Middlesex
to wit

}
The Information of William Nicholas< no role > of Brook Street Ratcliff
Waterman and Lighterman and John Marshall< no role > Master of Thames
Street in the City of London Coal Merchant taken this 11th, day of
May 1784.

Who being on their Oath say and First the said William Nicholls< no role >
for himself saith That on Wednesday Morning last about half
an Hour after Six in the Morning being then on Board a Skip
at Blackwall he saw a Brace Loaded with Coals
going down the River in which he saw the Person now
present who says his Name is William Frazer< no role > Assisting
the Lighterman to pull the said Barge down the Rivers
that he saw an Empty Boat Fastened a Stearn of the
said Barge Saith that suspecting Coals were going
to be taken out of the said Barge in the said Empty
Boat he this Informant got into a Boat with his
Apprentice and Rowed after the said Barge and
came up with the same at Bow Creek in the County
of Middlesex that [..] he there saw the said
William Frazer< no role > put off and Row away from the
said Barge with a Boat full of Coaly vizt the same Boat which he belong saw Empty to the Opposite side of the River that
he this Informant followed the said William Frazer< no role >
Stopped him and Charged him with taking the said
Coals saith that Frazer informed him this Informant
he had paid John Nicholls< no role > the Lighterman on Board
the said Barge four Shilling for them that he
took the said Boat and Coals up to Ratcliff Cross
where they now Remain and the said William Frazer< no role >
before the Magistrates Lastly saith that the No. on
the aforesaid Barge is 172.

And the said John Marshall< no role > for himself saiththat
a Barge No. 172 is the property of him this Informant
and Partners of which one John Nicholls< no role > his
Barge man which said Barge Passed Down
the River Leaded with Coals on Tuesday Night or
Wednesday Morning last.

Sworn before us two of Five Majesty
Justices of the Peace in and for
the County of Middlesex the
11th. Day of May 1784}

John Staples< no role >
Wm. Quarrill< no role >

Wm. Nichols< no role >
Jno Marshall< no role >