At Wright Board Quality Court Chancery Lane Middlesex the 5th day of February 1828

Joseph Thornton of Paternoster Row in the City of London apprentice to Messieurs Baynes and Son of the same place Booksellers and William Hewitt of Hercules Buildings in the parish of Lambeth in the County of Surrey clerk being severally sworn and examined the day and year at the place above mentioned before us the major part of the Commissioners named and authorised in and by Commission of Bankrupt awarded and ____ and now in prosecution against William Baynes and John Baynes of Paternoster Row in the City of London Booksellers and copartners Dealers and chapmen upon their several and respective oaths say and first this Deponent Joseph Thornton for himself saith that he hath known the said William Baynes and John Baynes for this space of four years and upwards last past during all which time the said William Baynes and John Baynes have carried on trade in an open and public shop in Paternoster Row aforesaid in copartnership together as booksellers by buying large quantities of printed books in ___ and otherwise upon credit and reselling the same by retail for ready money and upon credit and sought thereby as others of the same trade and business usually do And this Examinent Joseph Thornton further saith that on the twentyninth day of January one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight this Examinent was present as a witness and did see John Baynes and Robert Leaper Percy duly sign seal and as their respective act and deed deliver a certain indenture now produced and exhibited to the said Commissioners bearing date the said twenty ninth day of January One thousand eight hundred and twenty eight and made between the said William Baynes and John Baynes of the first part Robert Leaper Percy of Mornington Crescent Camden Town Gentleman of the second part and the several other creditors of the said William Baynes and John Baynes of the third part whereby after reciting that the said William Baynes and John Baynes were indebted to sundry persons in the way of their trade and were unable to pay the same It was witnessed that in consideration of the said Robert Leaper Percy they the said parties thereto of the first part did bargain sell assign transfer and set over unto the said Robert Leaper Percy all their stock in trade Debts securities property estate books and effects whatsoever and wheresoever and all remedy for recovering and receiving the same except their Leasehold Estate To have hold and enter upon receive and take the same absolutely as against the said parties thereto of the first part upon trust to convert the same into money and to divide the proceeds rateably among the creditors of the said parties thereto of the first part who should execute the said Indenture

signed Joseph Thornton and Wm Hewitt

(Second Page)

And this Examinent further saith that the names or signatures "John Baynes" and "R L Percy" set and subscribed at the foot of the said Indenture as the names of two of the parties executing the same are of the respective proper handwriting of the said John Baynes and Robert Leaper Percy and that the name or signature "Joseph Thornton" thereto set and subscribed as the witness attesting such execution by the said John Baynes and Robert Leaper Percy is of the proper handwriting of this Examinent Joseph Thornton. And this Examinent William Hewitt for himself saith that he was present as a witness on the said twenty ninth day of January and did see William Baynes duly sign seal and as his act and deed deliver the said Indenture and that the name or signature "William Baynes" set and subscribed at the foot of the said Indenture as the name of one of the party executing the same is of the proper handwriting of the said William Baynes and that the name or signature "Wm Hewitt" also set and subscribed as the witness attesting such last mentioned execution is of the proper handwriting of this Examinent William Hewitt. And this Examinent Joseph Thornton further saith that the said Robert Leaper Percy took possession ____ and ____ of the said Indenture, of the stock in trade and effects of the said William Baynes and John Baynes and hath ever since remained in possession thereof.

signed Joseph Thornton and Wm Hewitt

Each page is also signed by Geo W Collinson C Sinclair Crellen and J L Dampier who presumably were the Commissioners named and authorised.