568 Assembly Proceedings, May 26-June 11, 1697.

L. H. J.

The hon^ble Colonel John Courts is asked to give an account
of what he knowes of the Indians in potomacke.
Who says that on Wednesday last the Chaptico Indians
came to his house and made complaint ag^t M^r Joshua Doyne

p. 137

of S^t Mary's County for demanding Rent of them for the
Land they now live on, which they have enjoyed peaceably
these many yeares by grant from the Lord Baltemore and has
taken from them two duble matts Bowls and Baskets, desire-
ing some redresse therein.
They also complaine that Madam Blackstone threatnes for
want of Satisfaction made her upon a certaine Judgm^t obtained
ag^t them in the Colonels life tyme, notwithstanding they had
sold skins towards payment unto the Clk: of the Councill,
which tob^o the said Madam Blackstone says is not payd her,
therefore desire some order therein.
They Likewise Complaine that one Barber has encroched
upon their Land which they have a long tyme enjoyed.
M^r James Stoddart of the Eastern branch of potomocke in
Prince Georges County giveth the following account relating
to the Indians in writing under his hand thus.
That in ffebruary last there came to my house about sixteen
Indians which Live (as I understode them) some where neer
the mountains, they had with them Skins and ffurrs, which
they offered to sale, the which I bought, when they went away
signifyed that they would come again at the Spring of the
yeare and bring some more skins: At this tyme there were
some piscattaway Indians had theire Cabbins at my house,

but in a few days after they went away. I asked the reason

of theire going so soon from their hunting Quarters, they
told me th^r Emperor had sent for them.
About the twentieth of March last haveing occasion of a
silke Grass nett, in Order to buy one I went to the Indian
fforte, and never having seen the Emperor, he told me he was
very glad to see me. I told him my business, upon which he
sent to enquire if there were any nets in the fforte the answer
was returned there was none, afterwards they shewed me an
old one they had bought, further in Discourse the Emperor
asked me if no body came with me, and if I came from home
that morning, that I came that morning from M^r Hutchysons,
and that he directed me the way to the fforte, further he told
me that there had been some Senequa Indians dealing with
me. I told him it was so, he further told me that newes came
to him two dayes ago that a man in Virginia was Shott by
Indians, and be sent to see, and he found it false, he seemed
to blame the English for raiseing such false reports.
On the thirde day of Aprill last I having been abroade and
coming home late the night before, in the morning I went out