164 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1753-1761.

Lib. J. R.
& U. S.

October 1756. to a Soldier from the Garrison at Fort Cum-
berland.

p. 137

This Informant says that he is between 22 and 23 years
old, that he is a Roman Catholick, and was born of Roman
Catholic parents near Naaman's Creek and about ten Miles
from Marcus Hook in the province of Pensilvania, that ex-
cept about four years which he spent in the Jersies he always
resided in Pensilvania 'till August 1754. when he rambled
into this province to see the Country, and two or three Days
after he came hither he was employed by one James M^cDon-
ald an Irish Catholic in Baltimore County with whom he
worked for hire about a Month at Plantation Business, and
that he also boarded with him during that time that while
he lived with him M^cDonald carried him to a Romish
Chappie near Deer Creek where one Priest Neale officiated,
and that as they were returning M^cDonald told him that
he had heard at Chappie, that the Legislature was about to
make a Law to disarm the Catholics, prevent their going
to Mass, and to lay them under many severe Restraints as
the Catholics were in Ireland, that priest Neale afterwards
came to M^cDonalds while the Informant worked there to
christen his Child Susannah and that he happening to come
in from the ffield for some Drink just after the Ceremony
was bid to sit down by M^cDonald the Priest Thomas Burgen
and Darby Tool being also in the Room, that while this
Informant sat there, the priest told the rest of the Company
that a Body of ffrench had he heard attacked and defeated
Colonel Washington at a place called the Little Meadows
between Virginia and the Ohio, and that after killing a great
many of the English they had been merciful and generous
enough to let the rest retire & carry off their wounded though
they could easily have cut them all off without any Loss on
their Side, that the priest thence took Occasion to enlarge
much on the Power, Riches, Valour and Generosity of the
French Nation and said that he believed if the English had
been victorious, the ffrench would not have been treated with
such Lenity and Tenderness; that M^cDonald and Tool said
they believed it would be better for the Roman Catholics of
this province if it was subjected to the ffrench Government,
and asked M^r Neale what he thought of that Matter, that the
priest answered he did not know but it might, and said that
he thought any young people who had no Plantations or
ffamilies, would do well in going to the Settlements that the
ffrench were making to the Westward, and that he was per-
swaded they would be kindly received and well treated, the
Informant saith that this Discourse made such an Impression