Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 177

    Mason in yor Exncys Governmt the name of the person who Lib. H. D

    Gave him an Accot of the Indians.

      The honrble Coll: John Addison & Capt Richd Brightwell are

    to give Capt Mason an ACCOt from time to time of any thing

    that please God shall happen in those parts concerning the

    Indians, which they are to doe by Ordr of

                             Yor Exncys humble Servt

      The Deposition of Capt Ebenezar Blackiston of Ccecill

    County Aged fforty Seaven years or thereabouts.

                    This Depont Saith

    Mr Blackistons Deposit: That being at Coll: ffitzhughs House in Stafford

    in relacon County in his Mats Colony of Virga on or about

    to Indians. the 8th of this Instant Iuly, he heard it Reported

    tht there were about Ten Indians at Capt Brents House which

    had got in drink & were troublesome, insomuch tht he

    Comanded their Arms to be delivered him up; ffive whereof

    Surrendered to him accordingly, but 3 more tht had also

    Arms, would not part with them but made their escape; That

    the Next Day the sd Indians marcht to a House about two

    miles below the sd Capt Brents where they assaulted &

    wounded a mans wife & ffour Small Children in dangerous

    manner.

      That this Depont went himself from Coll ffitzhugh's to the

    sd House (being about Ten miles distance) for to know the

    Certainty; where he see the Woman and discoursed her, who

    inform'd him that as she was washing of butter at the Spring,

    there Came two Indians up to her and she Striving to get

    over a ffence to make her Escape, they knockt her down, but

    was not sensible what they did to her afterwards. That when

    she Came to her Self she felt her breast very Sore and her

    Scalp all taken off except a little hair left on her forhead.

    That he discoursed Doctor Tanckardson, who has her under

    Care, who says tht her right breast has been ript up by the

    Indians with a knife insomuch tht when he Came to dress it,

    the wind puft out like a pair of Bellowes.

      That the Womans eldest daughter lyes dangerously

    wounded and is thought will not live. That the Neighbours p. 78

    have got three of her other Children, which they Report are

    also wounded, but not mortally.

      And this Depont further says tht it is Reported the sd

    Indians at the Same time carryed away with them from the

    House a large pewter dish and some other Small things.

      That the people of Virga doe believe these things will be

    the forerunner of a Warr; but that they begun their business

    to soon. That it is comonly discoursed among the Virgas

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