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Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 3

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From Abigail Greenleaf

30 October 1777

Indictment

11 November 1777
Grand Jury notes
RTP
vs. Stephen Holland for counterfeiting1

Mete Lewis I lived in Col. Stephen Hollands family 4 yrs & 4 m. I saw Robt. Fowle2 the Printer the winter before last Decr: 75. they kept the chamber & lock they were in back Chambers, he was not long 1st. time absent abt. a week & then staid 4 or 5 days. he came down to dine & breakfast, Mrs. Holland & the Col. waited upon him, while I wondered at them was some water warmed & carried up in a milk pan. I made the Bed 2d day saw the pan under foot of the Bed. & between bed & saw some large paste board & after he was gone I lookd in closet & saw a kettle of black & one of red Ink & some peices of bills in the chamber, some water & bits of paper in the pan. I saw a knife box full of the long bills & a square box I took one of them up, I saw Col Holland bring one of the boxes round the House. I think the Square one; carried into East room Mr. Wm. Vans was at the house when Fowle was. Col. 410Holland not the negro Boy at the Stairs & carried the wood up & water & waited upon themselves.

afterwards one morning he was going to Haverhill very early he took sd. teakettle of water & put it into an pot & went into E. Room & lockt him in & afterwd. came out & brought some passings of Bills & put them under the ashes & after I pulled them out & saw wt. they were & I burnt them. He went to Haverhill & brought home Cooper &c

David Anderson Col. Holland bought my Estate in Feb. or March. 76 Wm. Vans with him, short time to consider for 480£ I signed the Deed & took the money new bills I afterwards found 15.40/ & 1.30/ & I brought it to Council of Safety & they allowed me to go to Col Holland in Goal, I told him I had taken that money of him, he sd. it was like enough & bad me go to Mrs. Holland & she sent me to Col. More who changed it & no fault found with defacing the money, I show’d the above bills to Col. Gilman

Col. Gilman he show’d me the bills & they were undoubtedly bad & were defaced

Wm. Greenleaf I had a counterft. 40/ N Hampshire I think I took it of him

John Coffran. I sold Col Holland some Land & he paid me & afterwards he came & borrowed 36£ & 260/ NH being all that he took one 60/ from my book & gave me a note. the 36£ bundle was Continental & NH square bills the 60/ bill wch. I put away at first never came back. Col More pd. me the note

Hugh Dunshe junr. I lived at Col. Holland winter before last. Mr. Fowle was there, I never suspected his making money, he kept in chamber, boy carried wood to head of stairs. Hitta sd. they were making money up stairs, I thought something was the matter but could not tell what

vs S. Holland for Fraud

John Prentice Esq.

John Steward junr.

Col. Robt. Moore

John Clark

James McGregore

John Hughes he sd. some words in jest to be sd. in earnest Providence & America had enough to conquer Canada in Augt. 76.

411

Abraham Read

Jos Morrison

Abr Morrison

James Coffran

John Holmes

Isaiah Thomas

James Humphry: he sd. our fishing schooner wd. take any of the Brit. men of War. I lived with him the Summer of .75.

MS .