of the Council of Safety, 17.76. 373

nition with him, that this Deponent asked said Schockley what
he wanted him to go for that Shockly told him he could not
tell for what reasons that he had open'd it to him as far as he
dar'd, that accordingly this Deponent went to the place afore-
said, with his gun, where he met with about fifty men chiefly
armed with guns, that Josiah Ward met the Company at the

Bridge and hold them they were desired to go down to

William B Townsend's, that some of the Company asked reid
Ward on what account they were to go down that he told
W^m B Townsend requested they would go down, for that he
expected his House would be to be pulled down, and said
informed them that Cap^t Schoolfields company were at M^r
Townsend's, and that this Deponent saith that the said Ward
informed them that the reason of the companies being called
to said Townsend's was to protect him, which protection this
Deponent supposes meant that he was to be defended if he
should be sent for by the Committee, and this Deponent says
that he proceeded no further than the bridge aforesaid but
immediately returned home.
Taken before Joseph Dashiell. Sam^l Parker.

N^o 7
December 1^st 1775.
Matthew Hopkins of lawful age being called on by the
Committee of Worcester County, deposeth and saith, that
agreeable to a summons issued by the Committee of Worces-
ter, he this Depon' waited on William Bartlet Townsend in
order to serve the same, that when he saw M^r Townsend he
told him he had a summons for him, from the Committee
desiring his attention on that day, and said Townsend asked
this Depon^t where this authority was, he replied in his pockett
and Also saith that he took it out and gave it to M^rs Town-
send who went to the door and gave it to a young man, who
read it and said it was a summons; upon which said William
Bartlet Townsend said well, tell them, damn them, I shan't
wait on them; that he had waited on them once and that he
should never do it again unless they wou'd take him dead and
further said that he heard Hopewell and his gang were
coming for him; and said damn them, let them come, that he
was ready for them and this Depon^t further saith not.
Sworn before John Selby. Matthew Hopkins

N^o 8
November the 25^th 1775.
Philip Rain of lawfull age being sworn saith, that a conver-
sation happened between him and Stanton Atkins and that
said Atkins told him that he must make his will, and said

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