In the Exchequer

Thomas Butler< no role > of the Parish of Saint Martin in the Fields
in the County of Middlesex Esquire and James Jefferson< no role > of Chancery
Lane in the said County of Middlesex Gentleman severally make
Oath and say And first the said Thomas Butler< no role > for himself
saith That he being on Saturday the Eighth Day of September one Thousand
seven hundred and seventy appointed Clerk of the Peace for the County
aforesaid and the Session of the Peace for the same County being
appointed to be held on the Monday following He this Deponents
with the Approbation of His Grace the Duke of Northumberland
Custos Rotulorum of the said County appointed the other Deponent
James Jefferson< no role > to be his sufficient Deputy and in Order to obtain
the Records of the Sessions for' the Purpose of making the necessary
Preparation for the Execution of the said Office and for the holding
of the said Sessions he this Deponent did on the same Saturday
go to the Chambers and Office of James Waller< no role > Esquire and the
House of Mr David Rees< no role > with intent to have requested them to deliver
the same to him but not being able to find either of them this
Deponent then left at the said Mr. Waller's office with one
John Parry< no role > then acting as a Clerk there a Note in Writing
to the said Mr. Waller requiring him to deliver to this Deponent
the Records, Files, Books, Papers and Entries of Proceedings and
other Matters relating to the said Office in his the said Mr Waller's
Custody but did not obtain any of them till the Monday following
when on a Message being sent by the Court to the said James
Waller< no role > for the said Records, the Sessions Books and Indictments
of May and July preceding and some trishing Papers were brought
into Court by the Messenger at the Bag bearer and the same Morning
these Deponents according to the best of their Recollection found in
the Locker of the Table in the Court Room some Files of Indictments
and Recognizances of the Year on thousand seven hundred and
sixty nine and the File of Indictments and Recognizances of
January Sessions one thousand seven hundred and seventy and
the Tiles of Indictments of the two following Sessions in February
and April without Recognizances and upon going up Stairs they
found the Key of the Record Room in the door but they did not
then or at any Time since to their Recollection or Belief find any
Records Books or Papers necessary for making out the Estreat in
Question in the said Record Room or elsewhere And there Deponent
Thomas Butler< no role > and James Jefferson< no role > each speaking for himself
severally say that the Court being still under great Difficulty
to proceed on the Business for Want of other Records, Files, Books
Waller or at his Office or Chambers, an Order of Court was made
on the Second Day of the said Session being Tuesday the eleventh
Day of the same September for the said James Waller< no role > to deliver
Canver them to be delivered into Court at Hicks Hall and that in