John Hutton: The Examination of John Hutton 29 March 1699

The Examination of John Hutton of Wolvershampton in the County of Stafford Shoemaker taken upon oath before me at Stafford the 29th day of March                     1699

This Examinant Saith that he between Michalday & Christmas last Saw . .            & Thomas Marten of Holme wife wash boyle and guild five or 6 pieces called Guineas & Saw the same woman run down Silver into the Shape of a Guinea now current in England and this Examinant working iron work at a village called Caverswall near to the hill called holme both in Staffordshire and being expert in engraving upon Iron and Steel, And the Said Martens knowing thereof she and her father Thomas Allva proposed to put a boy of their acquaintance to this Examinant to learn the art of engraving upon Iron and Steel and upon that occasion was oft at the Said Thomas Martens house, and was permitted to the Said Martens wife to wash, file and guild as aforeSaid and this Examinant at the times aforesaid saw the Said Martens wife have and use Spaud and an Edging Instrument to edge Guineas & Shillings with, And this Examinant further saith that about 5, or 6 months Since he Saw Thomas Lees of Wetley Moore and Margaret his sister coyn Shillings and Guineas and Saw them have & use a stampt or Dye which they use in makeing the Shillings and them use an Instrument in makeing the guineas & Shillings and the Said Tho: Lees and Margt Lees proposed to this Examinant to teach a bastard boy of the Said Margaret Lees in the Art of engraving and by that means this Examinant saw the said Thomas Lees and his Said Sister coyn the Said Guineas and Shillings, and Saw the Said Instrument and Saw the Said Tho: Lees and Margaret Lees at the Said time mix Silver with copper and that they put Arsenik to the Copper and bean flower and then the Copper was white like Silver And that five or 6 monthes Since he Saw John Hartley of the Parish of Carewall Naylor coynmill'd shillings and half Crowns to the value of 4.£ and and that he melted the Copper first and then coverd it with Silver, and then Saw him use a Mill for Milling the half Crownes and that he used Stamps and edging Instruments for the making the Shillings. 29 Mariij 99                                    John Hutton

Jurat apud Stafford in Com Stafford coram me Edwd Foden