Dorothy Watson, widow. v. Miriam Beard, widow and administratrix of Benjn Beard (her...

Dorothy Watson, widow. v. Miriam Beard, widow and administratrix of Benjn Beard (her late husband), who was executor to Thos. Watson, deceased (plaintiff's late son).: Execution of the last will and testament of Thomas Watson (plaintiff's late son), latesurgeon of His Majesty's ship "Sunderland," &c., &c. "What sum or sums of money, freegift, bill, or bills due to the said Thomas Watson for his service as surgeon from His Majesties ships the Poole, Dunkirk, and Sunderland did the said Benjn Beard at any time receive?" &c., &c. Interrogatories for the defendant: "5th Interr'. Doe you know of any and what sume of mony that was at any time and when paid by him the said Benjamin Beard to any and what person or clerke in the Navy Office or Pay Office, or in any other and what office, for the casting up or set'ling his the said Thomas Watson's twopences, what sume of money is usually and customarily given to such person or clerke for the casting or set'ling of the twopences due to the surgeons of the Navy. Is it usual or customary to pay any and what sume of mony for the casting up or set'ling such due. Do you know or believe that is due for such twopences could be rec'ed without paying for the casting up and set'ling of what is soe due?" "Eleazer Smith, of Mile End Green, in the county of Midd'x, mercer, aged about forty-nine years, a witness sworne, produced, and examd on the behalf of the deft., deposeth as followeth:" "5. To the fifth interr'ie this depont saith that it is usuall and customary to give a guinea to the clerk or officer in the Pay Office for the casting up of the surgeons twopences, and this depon't hath paid the same for casting up the twopences due to the surgeon for whom this depont hath rece'd the said twopences, and this depont believes the said twopences cannot be rece'd untill such twopences are cast up, which is very difficult to be done by any person except the officer or clerke in the said office, by reason of the dayly increase and decrease of the men on board a man of warr, and this depont saith he never knew any twopences ever received by any person without allowing and paying a guinea for the casting up of the same.": London