Report on two coinage offenders Isaac Newton Comptroller c. 1,121 words The Newton Project Oxford 2016 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 Late September 1710, c. 1,121 words. Henry St John (Secretary of State)

Sent by Newton and the comptroller in the absence of the warden, who would normally be responsible for such matters.

Printed in NC, 5: 68-70.

Having been asked their opinion of a proposal to pardon the counterfeiters Jane Housden and Mary Pitman, observe that this is Pitman's first offence but Housden has a previous conviction for counterfeiting, besides other convictions for clipping and for receiving counterfeit money.

[No explicit recommendation on the proposal is given.]

 MINT 19/1/466-7, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 19/1/466-7 Late September 1710 English Holograph Unknown Hand Unknown Hand (1) MintClippers, Coiners and Embezzlers MintCorrespondence Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins Transcribed by Will Scott Will Scott finished transcription

SrSir

Last SaturdayOn Saturday Sep 16th Instant we received a Letter from Mr Secretary Boyle dated the day before & directed to yethe Officers of her MajtiesMajesties Mint in yethe Tower signifying that her MajtyMajesty having been pleased to reprieve Iane Housden her MajtsMajestys pleasure that we should & Mary Pitman who were condemned last Sessions at the old to know from us if had any objections Baily for high Treason in counterfeiting the coyn of this against the pardon of two women Iane kingdom, & that there having been some circumstances represented Housden & Mary Pitman convicted the last wchwhich might induce her MajtyMajesty to pardon them, he was sessions at the old Baily of counterfeiting directedcommanded to inform himself of the said Officers the current coyn of this kingdom there beingbeing what objections they might have in relation to their being some things offered to her MajtyMajesty in their favour. pardoned.

Last SaturdayOn Saturday Sep 16th Instant we received a Letter from Mr Secretary Boyle dated the day before & directed to yethe Officers of her MajtiesMajesties Mint in yethe Tower signifying her MajtsMajestys pleasure that we shouldthat her MajtyMajesty having been pleased to reprieve Iane Housden to know from us if had any objections& Mary Pitman who were condemned last Sessions at the old against the pardon of two women IaneBaily for high Treason in counterfeiting the coyn of this Housden & Mary Pitman convicted the lastkingdom, & that there having been some circumstances represented sessions at the old Baily of counterfeitingwchwhich might induce her MajtyMajesty to pardon them, he was the current coyn of this kingdom there beingdirectedcommanded to inform himself of the said Officers some things offered to her MajtyMajesty in their favour.what objections they might have in relation to their being pardoned.

We the MrMaster & ComAndptroller of the Mint in thein the absence of the Warden of the Mint whose buisiness it is to prosecute such Offenders) have therefore we have accordingly enquired into that matter & find that Jane Housden was committed to prison by the name of Jane Newstead in in alias Housden inin the year 1696 for clipping the current coincoin of this kingdom & that one IJohn Newstead h a warrant was also then issued out against at yettheat same time against one Tho. IJohn Newstead her pretended husband for yethe same crime & information was soon after against the same given that the said Tho. Newstead used indirect practises about indirect practices were used by the said IJohnTho Newstead to stiflestifle yethe said warrant & procure yethe liberty of the said Jane Newstead.

And in theWe the MrMaster & Comptroller of the Mint in the absence of the Warden of the Mint we have accordinglywhose buisiness it is to prosecute such Offenders) have thereforeenquired into that matter & find that Jane Housden was committed to prison inby the name of Jane Newstead in alias Housden inin the year 1696 for clipping the current coincoin of this kingdom & that one IJohn Newstead h a warrant was also then issued out against at yettheat same time against one Tho. IJohn Newstead her preten ded husband for yethe same crime & information was soon after given about indirect practices were used by the said IJohnThoagainst the same that the said Tho. Newstead used indirect practises Newstead to stiflestifle yethe said warrant & procure yethe liberty of the said Jane Newstead.

About two years after, the said Iane Newstead was againagain committed to prison for putt by the name of Iane Newstead alias Housden for putting of counterfeit money & upon suspicion of coining the same, & three poundsabout four pounds of counterfeit money beingwere then taken upon her & three files with some sand for casting & dying also found in her house, & she confessed that she hadreceived the the said counterfeit money & yethe three files of one Mr DTuck whom466199whom she knew to be a coyner & that the files werethe sand was his & the sand belonged to one who hadleft in her custody by another man who had brought her brought her into yethe acquaintaince of the said Tuck Duck.

Aftwerderds in the years 1702 she was again committed to prison & convicted of counterfeiting the current coyn of this kingdom & pardoned by her MatyMajesty in order to be transported, & was set at liberty upon bail giving security to transport herself within a& therefore being now found in England she is carte but never performed & did, & therefore is stillbut did not transport her self liable to be called executed upon her formecalled down to the barr & executed upon the judgment then given against her

And in the Trial of her & Mary Pilman the last sessions at the Old Bayly for counterfeiting the coin, tho the credit of yethe principal witness agaisnt them was but of slender credit alone, yet the circumstances against them were for for confimring that evidence were convincing was such as convinces us of the trial of the Verdict against them was such as convinces us of the truth of the Verdict against them were convincing this comm.committee too being found Mary Pitman at whose house the & a parcel of counterfeit money beingto coindropt into the Thames by Iane Housden when she was apprehended. But against Mary Pitman we know nothing older thenmeet with nothing antecedent to the fact for wchwhich she wasstands now condemned.

And been

And whereas she & Mary Pitman beingwere accused the last Sessions at the old Baily of coining together & the last sessions convicted by the finding of the coining Tools & counterfeit money, we observe that this is the second conviction of Iane Housdens,; bBut against Mary Pitman we meet wthwith nothing antecedent to the fact of wchwhich she now stands convicted

These things we pray you to lay before her MajtyMajesty [in answer to the Letter wchwhich Mr Boyle was wrote to us by her MajtiesMajesties order.] We are] & remain

I SrSir

Your most humble & most obedtobedient Servants.

And this present year being again accused of high Treason in counterfeiting the coiyn of this kingdom at the time of her beingwhen she was apprehended she dropt a parcel into the Thames wchwhich was found to be a parcel of counterfeit money & the coining Tools were found in yethe house of Mary Pitman where these two weomen wasere said to coine together, & by these circumstances she stands now convicted a second time. But against Mary Pitman we knowmeet with nothing antecedent to the fact of wchwhich she now stands convicted.

467

To the RtRight HonbleHonourable Henry St John EsqrEsquire her MajtiesMajesties Principal Secretary of State.