Affidavit of
James Jefferson< no role >
Sworn 25th. July 1772.}

James Jefferson< no role > of Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex Maketh Oath and Saith that at or about
Christmas 1769 this Deponent found himself Obliged to quit the Execution of the Office of Clerk of the Peace of Middlesex
through the vexations disposition and behaviour of Mr. Waller the then Clerk of the Peaceand this Deponent and this Deponent at the Time of
quitting the said office delivered tothe saidMr. Waller all the Books Records and other Matters in his this Deponts custody necessary for the Making of
the said Estreat in Question (the next preceeding Estreat having been duly delivered in or about Michs Term 1769) And this Depont.
further Saith the since the delivery of the said Books and Records several Businesses have been done in the Courts of the
Sessions Subsequent thereto wch were proper and Necessary to be entered or Minuted in such Books for enabling the
Person who performed such Business to make the Estreat required by Law and that for want of such Entries and
referrences it is impracticable for this Depont. or any one Else who did not Execute the Clerk of the Peace's Office from
January Session 1770 to July Session following to make out such Estreat or any Estreat witht. great Prigudice to
the Suitors or some of them as well by reasonforof the want of knowledge of what was ultimately done in the Causes
Commenced in the Sessions of October, and DecemberSessions1769 as by means of the improper and imperfect
Entries and of the many Omissions in the Books of the 5 Sessions following which contain the residue of the time
required by the said Order (except September Session for which an Estreat hath been delivered already) so that this Depont
is unable to make up a perfect or satisfactory Estreat of the Fines and Forfeitures of that Period for this Depont. Saith
that upon the perusal of the Books of the sd. 5 Sessions the wholeof Fines wch appear to have been set at those Courts amount
to Fifty two Pounds Eight Shillings and Eight pencePounds only and no more thanPounds or thereaboutsnot one of which Fines appear to have been Paid to the Sheriff
And this Depont. further Saith that altho he was Advised and humbly apprehends that he is neither obliged or
Warranted by Law to make or return such Estreat or to take the Oath touching the Fines or Forfeitures set or
Incurred within the Time aforesaid He this Depont. did Nevertheless in Obedience to the Injunction of this
Honourable Court (upon same of the Books and Records being delivered to this Depont in Court on the last day of
Easter Term last by the said Mr. Waller) Endeavour to make up the Estreat required and did set about
the same on that day and after having with the assistance of both his Clerks drawn out the said Estreat
as far as he was able, containing a great many Pages of large Paper He found some other Books and Records
which still remained in the Custody or Power of the said Mr. Waller were indispensibly necessary for carrying on
and Compleating the said Work Whereupon this Depont. after having attended this Honorable Court the last
Term and mentioned to the Rt. Honble the Lord Chief Baron and Mr. Baron Perrolt the difficulty he still lay under
for want of them Did attend Mr. Waller on or about the Third day of this Instant at his Chambers in Grays Inn
for the sd. Booksand Records for the purpose above mentioned and requested them of him and delivered him a particular theeof containing according to the best of this best. of this Depts. recollection the book Fields of the Sessions in Jassey Febry April June & Septr. 1769. & some Gaol Cal & or this and was by him absolutely refused And this Depont
hath not been able to obtain them from him And this Depont. Saith from the various difficulties attending the said Mr
Wallers Detention of the Books and Records aforesaid The Court at the last Session of the Peace came to a
Resolution to Use farther Means for the recovery thereof but the same hath not been as yet effectedbutthe sd
Mr. Waller still with holdg them