of the Council of Safety, 1776. 153

he got ashore they came up with him, this deponent says, they
then asked him from whence he came, and what he had in,
his answer was they had Plank and Tar, they were from
Potomack loaded in Hungar river and bound to Potomack
again. Wheeland then asked this Deponent if he did not
belong to the fleet; this Deponent ask'd what fleet? they
answered, the English fleet, this deponant answered he did
not, he then asked him, who he was for, either the Country or
the King, this deponant told him he did not choose to inter-
meddle with either side, he then asked him how many men he
had on board, this deponant told him there was but one person
besides himself, he then asked him, this deponant if he were
a tory or not, he then told him he could not tell, the said
Joseph Wheeland then told him he belonged to the English
fleet and he must goe along with him, he then asked him if he
was willing to stay with the fleet, he then told him the said
Wheeland no, for he had a wife and children, and wanted to
get home as soon as possable, the said Wheeland said he
would not detain any person that had a family against their
will, but if they had no family they should not goe, he then
asked him for some victuals for he was very Hungry. He
then ordered him to get in the Canoe with the Mulatto
fellow Lazarus and goe up to the three Schooners that lay in
the Creek, and tell some person to give him some victuals,
and while he was giving orders there came two other persons
in a Canoe with a Case of Gin & Rum and gave him a dram,
he then got out of his Canoe and sent one of the other
persons with him, and he the said Wheeland and one of the
persons in the other Canoe proceeded on board Cap^t Yell.
We went some part of the way in the Canoe till they came to
an anchor, they then took it in and ordered him to keep along
shore, as this deponant was going along, he met with one of
the Islanders and had some conversation with him till the said
Joseph Wheeland came up with the said Capt Yell, and then
took him aboard said canoe and carryd him the said deponant
with the said Yell on board the Schooners that lay in the
Creeks mouth afs'd in Smyth's Island, where there was like-
wise a Sloop dismasted as they understood belonged to one
White up Nanticoke and when they came abord they saw
about twenty persons sharing of plunder, and as they under-
stood was all County born except one. This deponant with
Cap^t Yell requested the said Joseph Wheeland to goe on
Shore, he told them they might, but that Yell must leave his
Cloths on board, they then went on Shore and got some
victuals at Richard Evans', after some time Marmaduke Mister
and sundry persons came to the af'sd House and took supper,
some time after supper Marmaduke Mister told this deponant

C. S. C.