not tell how much, for there was pork in y° boat to ye Quantity of 2700 lb. Tho. Hassald, Dr. 480 lb. Tob., Cr. 400 lb. due to ball 80 lb. Tob. James With, Dr. 2 lb., 5 s. 1 d., Tho: Danis' bill for 530 foot plank. Edw Southrins' Bill for 904 lb. porke. Bapt Newcombs' bill for 212 lb. porke. Cr. Wm. ffutchers' bill for 5425 lb. porke, 1309 lb. Tobacco. Sarah Averys' bill for 3785 lb. pork. Rob Richards' bill for 70 lb. porke. Jno. Burtons' bill for 4625 lb. porke, 6003 lb. Tobacco. Rob Jn'ssons' bill for 300 lb. Tobaco. Bryan Omeleys' bill for 120 lb. Tobaco. At a Councill held at Philadelphia ye 24th of the 8th month, 1683. Wм. PENN, Prop' and Gov' Tho: Holmes, Lasse Cock, Wm. Biles, PRESENT: Wm. Clayton, John Symcock. The Gov' Informed ye board, that it was Convenient Warrant should be sent from this board to aprehend some persons upon suspition of putting away of bad money. A Question put whether there be not some psons to vent such money here. Rob Felton being attested, The Question was put to him whether or no he reed any Silver of Charles Pickerin, to Quine for him; he answered yes, 24 pounds of Bard Silver; he also made the Seales, & Charles Pickering & Sam" Bukley helped him to make the Bitts. Quest: what did they add to the allay of y° 15 lb. 2"; about 4", of Copper; and what to ye 91b. 3 or 4" of Copper, being the allay; he cannot be Exact how much the allay was, for they did sometimes put in more than he knew of. A Warrant was Issued forth from this board, to bring Charles Pickering & Sam" Buckley before them. Tho: Clifford appointed Messing for this Sessions. Robert Felton also saith he had noe Silver brought to him, but by the psons above named, and he Scroopling to do it, the Silver having been already allayed, and if they did not put more Copper into it they would Loose by it; they said they would Bare him out in what he did for them. The Gov telleth Ch: Pickering & Sam" Buckley of their abuse to ye Governm', in Quining of Spanish Bitts and Boston money, to the Great Damage and abuse to y° Subjects therof. The Gov' asked them whether or no they are Guilty of ye fact. They confess they have put of some of those new bitts, but they say that all their money was as good Silver as any Spanish money, and also deny that they had any hand in this matter. Charles Pickering saith he will Stand by it and be Tryed; he declareth that he heard Jno. Rush Swere that he Spent halfe his time in making of Bitts. The Gov' asketh Sam" Buckley whether he did not help to melt money, or to put in y° Copper allay into ye Silver more then Should be, and to have been at ye Stamping of new Bitts, and Strikeing on the Stamp. He Confesseth he hath been guilty of somewhat of that; also, was there not to ye knowledge any brass or Copper put into the Silver that was melted? he Sayeth yes. Also, whether or no thou didst not help Charl. Pickering's man to melt, and also to strike the hamer and See y' Seals, and disperse some of the Bitts, more or Less? he Sayeth yes. Was there not more allay put into the Silver then Ordinary, and ye Person tould that Stamp it, that There was too much? he sayeth yes. John Rush being sent for & Examined, Positively denyeth what Char. Pickering affermd. The Govr Demands of Charl. Pickering and Samll Buckley to give Security, wch accordingly was done. Tho. Philips & Samll Bucley, Enter into a Recognizance of five hundred pounds for Samll Buckley's appearance before this board when demanded, and not to goe out of towne without Leave. Richd Wall and Char. Pickering binde themselves and Enter into a Recognizance of five hundred pounds for Char. Pickering's appearance before this board, and not to goe out of towne without Leave. Ordered yt y Sherriff take Rob ffelton into Custody, & him safe to keep until further order. POST MERIDIEM. The Govr moved that at ye beginning and Ending of the Siting of the Assembly, the People of y° Citty and Countrey may if they please, come in and hear what shall be spoken unto them. The Assembly being admitted, the Govr opened the house, and Caused to be delivered to the Speaker fifteene Laws Concerning severall things for them to debate of. A Petition of ye County of Kent was Cognizable before this board, and it is referred to a Comittee of some of this board and some of the house of Assembly to that part of yo Petition Relateing to pattents. The Govr telleth them that the fault of not having Pattents is not ye Govr but their owne, for they ought always to attend the Govr for them, and that their Default is so far from giving them pretence not to pay Quitrents, that with an Other Govr it might Weaken their Tittles or Pinch their Pocketts, and that yo Ordr of Sr Edmond Andros for three Years to Seat in Expired in '78, and that divers Orders were sent to them to take out their Pattents, and further more there was an Other Order that those that had not or should not settle in 6 months should forfeit their Lands; also thousands of acres in the Lower Countys which ye Govr might have taken from them, being forfeited; therefore they ought to be Content. A Warrt was Issued Out from this Board to Benjam. Chambers, High Sheriffs, to Sumons a Grand & Petty Jury for the Tryall of Char. Pickering & Samll Buckley. Adjourned till the 25th 8th Mo. 83. At a Councill held at Philadelphia the 25th 8th Mo., 1683. Ordered, That an Indictm' be Drawne against Chr. Pickering & Sam" Buckley, Grounded upon Evidence taken before this board. Two of the Assembly, Jno. Blumstone & Luke Watson, came to this board to be Informed Concerning the Sherriffs, calling them to y Service of a Grand Jury, and they were tould it was about Corrupt money, and that it was not by Compultion, but with their Consent. John Symcock Sent by ye Gov' & Prov Councill to y Assembly, that Griffith Jones may have Liberty to come before this board to be Examined on Businesse of Moment. Complaint being made to this board about New Bitts and New England Shillings, It was resolved that there should be a Proclamation Issued out forthwith to cry them downe. Griffith Jones Attested, saith that Charles Pickering sent him Eight pounds in New Bitts to pay New England men, but they would not take it; therefore he went to Mary Bartholomew and changed fourty Shillings to make up a sume which Otherways he could not have done, and he promised to change it againe, and further Saith not. John White made Atturney Generall to plead the Cause between Our Proper & Gov', and Char: Pickering & Sam" Buckley. POST MERIDIEM. Thom. Holmes and James Harrison Sent to ye house of Assembly, to Lett them Understand, that if they were ready Wee are ready, and stay for them. Whereupon the Speaker wth ye Whole house, came to attend this Board with a returne of ye Bills wch were delivered to them by this board; Which Bills were read the Last reading and past, Nemine Contradicente. A Grand Inquest were Impanneld and Attested, whose names are as followed: And then adjourned till ye 26th Ins', 8th Mo. 83. At a Councill held at Philadelphia ye 26th 8th Mo. 1683. The Grand Jury being called Over, went forth to find the Bill against Charles Pickering, and returned and found ye Bill as being a Heynous and Grevious Crime. The Petty Jury were Impanneld and Attested, whose names are as followed: John Claypoole, foreman. Jno. Barnes, Waltr King, Jos. ffisher, Benj: Whitehead. Dennis Rochford, Tho: Rouse, Wm. Howell, Robt Turner, Robt Euer, Andrew Brinkson, David Brintnell. The Indictmt was read against ye Prisoner at ye Barr, to wch he answered not Guilty, and would be tryed by his Country. The Atturney Genrall then opened y Cause and called for his Witnesses as followed : Caleb Pusey attested, Saith that Charles Pickering paid him 151b. in New Bitts, wch were produced in Court. Griffith Jones Attested, Saith that he borrowed of the Prisoner Eight pounds in New Bitts, as they are now called. Mary Bartholmew attested, saith that Griffith Jones came to her and desired her to change him fourty Shillings, shee said she would, provided he would change them againe, and he sayd he would; whereupon he had it, wherof some of ye picces were produced in Court. The foreman of the Jury desired that ye Prisoner would tell him who he had the money of that he payd to severall people, but he sought to Evade it, saying the money that any pson rec'd of him he would change it, and that noe man should Loose any thing by him. The Govr gave ye Charge to ye Jury, and they went forth and returning againe, brought him in Guilty of ye Bill of Indictemt. A bill sent to ye Grand Jury against Samll. Buckley and Robt. Fenton, which was found, and their Indictmts read against them; they both Confessed ye fact, and the Petty Jury went forth and brought them in Guilty of their Indictmts. Samll Buckley & Robt ffenton, both Declare that Pickering and they two made the Money to gather, and Robt. ffenton saith that he Cut the Seals for Charles Pickering, and that he was at worke there with them about a Week or more, and further saith, one pair was made before he absented himselfe, and one paire afterwards, and yt the mint was not in this Province, which was declared by both of ye aforesaid Prisoners. After Which, y Govr Proceeded to give Sentance against y° Prisoners, wch is as followed. Charles Pickering, The Court hath Sentenced thee for this high misdemeanor whereof thou hast been found Guilty by the Country, that thou make full Satisfaction in good and Currant pay to Every Person that shall within ye Space of one month, bring in any of this false, Base and Counterfitt Coyne, (wch will to morrow by Proclamation be called in,) according to their respective proportions, and that the money brought in, shall be melted into gross before returned to thee, and that thou shalt pay a fine of fourty pounds into this Court, towards ye Building of a Court house in this Towne, and Stand comitted till payd, and afterwards fined Security for they good abearance. Sam" Buckley, the Court Considering thee to have been more Engenious then he that went before thee, hath thought fitt to fine thee, and doe fine thee tenn pounds towards a Public Court house here and to finde good Security for thy good abearance. Robert ffenton, the Court haveing also Considered thy Ingenuity in Confessing the Truth of Matters, and that thou art a Servant, hath only Sentenced thee to Sitt an hour in the Stocks to morrow morning. Adjourned till the 27th 8th month, 83. At a Councill held at Philadelphia ye 27th of ye Sth Mo., 1683. |