HSA1680/W/100

Deposition: Mathew Smythes, apprentice to Ric. Robinson, Bedford, mason. 29 December 1679. Wm. Robinson brought ½ crowns to the house and rubbed them with tallow. He sent M.S. to buy sugar with a bad shilling which was refused. He once hung M.S. up by the middle until he was almost dead, threatened to drown him, etc. Marey Smethes, St. Paul, Bedford, spinster. Son Matthew said his master's son and the saltstone man were coining money at Ric. Allen's house. W.R. threatened to kill him. Evidence of W.R. dealing in bad money. The Information of Mathew Smythes An Apprentice with Richard Robinson of Bedford Mason The Informant saieth that William Robinson his master's sonn brought severall halfe Crowns to his Masters house being the Fathers of the said William And Rubb them over with Tallow and that his said Master told the said William Robinson his sonn that If Mr. Christie knew of it hee would send him to the Gaole And this Informant farther saieth that hee was sent by the said William Robinson to Mr, Cawnes a ?grocers in Bedford to utter a bad shilling for suger, And that Edmund Cawnes [?a] servant saied if the oners themselves Came hee would Naile itt up and refused to take it and returned it back to by this Informant, And farther this Informant saieth that he said William Robinson was frequently in the Company of one that is Comanly Caled the Saltstone Man and who boath for sumtyme Laye in the house of One Richard Allen This informant farther saith that William Robinson did once hang this informant by the Middle untill hee was all most dead and did since that threaten this informant to ty a bagg of stones upon him and to through him into the River and drowne him And this informant saith that he acquainted his Master with these abuses, but had noe reliefe The marke of Mathew X Smythes Taken the xxixth day of December 1679 The Informacion of Marey Smethes of the Parish of St. Paules in the Towne of Bedford spinster taken upon Oath the 29th day of December 1679 This Informant saieth that her sonn Martha Smithes being An Apprentice with Richard Robinson of Bedford Mason did About nine dayes before this Informacion taken Com to this Informant and Aquaint her that hee was unwilling to goe back to his said service for that his Master's son and the Salstone Man was About A Verey III worke in Coyning of Money att Richard Allen's house being An Alehousekeeper in the Parish of St. Peeters in the said Towne of Bedford And that William Robinson his master's sonn had thretned the said Apprentice to kill him whereupon this Informant askd her son how hee Cam to knowe their was any Coyning their and hee told her that they had sent him with a shilling to Edmund Cawne Crocer for suger and that hee had bitt the said shilling and did thinck itt was nought upon which they refused itt and said that If the owners had brought it they would have naild it up And this Informant saieth that her said sonn told her that the said William Robinson borrowed of his brother Thomas Robinson of Bedford Blacksmith a new halfe Crowne As bee suposes to make the badd ons bye, which hee was very Certaine of because the mother of the said Robinson mad the said William Returne the good halfe Crowne to the said Thomas Robinson for the bad halfe Crowne hee had given him before And that the said mother should say that it was usually in London to send Childrent to put Away bad money And this Informant further saieth that If the Justices would search the said William they should find a good many of them in this pocketts and that he had given his fellow Apprentice Thomas Brancklyn An other Bad halfe Crowne to put Away for him for him the said William Robinson And this Informant further saieth that her son the said Apprentice did desier her to disconce the same to the Justices as hee durst not Lye in his Masters house and that shee might Easely finde it out because they would send out boyes to put Away bad money and shee might Easely stop som of itt upon which the saidInformant did ?Suddenly after stop A bad halfe Crowne brought to her by A Kinsman of William Frisbey to buy Ginger Bread with And upon her Offering to Carey the Ginger Bread to the Gentlmann the said boy told her hee wold bring the Gentlemann to her, and this Informant followed the boy home and the said boy Run Away MAREY SMYTHES

1679

From: 1679 To: 1680

No. of pieces: 1

item

Smythes, Matthew,
Robinson, William,
Robinson, Richard,
Christie,
Cawnes, Edward,
Smythes, Mary,
Smithes, Martha,
Brancklyn, Thomas,
Frisbey, William

apprenticeship, mason, tallow melter, coins, money, fraud, forgery, sugar, saltmaker, assault, alehouse keeper, grocer, blacksmith, gingerbread, baker, BEDFORD