John Hammond: The Examination of John Hammond 4 November 1704

Westmld Ss. The Examination of John Ham̄ond of Preston near Bolton in the County of York taken before J. Grahm of Levens Esquire &c.tt this 4.th Nov.er 1704.

He being brought before me by Robt Thornbeck Constable of Middleton in this County as being found beging and asking of Alms. Hee sayes that he came there to avoyd being arrested, but there being found in his breeches Wast band, and in a bagg to the vallue of 36.£ as he calls it, which gave great Suspicion that he was a Coyner or vender of false and Counterfeit money, he owns himself to have been an Inhabitant of Preston aforesaid, & to have follow'd Husbandry, and had a Farm under the Duke of Bolton of 20.£ per annum, and that about 3. weeks before Michaelmas they threatned to seize him for arreares of rent, so he saith that he sold Good Slotts & Why's and sold also unto Thomas Lambert of Bainbridge Ten Steers for which he paid him in Gold 17:£ 7:s g.d or thereabouts and sold to Francis Lodge of Walburnhall 8. Steers for which he received 12.£ - and that he received the Silver money now found upon him of the Said Francis Lodge, and that he sold the Steeres not in any Pasture but upon Preston Moore, and received the money of Lodge at Walburn Hall aforesaid and that he received of Giles Elletson of Cawdstones house in the parish of Dowham in Swaledale 7:£ 10:s 0d for 6. Why's & 2. Cowes part of it in Guineas & the rest of his Goods were Seized on by Mr Law the Deputy of Boltons Steward, being asked what he design'd to do with this money he Said he designed to pay 15.£ to W.m Lonsdale, Fran:s Lonsdale and Francis Morland all of Bellerby in the County of York and that he intended to pay to Tho:s Freare of Bolton Castle and Tho.s Ham̄ond of the same town, the rest of the money & Gold found upon him as aforesaid and being asked whether any of the aforementioned persons who paid the money, did direct him to pay it to any particular person, he answered that he would hang himselfe before he would hang anybody else, being asked why he brought this mony hither, which he says he desig'd to pay at Bellerby aforesaid he answered that he had no friend to leave it withall                          John Ham̄ond Capt. coram me J Grahm.