382 Journal and Correspondence

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in their beds and carry them on board his vessel and convey
them as speedily as possible down on board of Governor
Dunmore's ship, and this Deponent further saith that he was
sworn by a person in Norfolk unknown to this Deponent, the
purport of the Oath this Deponent can't well recollect and
further saith William B. Townsend pressed this Depon^t
exceeding warmly to inlist in Lord Dunmore's service, but
that this Deponent, Cornelius Dickerson, Bartley White,
Hugh Vestry, Solomon Butler & Thomas Cluff absolutely
refused, that the rest of their crew, to wit, Isaac Costen,
Joseph Gray Taylor, Francis Britt, William Dickerson, Zadock
Townsend, Elias Townsend, Josiah Ward, Benjamin Selby,
Levi Townsend, did as this Deponent believes inlist in his
Lordship's service, that when this Depon' left the said Town-
send at Norfolk the said Levin Townsend told this Deponent
he might keep a look out for him in about 10 days or a fort-
night off the mouth of Pocomoke river and that he wou'd see
him the said Townsend.
Sworn before Joseph Dashiell. William Willis.

November 30^th 1775.
Thomas Cluff of lawfull age being sworn deposeth and
saith that he went at a certain place gathering of corn and
that Levin Townsend sent for this Deponent and when this
Deponent arrived at W^m B. Townsend's, Levin Townsend
asked this Deponent if he did not want salt, that if he did
provided he would go with him he shou'd have it very reason-
able, upon which this Deponent agreed to go with sundry
others down as far as the mouth of Pocomoke river upon
which the said Levin Townsend administered an oath to him to
keep the matter secret, but not finding any salt this Depon^t &
some others wanted to return, upon which the said Townsend
confined them and that the said Levin Townsend and others
went on shore where they kill'd a beef, whereupon they pro-
ceeded down to Norfolk and upon their arrival at Norfolk the
said Levin Townsend and Isaac Costen one of their number
went on board Lord Dunmore's Ship and some time after
returned to this Deponent and said Levin Townsend asked
this Deponent and company if they were willing to inlist
under Governour Dunmore, that if they wou'd they should
have a suit of regimentals, a gun, a guinea and a crown
entrance with their standing pay, and that this Deponent said
he would rather choose to go home again and that said Town-
send said you cannot return home, for you will not be let
return, you will be taken up and further told this Deponent
that if this Deponent did not go up to the Standed in Norfolk
the Governor would most certainly detain him and this