Westmld Ss. The Exam:Examination of John Ham̄ond of Preston near Bolton in the County
of York taken before J. Grahm of Levens Esqr.Esquire &c.tt this 4.th Nov.er 1704.
He being bro.tbrought 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, wchwhich gave great SupionSuspicion
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.£ ꝑ an̄per annum, and that ab.tabout 3. weeks before MichmasMichaelmas they threatned to
seize him for arreares of rent, so he saith ytthat he sold Good Slotts & Why's
and sold also unto Thomas Lambert of Bainbridge Ten Steers for which he
ꝑdpaid him in Gold 17:£ 7:s g.d or thereabouts and sold to Francis Lodge of Walburn
hall 8. Steers for which he recdreceived 12.£ - and that he recdreceived the
Silver money now found upon him of the SdSaid Francis Lodge, and ytthat
he sold the Steeres not in any Pasture but upon Preston Moore,
and recdreceived the money of Lodge at Walburn Hall aforesdaforesaid and that he recdreceived of
Giles Elletson of Cawdstones house in the parish of Dowham in Swaledale
7:£ 10:s 0d for 6. Why's & 2. Cowes ꝑtpart of it in Guineas & yethe rest of his Goods were
Seized on by Mr Law the D.Deputy of Boltons Steward, being asked what he design'd
to do with this money he SdSaid he designed to pay 15.£ to W.m Lonsdale, Fran:s Lonsdale
and Francis Morland all of Bellerby in the County of York and ytthat he intended
to pay to Tho:s Freare of Bolton Castle and Tho.s Ham̄ond of the same town, the
rest of yethe money & Gold found upon him as aforesdaforesaid and being asked whether any
of the aforemen'daforementioned ꝑsonpersons who p.dpaid yethe money, did direct him to pay it to any
ꝑticularparticular ꝑsonperson, he answered that he would hang himselfe before he
would hang anybody else, being asked why he brotbrought ysthis mony hither, wchwhich he says he
desig'd to pay at Bellerby aforesdaforesaid he answered that he had no friend to
leave it withall John Ham̄ond
Capt. coram me J Grahm.