370 Journal and Correspondence

Original
Copies.

so early and Robins said Benjamin Butler, this Deponent
said he was early, Robins said he only came on an errand and
was gone and said he was afraid the horses were in the field
and went out hastily, upon which the said Petitt told him if he
would drive them up his horse would follow and then went to
one of the Neighbours; when he came back said Robins
was gone, he then ask'd M^rs Robins where her husband was,
She was slow in answering 'till she sent the boys out and
then told this deponent that her husband was gone to William
Barclay Townsend' s; that Levin Townsend had been on board
the Man of War and brought powder and shot enough to his
father and what they called Torys were all meeting in order
to have it delivered as it would not be safe to keep it in one
place and when they had divided the same they were to give
the man of war notice and he was to send up to their assist-

anre, that the matter might be put an end to in a short time,

sometime between this and christmass.
Taken before John Selby. Edward Pettitt

N^o 2

November 15^th 1775.
Mary Robins (wife of Josiah Robins) being sworn on the
holy Evangels of Almighty God deposeth and saith that on
the 15'" of November 1775, in the morning of the same day,
Benjamin Butler came to the house of her said Husband and
enquired whether there was person in his house except his
family; her husband made answer that there was: upon which
they went out and after some time, her husband came in, and
told her that he was going to a certain William Barclay
Townsend's; that a certain Levin Townsend had been down
to Norfolk on board the Man of War and had brought up a
quantity of ammunition, and that all those who were for the
King were to go down to the said W^m B. Townsend's, to get
their share of the ammunition, and that the said Levin Town-
send had brought a paper from on board the said Man of War
that they were to sign; and that the said Levin Townsend
was to get out this day on his return to the man of War, and
that if there was a sufficient number of signers to the afore-
said paper they were to have assistance immediately from the

said man of War.
The above deposition taken before John Selby.

N^o 3
November 25^th 1775.
Josiah Robins of lawfull age being called upon by the Com-
mittee of Worcester County, deposeth and saith that on Wed-
nesday morning the 15^th of this Inst, some little time before