John Ryley: The Examination of John Ryley 18 May 1704

Com Lancr. Ss. The Examination of John Ryley of billington in this County Blacksmith taken 18.th day of may 1704.

Who on Examination Saith that on monday the first of this instant May he this Examinant being at the house of William Winleys (an Alehouse in Billington aforesaid [Editorial Note 1]) there he light on a man who call'd himselfe Christoꝑ Emerson, and falling into discourse with him over a pot of Ale, he told this Examinant he was by trade a Whitesmith, and could also make Clocks, and enquired how far Edward Holt liv'd from thence (with whom he Said he was acquainted) and the Said Emerson being Shew'd the way to his house went that night thither, and the next morning came to this Examinants shop, and stay'd not long but went out to Hinkleys the Alehouse and in the afternoon came again to this Examinants shop and then desired this Examinant to let him file an handvice which he brought with him rough and unfinished, which this Examinant consented unto, and that night Emerson, wnet back to Holts house to lye, which is about a mile from this Examinants Shop, but that he took part of this Examinants dinner, which was a veale pye brought to this Examinants Shopp, And on wednesday morning he came again unto this Examinants Shop, and continued working at his hand-vice, and that night lay at this Examinants house, as he did for 7.nights then next following viz.t till thursday the 11.th instant, in which time he was till fryday morning the 5. instant working at his hand-vice, promissing that for that kindness and for meat and loging he would make this Examinant a clock if this Examinant would but send for some materialls to Wiggon. which he Said this Examinant might buy for 10s and on Fryday the 5th Instant, the Said Emerson (out of this Examinants Iron) forged Six hoops or rings in this Examinants Shop, which he Said were for some parts of the Clock this Examinant helping him to cut the same out of the barr of Iron, & on Thursday the 11.th instant the Said Emerson took out of this Examinants shop without this Examinants consent or knowledge the Said Six hoops as also a melting pan or Iron of this Examinants and from that time this Examinant never saw the Said Emerson, till last Tuesday that he came with a Warrant in company of Henry Bracken and others to apprehend this Examinant

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This Examinant denyeth that ever the Said Emerson proposed any thing to this Examinant concerning coyning o makeing counterfeit money or any Tools or Instruments for that purpose nor never apprehended the Said Six hoops to be of use, or intended to be used in or about makeing or casting money nor for any other use than for the clock aforemention'd.

This Examinant also denyeth that Edw.d Holt & Tho.s Holt his son (whome this Examinant doth very well know) or either of them, or Sam.ll Fletcher John Fletcher or Alexander Fletcher or any of them were ever at this Examinants house as aforesaid[Editorial Note 2] but beleives the Said Fletchers might come sometimes to this Examinants Shop (which is halfe a mile distant from the house) whilst Emerson was working in the shop, they the said Fletchers being Customers to this Examinant in his trade of a smith. And further saith that he beleives the Said Em̄erson made no more than Six hoops or rings whilst he work't in this Examinants Shop, but the six hoops (own'd by the Said Emerson) now Shew'd to this Examinant he will not positiviely say they or any of them are the same, (though they are like them) which he made in this Examinants Shopp, neither doth he this Examinant owne the melting pan (now Shewn to him) to be this Examinants melting pan or that it ever was in this Examinants Shopp and further saith not.                     John Ryley