Witness Deposition – Thomas Nixon – 17 May 1756

Thomas Nixon of Dotland in the County of Northumberland <…>man aged forty one years a Witness first sworn and examined on the part of the Complainant and afterwards sworn and examined on the part of the Defendants Thomas Hall and George Emmerson Deposeth as follows



To the second Interrogatory this Deponent saith that George Pantoune deceased <….> the pleadings named and the Defendants Thomas Hall and George Emmerson in or about the month of May one thousand seven hundred and forty <….> which was about one year and nine months before the Death of the said George Pantoune did agree to become Copartners and Joint Traders and Dealers together in the managing and carrying on the Trade of Smelting and Refining of Lead and Lead Oar at or near Blackhall Lead Mill in the said County of Northumberland for the term of three years then next following And saith that the said parties did in the said month of May one thousand seven hundred and forty eight begin to carry to carry on the said Trade Business or Undertaking and that <….> George Pantoune deceased was to have and injoy the one moiety or half part of the said Trade Business or Undertaking and the said Defendants Thomas Hall and George Emmerson were to have and injoy the other .. half part thereof And saith that the said Partners were to make up the Sum of Three Hundred pounds of Lawfull British Money as and for the Capital and joint Stock of the said Copartnership of which the said George Pantoune advanced and paid the Sum of One Hundred and fifty pounds as his share of the said Capital Stock and the said Thomas Hall and George Emmerson the like Sum of one hundred and fifty pounds as their share of the said Capital Stock And saith one Francis Smedley of Holywell in the County of Flint Gentleman had preposed to be a partner with the said George Pantoune an <….> the Defendants Thomas Hall and George Emmerson in the said Trade Trade Business or Undertaking and was to have and injoy a third part or share thereof but saith the said Francis Smedley did decline entering into the said Partner <….> or having any concern therein because as this Deponent had heard and believes he lived out so great distance from the place where the said Business or undertaking was to be carried on And saith the said George Pantoune Thomas Hall and George Emmerson did thereupon in the shares and proportions before set forth carry on the said Trade Business or Undertaking from the Commencement of the said Partnership till the Death of the said George Pantoune And saith that the said George Pantoune did some time before the Commencement of the said Partnership purchase of Mathew Ridley the said mill called Black Hall Lead Mill with the appurtenances In Trust for himself and the said Defendants Thomas Hall and George Emmerson and that the said Thomas Hall and George Emmerson did advance and pay the Sum of forty two pounds lawfull British as and for the Purchase Money for the said Mill the one moiety whereof he the said George Pantoune was to repay or account for to the said Thomas Hall and George Emmerson so he the said George Pantoune told this Deponent And saith he can the better depose as to all and every the matters before set forth because he this Deponent was hired by the said George Pantoune Thomas Hall and George Emerson as their Agent in the said Trade Business or Undertaking and acted as such from Mayday one thousand seven hundred and forty eight till July one thousand seven hundred and fifty

Thos Nixon