8th. Jany. 1788 .

Middlesex
to Wit.}

The Voluntary Information and Confession of John Freeman< no role > Taken the day and
Year above written before me One of his Majesty's Justice of the peace in and for the
said County.

John Freeman< no role > Says he is Apprentice to David Nixon< no role > Cap and Owner
of the ship Themis from Petersburgh lying in Bell Wharf [..] Shadwell
and That he was ordered to Watch a Lighter of Iron lying at the feed of
the said Ship last night after the Cabin Boy had left his Watch Says about
the hour of [..] Seven last night he went with Cuthbert Rutledge< no role > and John
Butler< no role > and another Young fellow to a Booth on the Ice near Cole Stairs
Shadwell to drink and about the hour of twelve or One a near as he
can tell. They all went to the Said Lighter and he went on board Said
Ship where he stayed until the Iron was taken out of the Said Lighter
by Rutledge Butler< no role > and the Young man who he doth not Know by name
which they carryed and laid in a West County Barge lying near
Coal Stairs untill a Conveniency offered to take it on Shore And
all of them went to the Booth again where they Staid until about
the hour of Three this Morning when they went to the Said Barge
and took the Said Iron in Three Barrs out of Said Barge to get
it on Shore when he left them and went to sleep in a house
where he was disturbed and escaped being taken at the time
further Says last night about the hour of Six he with
Rutledge took Two Barrs of from out of the Said Lighter and [..]
landed them at Cole Stairs and sold them to Mangear who keeps
a Smiths Shop near for Six Shillings which they Shared between them
and that the four pieces of Iron produced are past of the Said Two Bars of Iron

his
John [mark] Freeman< no role >
Mark

Cuthbert Rutledge< no role > Says last night between the hours of Six and Seven
John Freeman< no role > hired him to half carry Two barrs of Iron which were laying on the
See between the Booth and lighter of Iron Which he did and then Wacted
at Cole Stairs while Freeman wet with a Man with Said Two Barrs to sall
them. That Freeman Soon returned and gave him half a Crown for his
Trouble bidding him not to fear the Said Iron was cut up in Junts
and told him if he was in the way he would give him another Jobb
and went to drink at the Booth where Butler came and another a person
whose name is Nicholas lewis< no role > who went out at times with Freeman
to the Saw Lighter and about the hour of Two this morning the said
John Freeman< no role > tired him, John Butler< no role > and Nicholas Lewis< no role > to And
the Three Barrs of Iron produced on Shephard Wharf and went
away saying he would See them and pay them for what they had
done

Taken Signed and declared to be the Truth
the 8th. of Jany. 1789 Before me
John Staples< no role >

Cuthbt Rutledge< no role >

John Butler< no role > Says last night About the hour of Eleven last night he
went to the Booth on the Ice near Coles Stairs Shadwell and drinked with the
Said Rutledge Freeman and LewisThat Lewis went out with Freeman
Several timesAnd about the hour of Two Freeman Spoke to him Lewis and
Rutledge to help him on Shore with Some barrs of Iron and if, he would go.
and help to take the Barrs of Iron out of that Lighter he would make a Shamfire
that he refused to go into the Croft That he helped to land the Said Iron on the
Said John Freeman< no role > promising to pay them frist

Taken Signed and declared to be the Truth
the 8th. of Jany 1789 Before me
John Staples< no role >

John Butler< no role >

John Freeman< no role > admitted an Evidence for the Crown and Sworn
before me the 20 th of Jany 1789 Before me John Staples< no role >