Middlesex
to Wit

}
The Voluntary Information and Confession of
William Shelton< no role > of the Hamlet of Poplar and Blacknaller
the County aforesaid Lighterman, Taken this fifteenth day
of May 1784 before me One of his Majestys Justices
of the Peace in and for the said County.

Who being on his Oath Saith that about nine O Clock in the Morning of
Tuesday last the Eleventh day of May Instant. this Informant and his
Father came down Bow Creck from Mr. Milwards< no role > at Bromley in a
Barge belonging to the said Mr Milward Loaded with Rye That when he same to
the Creeks mouths he and his said father went an Shore in a Shiff and
Landed at the Orchard House, from whence his father went home
and left Informant at the Orchard House where he had been abouts Ten
Minutes when Richard Briggs< no role > now present (and in Custody) and
Joseph Goodman< no role > not yet taken came to him, and after drinking
three pints of Beer or half and half Informant asked them both
to Assist him in Launching the said Skiff, which was then a ground when said Goodman went
and Assisted him in Launching the Skiff, and when he had so done he went
with [..] Informant in his Skiff a little way down the luck
to the place where Briggs's, Skiff was lying and at which place Informant
put him on Board said Skiff, belonging, to Briggs That the said Joseph
Goodman< no role > then asked Informant what he was Laden with when he Informed
him he was Loaded with Rye whereupon Goodman said to Informant he had
no Money and therefore wished he would let him have some Rye, Informant
then told him the Rye was not his and therefore would not gave him any
The said Goodman there said he did not want him to give him any for
that he would take itInformant and said Briggs and Goodman
then went on Board the said when Goodman and Briggs immediately
opened the Fore Hatch went down into the Hold and filled four Sacks, two of which Sacks
the brought with the Empty and the other two Empty Sacks as aforesaid they
brought them upon Dack and afterwards put them into Goodman Skiff and
[..] on they were going away he asked them where they were going to take
[..] Rowed away, and Informant saw no More of them until he saw
[..] in Custody, but knows nothing of Goodman or has he seen him since
[..] d Lastly this Informant Saith that he never received any Money Gratudy
[..] any promise of Money or reward or any other thing whatsoever from the
[..] d Briggs or Joseph Goodman< no role > or either of them and further Saith not

William Shelbon< no role >

Taken and Sworn the day and Year first above written before me
Petr. Greenc