Middlesex
to
Wit}

The Information of Martin Reardon< no role > Steward of the
Ship St. Marys Planter Cap. Jonathan Storer from Jamaira
lying on the River Thames off Bill Wharf in the Parish of St Paul
Shadwell Jonathan Storey< no role > Captain of the said Ship and John Williamson< no role >
Foreman to Joseph Newton< no role > Undertaker to deliver the said Ship taken this
28th. day of August 1788 Before me John Staples< no role > Esqr One of His Majestys
Justices of the Peace in and for the said County who being on Oath say
and first the said Martin Reardon< no role > on for himself saith yesterday Morng
about the hour of Ten to the best of his Recollection he saw the person
present who says his Name is Thomas Chapman< no role > who had been employed
as a Lumper to help unload said Ship go over the Gangway in the hurry
that he looked over side and saw in a wherry along [..] in which was Richard
Freeman< no role > Sydney and the said Thomas Chapman< no role > with a piece of
a Bury Rope belonging to the said ShipThat he went to the
Captain in the Cabin and acquainted him that one of the Lumper
had Stole a piece of Rope belonging to the Shipthat the Captain
came upon Death called to the Waterman to StopSays that he
and William White< no role > pursued them he calling to the person present
who says his name is Freeman Sydney the Waterman to Stop who
made no answer but rowed a Shore to Shadwell Dock Stairs where
he leaded the said Thomas Chapman< no role > who took said Rope or his Shoulder
and run away with said Rope and got clear away not withstanding he
called Stop thief Jonathan Storey on his Oath Saith yesterday Morning
about the hour of ten Martin Read on came into the Cabin and informed him that
One of the Lumper had gone into a Boat and taken a piece of Rope off the Quarter
Dech part of an Old See Bury Rope Value Five Shillingssays he Jane Thomas< no role >
Chapman in a Boat rowed by Sydney that he called to them to Stop
saying the man had Stole some Rope That Chapman said [..]
that he did not get it out of his ShipAnd that the said Watchman
refused to come back saying he could not make him Says the ship
was robbed that morning of [..] a piece of an Old See Bury Rope and
as the said Rope lay close to the Gang way where his Steward informed
him That Thomas Chapman< no role > went over he hath not a Doubt but the
said Thomas Chapman< no role > stole said Rope John Williamson< no role > on his
Oath saith yesterday Morning as he was at W [..] on board the St. Mary Blank< no role > [..]
he saw Thomas Chapman< no role > who had been discharged at Break fast Time
from Working on board said Ship not being wantedon an Outery the
said Ship had been robbed of a piece of Rope by Thomas Chapman< no role > and
that he saw Chapman take a piece of an Old piece of Buoy Rope
Which he her [..] by having Quarted it himself out of a therry which
he saw go from the Ship and land it at the Double Dock Stairs and
go went with it

Martin Reardan< no role >
Jona Storey< no role >

his
John [mark] Williamson< no role >
mark

Taken and Sworn the day and year
first above written before me}

John Staples< no role >