Proceedings of the council of Maryland, 1721. 375

    force Committed by David Evans of the Welch Tract upon Lib. X.

    his possession at Elk River and upon the Branches of a Back

    Creek issuing out of the same being sworn upon the holy

    Evangelist of Almighty God deposeth

      That sometime in July in the year of our Lord One thou

    sand seven hundred and twenty he made a purchase of a tract

    of Land Called Green Meadows Containing One hundred and

    sixty two Acres Located as above from a certain Alexander

    Frazier and was thereof legally possessed upon the Surrender

    of the premises to him by Barbara the Relict of David Perry

    the first planter on the said Land who lived under the Mary

    land Govt and paid tax thereto who by herself and late Hus

    band had lived in the quiet Possession thereof for more than

    sixteen years he further deposeth that being in such Manner

    in Lawfull possession of the premises aforesd he received a

    Letter Sometime in December last from Colo John French of

    New Castle upon Deleware importing that he desired to speak

    with this Deponent at Christina Mills near New Castle

    Whereupon this Deponent went immediately there to know

    the Occasion of this Message Colo Franch thereupon told him

    that a Complaint was made against him by Mr David Evans

    one of the Justices and a Ioint purchaser with William Davis

    of the Welch Tract that he this dept was seated upon some part

    of the Welch Tract aforesaid and that if it were true then that

    he this deponent Could not hold it but that if he were out of

    the Circular Line Adam said he you have the best title to it

    of any Body that J know however replied he again Mr Evans

    and I will Consider further of it and would send him their

    Answer within two or three days but at the same time told 23

    this Deponent that he would advise him this Deponent mean

    ing that if he were within their Circular Line (that is the

    twelve miles Circle about New Castle) he had best go of, for

    the first Loss would be the Least, this Deponent further saith

    that within some small time after he received another Letter

    from Col French aforesaid informing that he and Mr Evans

    had Considered of the thing and that this Deponents planta

    tion lay as Mr Evans told him within the welch Tract and

    further advised this deponent as a Friend to go of quietly or

    else must prove that his said plantation lay in Maryland for

    that he must prove the one or loose the Other

      This Deponent further saith he having Communication with

    Colo John French at sundry times afterwards the said Colo

    John French told this deponent that the best thing he could

    advise him to, was, to leave the plantation aforesaid, however

    notwithstanding these threats he this deponent persisted in

    maintaining and in proving his possession aforesaid by plow

    ing in English Grain by getting Timber for Building a Logg