Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 3
Rockingham Ss.}
At the Superiour Court of Judicature began and holden at Exeter within and for the County of Rockingham in the State of New Hampshire on the second first Tuesday of No September in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred & Seventy Seven and from thence continued by adjournments to the eleventh day of November then next
The Jurors for the Goverment & People of the State of New Hampshire upon their Oaths present that Stephen Holland of Londonderry in the County of Rockingham aforsaid Esqr. being a person of evil fame and wicked disposition and contriving & intending to depreciate the currency & lawful Bills of credit of the United States of America & of all the lawful bills of credit emitted by all & every of the said united States & current among the Inhabitants of them and utterly to distroy the credit & use of them in all commerce & more especially in supporting & carrying on the present just War against the Enemies of the United States of America, on the third day of January in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred & seventy six at Rockingham Londonderry aforsaid in the County aforsaid unlawfully knowingly subtilly & falsely did forge and Counterfeit fifty false and Counterfeit Notes & Bills of the denomination of thirty shillings and of the tenor & fabricated in imitation & similitude of the good lawful & current bills of Credit of the State of New Hampshire aforsaid of the same denomination established by the Resolves of the Congress of the State same State to the great damage of the Inhabitants 412of the united States of America against the Peace of the Goverment & People aforsaid & in evil Example to others in like case offending. And the Jurors aforsaid upon their Oaths aforsaid do further present that the said Stephen Holland pursuing his wicked intentions aforsaid did on the third day of January aforsaid in the year aforsaid at Londonderry aforsaid in the County aforsd. unlawfully knowingly subtilly & falsely did forge and counterfeit fifty other false and Counterfeit notes and Bills of the denomination of forty shillings and of the tenor and fabricated in imitation & similitude of the good lawful and Current bills of Credit of the State of New Hampshire aforsaid of the same denomination established by the Resolves of the Congress of the same State, to the great damage of the Inhabitants of the united States of America against the Peace of the Goverment and People aforsaid & in evil Example to others in like Case offending. And the Jurors aforsaid upon their Oaths aforsaid do further present that Stephen Holland aforsaid pursuing his wicked intentions aforsaid on the third day of January aforsaid in the year aforsaid at Londonderry aforsaid unlawfully knowing subtilly & falsely did forge and Counterfeit fifty other false and Counterfeit notes & bills of the denomination of sixty shillings and of the tenor and fabricated in imitation & similitude of the good lawful & current bills of credit of the state of New Hampshire aforsaid of the same denomination, established by the Resolves of the Congress of the same state, to the great damage of the United Inhabitants of the United States of America, against the Peace of the Goverment and People aforsaid & in evil Example to others in like case offending. And the Jurors aforsaid upon their Oaths aforsaid do further present that Stephen Holland aforsaid on the twenty third day of March in the year of our Lord Seventeen hundred and Seventy Seven at Londonderry aforsaid in the County aforsaid with force and Arms fifteen false and Counterfeit Notes and Bills of the denomination of forty shillings and of the tenor and fabricated in imitation of the good lawful & current bills of Credit of the said State of New Hampshire established by Resolves of the Congress of the same State Denomination, knowing the same false Counterfeit Bills to be false and Counterfeit as aforsaid unlawfully unjustly & deceitfully did utter and pay to one David Anderson for and as good lawful & current bills of credit of the State of New Hampshire aforsaid of the denomination of forty Shillings established by the Congress of the same said state as aforsaid, to the great Damage of the said David Anderson to the evil Example of all others in like case 413offending against the Laws of this State in such case made & provided the Peace & Dignity of the same
Nehemiah Wheeler Foreman
The said Stephen Holland being arraigned pleaded not guilty