200 Claiborne's Petition and

P. R. O.

Colonial
Papers.

Indians, and that the Indians did often attempt the same, and
that there came betweene 3 and 4 score Indians to the Fort with
an intent as was informed them by other Indians, to cutt of the
said Plantation, and that thereupon this deponent seeing the
said Indians come to the Fort, and fearing to be cutt of by
them, did cutt severall Loope hooles on every side and end of
the houses on the said Plantation, which the said Indians
seeing, asked this deponent the reason why he cutt the said
hooles, to whome he answeared to shoot out att, for he heard
they had an intent and came thither to cutt of the said Planta-
tion whereupon the said Indians imediately after theire treachery
being discovered departed, And that this deponent and other
freemen and servants did much murmure and complaine to the
said Claiborne for the want of the said Ammunition, and that
the said Plantation is generally reported to be 50 leagues from
the shipping in Virginia And that the said Claiborne did
make severall Journies and often send thither to his great
hindrance, and that the said Claborne did pay (as this depo-
nent verely beleeveth for he often paid as much or more him-
selfe) two for one more then they cost in England, And that
the said Claiborne paid the dearer because he deferred the
buying of them till the last shipps comeing in, expecting sup-
plies from his said partners, and that for the causes aforesaid
every servant's apparell did yearely cost the said Claborne
£5. 10. att least.
Ad 15. dicit et deponit That by the Industry and Care and
by the supplies which the said Claborne procured the said
Plantation thrived and prospered very well and as this deponent
beleeveth better then ever any Adventures ever did in those
parts, And that the interruption of the Marylanders, and theire
takeing of the boates and pinnaces belonging to the said
Plantation, with the trucking stuffe and goods in the same by
reason whereof the said Plantation wanted Come and the
people were in danger to be starved, alsoe theire killing of
three men viz^t Lief^t Raccleff Warren, John Belson and William
Dawson and the want of a Patent, with the ill carriage of busi-
ness by the said Capt: Evelin was the greatest cause of losse
and damage to the Jointstocke and the overthrow thereof, and
not by want of any Industry, care or meanes that the said
Claborne could use or procure.
Ad 16. dicit et deponit That he this deponent hath often
beene a trading with the said Claborne, when the said Claborne
hath gott by trade with the Indians 5 skinns for one; more
then M^r Harmer or Captain Fleet did, they being in the same
bay a trading with the said Indians, and have told this
deponent how many skinns they have gott. And beleeveth
and hath heard that the Adventures for trade to Maryland and