356 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1769-1770.

Lib. C. B.

No. 20

Wives. In the mean time W Wright's Wife came in and asked
me for a Night's Quarters with that the Women went away
and in a short time after I took my leave of Squire Lee, as I
went by the Jail Doncastle asked me if I had any Meat and
Bread in my Pocket for they were starving alive, when I came
home I was mentioning to M^r Harrison and M^r Wright what
Doncastle said and they both said they were very sure there
was no starving there for they saw a great Quantity of Meat
and Bread carried to the Jail that Evening. The Prisoners'
Wives and Wright's Mother often lodged at my House and
they all said there was afterwards great plenty of Good Pro-
visions And this Deponent further saith that Wright's Mother
was often complaining of her son's undutiful Behaviour to
her, and said her son wanted her to make over her Land to
him which was the only Support she had but she said she
would be very Cautious of doing that and further said with
Tears in her Eyes if she did he would use her with no better
Treatment than he formerly did for he had often times taken
her by the Throat and Choaked her till she fell down and then
he would call her a Damn'd Bitch and say that if she was not
his Mother how he would use her. I have heard his Mother's
Neighbours say she was a very honest worthy Woman, and

p. 103

especially M^rs Brooke says she is a very honest well meaning
Woman And this Deponent further saith that she told him her
son was a very Profligate Idle Body And this Deponent
further saith that Doncastle came to his House after he was
released from Jail and abused the Squire's Family in a very
Gross manner at the same time he agreed with one of the
Deponent's Sons to carry him to Bryan Town the next day
after he was at his House notwithstanding his Abuse of Squire
Lee's Family M^r Robert Young a Merchant at Benedict told
the Deponent that he saw Doncastle a few days after he was at
my House and that he extolled Squire Lee very much at which
he was very much Surprized for he ( M^r Young) was very well
acquainted with Doncastle and that he had before always
heard him exclaim against all Mankind but he did not think it
worth any Gentleman's while to mind his Abuse. This Depo-
nent further saith that Doncastle complained very much that
the Pork Stunk and was not fit to eat and the Deponent says
he was at Squire Lee's twice and M^rs Lee desired him to inspect
the Pork that was for the Prisoners' Dinners and he says he
cut very Deep into the Pork and it was as Sweet as ever he
tasted in his Life And the Deponent says that when Squire
Lee went to attend the Council he went with him as far as
Aliens Fresh and 'Squire told him he would take it as a
favour if M^rs Lee should want fresh Provisions for the Pris-