William Braswell - Counterfieting

Contributed by Carey Bracewell

North Carolina Archives, CCR 149, Folder 1719, "Colonial Court Papers. Civil & Criminal Papers,1711-1719" :

"The information of Esther Kirby taken this 23d Jan.ry 1718/9

This inform:t Smith that on the 16th of this ins.t W.m Braswell Came to her house & Delivered two Publicke Bills of ye Province one for ffifteen Pounds & the other for Eight Pound and Desired she would Carry them down to Court to Colo.l Moseley & gett them changed for Smaler Biles {if they were good} but if not to return them to him again. And the s.d Brasswell Said he receive:d them from one Joseph Durden.


Esther Kirby

The Information of RIchard Washington taken this 23.d Janry 1718/9---

This informat. Saith that on the 16th of this Ins.t Wm Brasswell Came to the House of Esther Kirby & Delivd to her two Publick bills of this Province one for fifteen Pounds and the other for Eight Pounds and Desired she would Carry them down to Court to Colo.l Moseley & gett them Changed for Samler Biles {if they were good} but if not to return them to him again, and the sd Brasswell said he receivd' them from one Joseph Durden


Richard Washington




By the Hon.ble the Governor

North Carolina ss.

Whereas Informats have been made to Me that Wm Brassel and Joseph Durden have lately utered Several forged Biles of Credit of this Province.

THESSE are therefore in his Magestys Name on Sight hereof to Comand you to apprehend the sd Wm Brassil and Joseph Durden and them to bring before me or the Cheif Justice to answer the sd Information and for so doeing this shall be your Cov.nant Given under my hand this 29th day of Jan.ry 1718

To the Deputy Marshal Charles Eden or Constable for the Westerne Shore of Chowan - - -"

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Braswell and Darden posted 200 pound bail bonds for the passing counterfeit rap (30 July 1719) and Darden was judged innocent. Evidently William was too. He was released "by Recognizance" for the Constable Washington assault by the General Court of Oyer and Terminer on 28 July 1719 {"The Colonial Records of North Carolina", pp. 407-498}...WILLIAM was true billed for assaulting Constable WASHINGTON by the Bertie grand jury at the November, 1720 session but wasn't fined and placed on probation until the following March...there are no more surviving records concerning WILLIAM after the March 1721 date...

Carey