of the Council of Maryland. 105

Before he was sold over the Bay I knew him & many of his
Crimes, he would Lab^r for no person neither would he stay any
where but where he thought fitt & has often Engaged & Endeavoured
to murder white men in opposing him or Trying to Take him up ;
no place of Confinement would hold him in fact he Exceeded any
human being I have heard of as a Villian; I have as well as many
others threatened to shoot him but have not had an opportunity;
in short no person or property was safe where he had a Design he
has Corrupted many other Slaves & I Believe he has been En-
ouraged to Distress the whigs by the Torys; I therefore hope when
your Excellency & Hon^ble Council sees & Considers the Depositions
& Circumstances attending this matter that you will prevent any
Cost or Damage to Col^o Selby on ace' of his pursuing Negro Argil
from Virginia into this County Taking him & Executing him here ;
Col^o Selby has Ever manifested his attachment to our Cause and
Government & has acted with Great Zeal & Vigour & Done more
Service in quelling the Torys in Somerset & Worcester Countys
than any other officer which Service Doth Cause the Disaffected
now to seek Revenge of him & I am convinced if any proceedings
were Executed by Our State against Col^o Selby for hanging such a
negro Villian that it would be productive of Confusion & Bloodshed
Between this County & Accomack
The Deposition of M^r William Bell of accomack County Virginia
who being by me Duly Sworn Deposeth and saith that some time in
August Last this Deponent met Negro Argil in the Road who has
since been Hanged by Col William Selby of Virginia, & this De-
ponent qestion^d the said negro about Resisting M^r Daniel Robins
at which Time he told this Deponent that he would not be Taken or
molested by any person but if they would Let him alone he would
not concern with any one & further saith not
Taken before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the peace
for Worcester County this 4^th Day of Sept^r 1780 N. Holland
The Deposition of M^r Daniel Robins of Worcester County w^ch
being by me Duly sworn Deposeth and saith that some time in July
or August Last this Deponent saw Negro Argil who has been
hanged since by Col^o William Selby of Virginia which negro was
near the Roadside Talking with another negro and this Deponent
then question^d him if his name was not argil which name he Deny^d
& said he was a free man this Deponent then order^d him to the
House then nigh & made an attempt to strike him with a Cane on
his Refusing to go with him & the said Negro got a fence stake &
swore that if he Touched him that he would kill this Deponent &
this Deponent Recollecting that he had heard that the said negro
Had kill^d his overseer on the western shore he Declin^d Taking him
up; Just after the above happen^d Same M^r Abraham Sturgis Riding
up & this Deponent told the said Sturgis that the said Argil was

September
16