iii the Years 1689-90. 153

The Narrative of Barbarah wife of
Rich^d Smith of Puttuxent River in
Calvert County in the Province of
Maryland.
30^th Dec^er 1689.

Upon the 25^th of March last a rumour was spread abroard
about the mouth of Puttuxent River that Ten Thousand
Indians were come down to the Western Branch of the said
River, whereupon my husband went up to the said Western
Branch where he found noe Indians but there a strong Report
that nine Thousand were at Matapany and at the mouth of
Puttuxent and that they had cutt off Cap^t Bournes Family and
had inforted themselves at Matapany, which was all false,
upon these rumours the Country rose in Arms, but after dili-
gent search and enquiry in all parts of the Province this
rumour was found to be only a sham and noe Indians anywhere
appeared to disturb or molest any the People of our Province.
All which reports I do verily believe were designedly spread
abroard to incite the People to rise in Armes as afterwards
by the like Sham they were induced to doe. For in the latter
end of July following one Cap^t Code, Coll. Jowles, Maj^r Beal
M^r Blackiston with some others appeared in Armes and gave
for their pretence that the Papists had invited the Northern
Indians to come down and cutt off the Protestants and that
their descent was to be about the latter end of August when
roasting Eares were in season and that they therefore rose in
Armes to secure the Magazine of armes and amunition and
the Protestants from being cutt off by the said Indians and
Papists, this was their pretence to those they found very
apprehensive of the said Indians to others they said their
design was only to proclaim the King and Queen, but when
the afores^d persons with some others had gathered together
a great number of People together they then came out and
seized upon the Government, who withstood them first at
S^t Maryes in the State House where the Records are kept,
whom the said Code and his party soon overcame and seized
upon the Records, from thence he proceeded with his party to
Matapany House, wherein Coll. Darnall with some Forces as
many Protestants as Papists had garrisoned themselves, but
were soon forced to capitulate, surrender and yeild, to the said
Code and his party. They having thus possessed themselves
of the Government one Johnson Master of a Ship being bound
for England, they gave him charge he should carry noe Let-
ters but what was sent for themselves, and my Husband they
arrested and put in prison for fear he should goe for England
with the said Johnson to give an accompt of their proceedings

P. R. O.

Colonial
Papers.