John Fallows: The Examination of John Fallows 20 October 1699

Citty of Chester Ss}Examinations taken upon Oath before William Bennett Esquire Mayor and Henry Lloyd Alderman, his Majesties Justices of the peace for the County of the said Citty of Chester, upon fryday the 20.th day of Octob in the 11.th Year of the Raign of His Majesty King William the 3.d over England &c.t Anno Dni 1699.

John Fallows of Preese in the County of Salop Yeoman aged 21. Years or thereab. (son of George Fallows of Preese aforesaid Chair maker) Examined upon Oath saith that he hath lived for about 5. Years as a Servant with John Morgan of Preese aforesaid Inn holder at the Sign of the Red lyon there till his said Master dyed about 3. Weeks agoe, Since which time this Examinant hath lived with his Said Father in Preese aforeSaid And was Sent by his Said Father yesterday from Preese aforesaid with a Horse load of Chairs to Mr John Tudor Tinplate Worker in Chester and came to the Said Citty about 5. a Clock yesterday in the afternoon haveing never been in the said Citty before, And the Said Mr Tudor told this Examinant he might have time to See the Town this Morning before he returned to Preese, Whereupon this Examinant went out this morning early down to the bridge and thence to the Castle of Chester, and haveing looked about him there a little While he went from thence upon the Citty Walls to a certain Tower (which he hath Since heard <1> is called the New Tower.) And Seeing a Ship in building upon the Sands he went down to view it, haveing never Seen a Ship before and as he returned thence between 7. & 8. a clock this present Morning he espyed a Bag lying upon the Sands about a Yard from the said River, and about 20. Roods below the Said New Tower, and when he came toit finding it was not Tyed att the Top He first opened it with his Stick, and afterwards put his hand into it, and found therein Some Tooles & Instruments which he thought were made for Coyning of Money, and while he was considering what to doe therewith, three other persons who were walking upon the Said Sands towards this Examinant, and being now present call themselves John Yeoman Robt Buckley and Sam.ll Davies asked this Examinant what he had found there, who made answer that he thought there were Something for Coyning of Money, whereupon the Said Mr Yeoman Mr Buckley & Mr Davies, and this Examinant Searched the said Bag, and found therein the 5. Iron Instruments now produced. One of which is a boc with 4. Screws in it togeather with 15. punches for letters now produced and One of the 3. dyes which are now also produced and Impressed in Wax on the Margent of this paper but this Examinant knows not which of the Said dyes was found in the said Bag the other 2. Dyes being also then found by the said Three Persons above named Loose in the said River near the same place, And this Examinant and the said 3. other Persons looking about them them further in the Said River Saw another lesser Bag in the said River about 3. Yards from the Shoar upon which, this Examinant stepped into the said River & with a Hook Stick drew the said lesser Bag out of the said River, which being im̄ediately opened, was found to contain Two brass Instruments now produced (each of them haveing Six Iron Screws) and one other Instrument of Iron now also produced, And this Examinant further Saith that he knows not when how nor by whome the said Instruments nor any of them were conveyed to the places aforeSaid where they were so found, nor hath he ever Seen any Such Things before.           John Fallows