162 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1753-1761.

Lib. J. R.
& U. S.

The Examination of William Johnson aged 23 Years, or
thereabouts, taken on the holy Evangelist of Almighty God
before Thomas Cresap a Justice of the peace for the County
of ffrederick in the province of Maryland the 26^th Day of
October 1756 saith that he left Delaware about three years
ago, and came to a place called Deer Creek in Baltimore
County in the Province of Maryland where he was for
sometime employed in the Service of Thomas Burgen, Darby
Tool, and James M^cDonald, during which time he was sev-
eral times to Mass, at one priest Neals Mass House, and
while in that Society it was insinuated to the Congregation
by the said Neale that it would be much better for them to
live under the Dominion of a ffrench Government than under
an English one, that they would thereby get their Lands on
easier Terms, and might have and enjoy the free Exercise of
their Religion and recommended it to them that it would be
proper for them to prepare themselves with Arms and Am-
munition, and be in readiness to join any party of ffrench and
Indians that might come down to invade, or make an Attack
upon his Britannic Majesty's Subjects which was generally
agreed on by the whole Congregation: And this Examinant
further saith that one John fflaugherty likewise made himself
very busy in the Matter; And this Examinant further saith
that the said Neale likewise informed them that one Digges
who lived near York being an able person would be of great
Service to them in effecting the said Scheme by furnishing
them with Arms, Ammunition and the like, and that this
Examinant understood by the Discourse of the said Congre-
gation that one Burk would do all in his power towards
furnishing any that would join in the same with Arms,
Ammunition &c. And this Deponent further saith that the
said priest Neale understanding that the Deponent after
having the Notion put into his Head by him the said Neale
of the several Advantages of living under a ffrench Gov-
ernm^t had an Inclination to go back to the French, and
become a Subject to the King of ffrance applied to this
Deponent to carry a packet of Letters to a French Officer at
Venango who as the said Neale informed him had but one
Eye, and that this Examinant at earnest Request of the said
Neale consented and undertook to carry the said Letters to
the said French Officer, and the said Neale thereupon gave
him a pistole, upon which this Deponent soon after set off to
go to Venango, and being directed by the Indians arrived
there where he found the said French Officer and was kindly

p. 136

received by him to whom this Examinant delivered the said
Letters but knew not what was in them and the said ffrench
Officer after reading the same, told this Examinant he was