of the Council of Maryland. 169

panics of the Towns Militia composed of all ranks of People by
Trade or rather Art, high Varnishers of Coaches Charriots &^o and
all sorts of mahogany furniture in Gentlemens houses where I

was employ'd until the last and this summer in which opacc of time

His Excell: John Rutledge Governor of the State of South Caro-
lina which His Excell^y Thomas Bee, Lieut^d Governor of the said
State well knows emploied me for the use of the Public to examine
in the interior parts of the States of South and North Carolinas
different sorts of Ores as Lead, Copper, Silver &^c in which I was
very successfull in finding two very rich Silver mines besides Lead
and Copper Mines containing a good portion of Gold and Silver,
And as my Pass was no further limited than the aforesaid States
dated the 27^th of Feb^ry 1780 at Charlestown the same day I left it
and went up into the back woods of North Carolina where I was
near 2 months and was Returning home to give His Excell: an
account of my Success I was credibly informed at a 770 miles
distance from Town that the Enemies took possession of it, and
that His Excell: was at Campden so I was resolved to follow Him
but could not overtake him, where I was informed he left the place
12 days ago, in this extremity I was resolved to follow to Phila-
delphia as I was not willing to join the Enemies in Charlestown
having taken the oath of Allegiance and Fidelity in the year 1778
the 15 of April then proceeded through Virginia till I came to Old-
town in Washington County still in searching of mines where I was
taken up by James Praetor brother to Charles Prastor a Justice as
a Spy for no other reason than the writing I had about me which
are the Mens names in different place that knows of mines which I
could not possibly retain in my memory those they were pleas'd to
call Torys Cap^t Richard Davis son To Colonel Davis without the
least provocation knocked two of my Teeth out after I was a
prisoner, handcuffed me and took down to Hagerstown where I
was threatned to be hang'd or put in Goal and other threatning
speeches, if I do not inlist during War and so was compell'd against
Law to submit, being a stranger and a man of 57 years of age dim
sighted that can not properly distinguish an object at a distance of
60 or 70 yards and received no more than £300 I humbly pray Your
Excellency and the Hon^ble Gentlemen of the Council to take my
cause into consideration to grant me a Discharge or a Furlow to
go to Philadelphia where I must give an account to Their Excel-
lencys the Delegates for the State of South Carolina or His Excell^s
Lieut^t Governor Bee of my success
I am with the utmost respect Your Excellencies and the Hon'ble
Gentlemen of the council and devoted servant.

November 7
Red Book
No. 28
Letter
No. 86