the Deponent paying two broad 6 pences the said Field pulld out of his pocket a pair of large scissors which he said he had been trimming his horse with the said Field imediatly katching up the two 6pences clipt them before this Deponent telling him that was the way to live afterwards turning up the Carpett the said Field rubbed them smooth on the Table and <114v> paid them in the recconing. And that about this time 2 yeares at a place called Denton in Lancashire he contracted an acquaintance with one Thomas Lee of the Bick Banck who was impeached by one Francis Bayly of the same place about 4 yeares since for coyning with many others who still remain in the same parish divers of whom still continue to hold their Illegall practises of coyning as this Deponent was informed by his brother Thomas Holland of the aforesaid Denton this Deponent often discoursing with Lee about coyning the said Lee told this Deponent that if he would stay with them till winter he would shew this Deponent as fine a figure behind the Curtain as ever he saw in London in his life the said Lee meaning relating to coyning the said Lee having a litle before put off severall false pieces of counterfeit Gold 2 of which pieces the Deponent see which were done in a press silver well guild with an edging of Gold round it and the said Lee being threatned to be troubled if he did not change the said counterfeit Gold this Deponent perswaded the said Lee to change it but the Deponent could not prevail with him to do it
Source
MINT 15/17/239, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK1 & 3 Aug 1699, c. 1,290 words.
Places mentioned in the text
Individuals mentioned in the text
- Abbot, John
- Abbott
- Answorth, Robert
- Atkinson, Thomas
- Bayly, Francis
- Biggs [Atkinson, Deverall], Jane
- Blundell, James
- Charleton, Mrs
- Charleton, Nicholas
- Chuter
- Clay, Mrs
- Clay, Thomas
- Cooke, Hanna
- Fielding
- Fowler, Caleb
- Gardner, Arthur
- Gurney, John
- Holland, John
- Holland, Thomas
- Langford
- Lee, Thomas
- Life, Cogar
- Morley, Charles
- Morris, Richard
- Robinson
- Simpson, Joseph
- Thomas, Hector
- Wells, Robert
- White, Richard
- Whitebread
- Whitfield, John
- Whitfield, Ursula
- Wilson, Elizabeth