of the Council of Safety, 1776. 155

unknown; the afs'd Joseph Wheeland was as this Deponant
understood esteemed the Commanding Officer of the said
Vessels, and further sayeth not.
Sworn before Hugh Eccleston.
Joseph Mareman lives in S^t Marys County near Leonard
Town on Britons Bay.

C. S. C.

[Yell's Deposition.]
July 27 1776
Moses Yell being sworn on the Holy Evangels of Almighty
God deposeth and sayeth. That some time about the 15^th of
this Instant this deponent was going in a vessel to Potowmack
River with Tar and plank but on seeing Dunmore's Fleet this
Deponent returned and anchored under Smith's Island. About
two or three hours after he had anchored Joseph Wheland
with one other man unknown to the Deponent came on board
the vessel this deponent was in, & Joseph Wheland asked this
Deponent if he saw the Fleet, this Deponent answered he
had seen the Fleet & returned in consequence of it. Joseph
Wheland then ask'd this Deponent whence he came and
where he was bound & who he was for, this Deponent
answered he had not a design to kill any person but was a
Friend to his Country. Joseph Wheland then asked this
Deponent which he thought was right the King or the Shirt
Men, this deponent answered he thought the Americans were
right Joseph Wheland then told this Deponent he was for the
Fleet, and had orders from Ld. Dunmore to take any vessels
belonging to the Rebels and destroy such as he thought
proper and carry the rest to the Fleet, the s^d Wheland then
demanded a sight of this Deponents papers which this Deponent
gave him, the s^d Wheland then took the papers, a pocket book
about forty shillings cash and all the cloaths belonging to this
Deponent that were in the vessel, except what he had on, and
carried this Deponent together with the cloaths and money
on board a Tender which he informed this Deponent he had
the command of, and likewise the s^d Wheland inform'd him
he had the command of the other two vessels that were with
the one, this Deponent was put on board of. This Deponent
sayeth Joseph Wheland told him he had taken a vessel
belonging to White in Nanticoke and that he Wheland
intended to fit her out with four four pounders, and twelve
swivels to guard the Islands and keep the Shirt Men from
going on to abuse the Inhabitants, the af^sd Wheland told him
he must take out the mast from his Yell's vessel and put in
the vessel he had taken from White which was then driven
on ground and had lost her mast, but before he had got her

Original.