Middlesex
to Wit}

The Information of John Morse< no role > of the
Parish of Saint Ann Black Fryars in the City of
London Lighterman Taken this Fifth day of May
1781. before me One of his Majestys Justices of the
the Peace in and for the said County.

Who being on Oath Saith that he is Foreman to Messrs. Heskins
and Bate Lightermen in the Coal Trade at White Tryars in the City of
London aforesaidThat on Monday the thirteenth day of April last he took
a Lighter called the Old England the property of the said Hoskins and Bate
from their Wharf and left her along side the goods Ship Peter of which
Captain James Spence< no role > is Master with orders for Ten Chaldron and a half
of Coals to be put in the said Lighter and which was accordingly done as
the said Captain Spence told this Informant the next morning when he
[..] came
to the Wharf of Messrs. Hoskins and Bake and at the same time told this
Informant that after the Coals had been put in the said Lighter his
People had made her fast on Board the Ship but that she had been
Cast off in the night and was not he foundInformant immediately
took A Skiff and made all the Enquiry afterthereher he was Capable [..] but
heard nothing of her until Captain Spence who had taken much
Pains Told Informant he had found the Lighter at the First Mill
on Limehouse Reach and that there appeared to be about Three
Chaldron and a half Gone out of her and that in Walking along Her
up the Shore he saw a Ships Boat lying at Shillen Stairs Limehouse
which appeared to him to contain much about the same Quantity that
was taken out of the Lighter and which he believed were the same Coals
That Informant upon this Information went to the said Stairs
Saw the said Boat which Contained the same Quantity as stolen out of
the said Lighter and which he believes were the same Coals. That
there were four or five persons at Work in the Boat all of whom made
their Esape except a Person now present and who Calls himself Richd
Edwin< no role > & who was one of the Persons he saw at Work in the Boat and
who this Informant verily believes was one of the Persons Concerned
inthefeloniously taking and Carrying away the said three
Chaldron and a half of Coals.

Taken the day and Year first above
mentioned before me}

Jno Sherwood< no role >

Jno Morse< no role >