380 Journal and Correspondence

Original
Copies.

Moore wished them well and said he hoped in a short time to
see them return safe.
Sworn before Joseph Dashiell. Hugh Vestery.

December 1^st 1775.
Solomon Butler of lawfull age being sworn deposeth and
saith that Levin Townsend sent for this Deponent by Hugh
Vestry that he wanted to see him and talk with him, that he
went on the Tuesday evening before Townsend went away,
that he this Deponent was sworn to secrecy, and Townsend
told him he wanted him to go down to the mouth
of the river for that there was plenty of salt there very
cheap and that this Deponent accordingly agreed to go and
went home next morning to get his cloaths and by Levin
Townsend's direction carried his gun, Townsend telling him
there was plenty of fowl at the mouth of the river, that he
accordingly embarked with Townsend and his company and
that in their .way down the river they took possession of
Daniel Boston's vessel], that they then proceeded to the
mouth of the river, when they arrived there and found there
was no salt, this deponent with some others expressed great
uneasiness and were desirous of returning, that Levin Town-
send and his father and sundry others laughed at them and told
them they must go further for the salt, and immediately took
their boat on board, and secured all who appeared desirous to
return, under the hatches, that when they arrived at Norfolk
Levin Townsend and Isaac Coston went on board the man of
war, and on their return to their company sollicited them
strongly to enlist under Lord Dunmore and told them they
should have a guinea and a crown advance, and standing pay
allow'd them with a suit of regimentals a gun and bayonet &^c
that this deponent and several others refused to enlist, that
he heard Levin Townsend say that he intended to fit out a
tender to cruize in the bay and take all the prizes they could
and then to proceed up Pocomoke River to take the Committee
of Worcester County prisoners and carry them to Lord
Dunmore, and that Isaac Coston, William Dickerson, Benjamin
Selby, Francis Britt, Joseph Gray Taylor, Levi Townsend,
Elias Townsend, Zadock Townsend and Josiah Ward approved
highly of Townsend's scheme and were determined to join
him in it, that Townsend repeatedly expressed a confidence of
being joined by a large number of people on his return home,
that Thomas Moore was at old Townsend's the day the Com-
pany set off, and went with them to the landing where he
wished them well and told them he expected to see them
again in a short time, that Moore likewise met them at the
Ferry down the river and had conversation with some of the