564 Journal and Correspondence

C.S.C.

unwell returned into the house, but saw them carry several
baggs away.
The Deponent further saith that in about half an hour his
wife came into the house and brought a tally board which she
said she kept to know what they carried away, and imediatly
after came in Jere. Colston with his followers and offered to
pay for the salt, which the Deponent refused to take still
alledging as at first that he could not dispose of the salt, but
they counted the money among them and laid it upon the
table, and the Deponent did then count it and after they were
gone he put it away. The Deponent saith that by his wife's
tally they took 17 1/2 bushels of salt, and they left with him 35
dollars in paper money.
Sworn to this 30^th day of December 1776, before
William Hayward.

James Larey of Caroline County confesseth that on Friday
evening last one John Bush came to the house of John Cooper
and got a horse from Cooper as he was informed and that
Bush asked Cooper if he would send after salt and that
Cooper agreed to send, and asked him if he would go, and
that he agreed to go, that about three hours after moon up, a
company collected and called for him (Larey) upon which he
join'd them that there were in the Company, Jere. Colston,
James Dwiggens, Solomon Eagle, James Smith son of Michael,
Thomas Curtis, Nathan Wheatly, David Morgin, Thomas
Cooper, Aaron Cooper, Levin Martingale, Samuel Martingale,
John Cheesly, Daniel Bayner, James Hix son of James, John
Bush and John Russum all of the County aforesaid, That
Colston, Dwiggins, James Smith, Samuel Martingale, Nathan
Wheatly, James Hicks and Aaron Cooper had guns, that
Colston as he understood was the first proposer of the scheme,
and had the command of the Company, that in a little time
after he join'd the Company, they marched down and when
opposite M^rs Nicols's in Talbot County, they turn'd out of the
road and marched through the woods by a path that leeds to
another road, and then proceeded down to where M^r Milward
lives, when several of the Company went up to the house, but
he (Larey) stayed a little while with his beasts and then also
went up to the house, when he heard Colson ask M^r Milward
if there was any salt there for sale, to which M^r Milward
answered that the salt that was there was not his, nor had he
orders to sell any, that Colson then asked who kept the key
of the house, and M^r Milward answered that it was kept by
his wife, upon which several of the Company walked into the
Dwelling house, but as he did not go in knows not what con-
versation happen'd there, that in a little time after they went