Middlesex
to
Wit}

The Information of Robert Fletcher< no role > of St. John Wapping
Shipwright taken this 8th day of Dec 1787
Who being on Oath saith the Rope produced is the Property of the Owner
of the William Pitt< no role > lying in the River Thames and the said Parish and was
stowed between the Decks of the said Ship for safety [..] until wanted
that on Wednesday Evening the fifth Instant he saw the Person present
who says his Name is Thomas Knight< no role > on board the said Ship coming from
the after Hatch to the Gang way and saw him [..] with the said
Rope and stoop down when there was an Alarms-that he went
on board and seized the said Thomas just after he had placed on the
Brow ready to get away with the same

Taken and Sworn
the Day and Year abovementioned
Before us

Robt. Fletcher< no role >

John Staples< no role >

Peter Greene< no role >
The said [..] Thomas Knight< no role > says he doth not belong to the William
Pitt< no role > that he went board her to hail the Ship Mary to which his Brother
belongs bound to Jamaica- and that he did not take said Rope which way
lying on the Ways-Says he had not been on board ten Minutes
hailed the Mary once not hearing him he returning was stopt

Taken and Signed
the 8 Dec 1787
Before us

his
Thomas [mark] Knight< no role >
Mark

John Staples< no role >
Peter Greene< no role >