Reference
HSA1676/W/26
Title
Deposition:
John Smith, Hisson, Cambs., flax dresser. 3 August 1675.
Bought grey gelding off one John Wilkinson, also sorrel horse, and bay gelding of Robt. Barker. Was taking them to Dunstable to sell when met John Hughes who got upon bay horse, and John Abbott, who rode sorrel horse, and later bought grey gelding, selling it again in the fair. John Abbot, Newington Green, (Middx.) day labourer As above. Does not know where John Smith got the horses. John Hughs, Islington, d.labourer As above. Thee severall examinations of John Smith John Hughs & John Abbott taken before me George Abbott Esqr one of his Matyes Justices of the peace in the county of Bedford the third day of August in the seven and twentyeth yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles the second by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King defender of the faith & c Annoque Domi 1675 John Smith being first examined saith that his name is John Smith and that he liveth at a town called Hisson within three miles of Cambridge and that he hath inhabited there for the space of three yeares last past occupying the trade of a flax dresser and that he bought the said grey gelding on Saturday last of one John Wilkinson a man wholly before unknown to this examinate for the sume of 4li as this examinate was going on foot from Ware to Cambridge within 2 miles of Barley in the same road about 3 of the clock in the afternoon & that he set out and travelled from Hisson aforesaid upon Tuesday last being the seven & twentyeth of July towards London and lay at Berkway the first night and lay at the Three Sugar Loafes on Clerkenwell Greene every night afterwards till Saturday morning and saith that he spent most of his time within doores. And saith further that he bought the sorrell horse of the said John Wilkinson at the price of 20s at the time and place aforesaid. And that he bought the bay gelding of one Robert Barker whom he likewise never saw before for the sume of 6li and that he paid the severall and respective sumes to the said John Wilkinson and Robert Barker upon the road with whom there was a third man in company whose name is wholly unknowne to this examinate & likewise their severall places of habitation but saith in generall that they were Nottinghamshire men And further that he set out from his owne house with the said 3 severall horses tyed tayle to taile at Hisson about 8 a clock on Sunday last with intention to come to Dunstable to sell them and that 2 mile before he came to Balduck he met with a man called John Hughs with whom he had been in company twice before at Islington & Old Streete in London (viz) in Old Streete about a fortnight ago and saith that the said John Hughs told him that if he would let him ride he would go along with him towards Dunstable where this examinate informed him he was going to which this examinate consented and that the said John Hughs did imediately get upon the bay horse before named and rid along with him to Dunstable And further saith that about a mile and a halfe farther in the same road to Balduck he met with John Abbott here present with whom he had been acquainted about 2 monthes or 10 weekes before and had seene him about a month before at Newington Greene in Middx who said he was going to seeke worke about Huntington but this examinate informed him that corne was not yet ready to cut and asked him to ride with him telling him that he was coming to Dunstable and so he got upon the sorrell horse and rid with him to Dunstable And that they altogether carryed in the said horses to Mr Metcalfes and afterwards removed them to the signe of the Black Raven. And that he sold the bay gelding to John Abbott here present for the sume of 7li - 10s who desired the horse should be tolled att the common toll book at the same faire upon which he was tolled accordingly And this examinate saith that he gave the said John Abbott time till Michaelmas for the payment of the said money but that he did not positively know the name of the said Abbott till he had sold him the said horse but beleived he might have heard of it before neither knowes he the place of his habitation but the said Abbott informed him he had a wife living in Northamptonshire, And further saith that Abbott told him that he sold the horse againe for 6li-7s-6d in the same faire and received the same but that this examinate was to have no share of it; Memorand. imidiately before the examination of John Smith he dinyed that he had any share in the said sorrell gelding neither knew whose he was nor who brought him in John Abbott being likewise duly examined at the same time saith that he hath been working att Newington Greene in Middx at day labouring and hay harvest with one Mr Coleman for about three moneths last past The place of his habitation is at Wapnum in Northamptonshire and that he is a day labourer and came acquainted with the afore examined John Smith about a moneth ago at Newington and that he had not seene the said John Smith till yesterday morning about 6 a clock when he the said Smith overtooke Abbott on this side Balduck about a furlong from the towne that he came from the aforesaid Mr Colemans house on Sunday about noone and that he could not tell the towne nor place in which he lay that John Smith being himself riding the grey horse and leading the sorrell gelding in his hand offered him to ride and so he got upon the sorrell gelding and came with him to Dunstable and set their horses at the place as aforesaid by the said Smith One John Hughs was in company of the said Smith riding upon a bay gelding when he first overtooke this examinate never knew the said Hughs nor see him before but that he bought the horse of the said Smith and was to give him for the said bay gelding either 7li - 5s or 7li - 10s to be payd at Michalmas or after as this examinate could And that this examinate had him tolled at the toll booke of the said faire & that the said John Hughs vouched him and that imediately afterwards this examinate sold him again for 6li - 7s - 06d where he was tolled againe where he sayes a freind of his vouched him but he does not know his name at present and further he knoweth not where the said Smith had the horses John Hughs being likewise duly examined at the same time did own his name to be John Hughs and saith that he has lived at Islington for these foure yeares last past following the employment of a day labourer with one Mr Gutridge and Mr Beachem and severall others that he came from Islington on Sunday morning between the houres of five and six a clock that he lay at alone house fower miles on this side Hatfeild in what parish he knows not that travelling three or fower miles from the same place on Munday morning he met with the aforesaid examined John Smith 2 miles before he came to Balduck whom he had knowne about a moneth before about 5 of the clock of the said day riding upon a grey gelding and leading one sorrell gelding and a bay gelding in his hands they being the same that the said Smith now ownes And that about halfe a mile on this side Balduck Smith and he overtooke the said Abbott whom he hath knowne about a moneth as likewise Smith about the same time And that he asked Smith to let him ride upon which imediately he got upon the sorrell horse and rid to Dunstable where Smith selling the bay gelding to Abbott requested Hughs to vouch him for him in the toll booke and bid him say he was one of his neighbours in Cambridgeshire in Hisson and that this examinate vouched him accordingley but this examinate doth not know how the said Smith came to the possession of the said horses And any further matter this examinate knoweth not Geo: Abbott
Date free text
1676
Production date
From: 1676 To: 1676
Exent
No. of pieces: 1
Level of description
item