672 Appendix.

1781
May 29

was absent at the same time. As to the second charge exhibited
against the said Brereton, saith that the said Brereton was not a Sen-
tinel at the time that Bloodsworth made his escape, and further saith
not.
Martin Bowles of Lawful age being sworn saith that on the evening
of the 29^th day of May Lieut. Ephraim Stevens called upon the men
under his command to turn out immediately and endeavour to retake
Bloodsworth the prisoner who had made his escape and also to take
John Brereton one of the men under his command who was missing
at the same time; that this deponent accordingly turned out with the
men, and after searching and not finding the prisoner & the said
Brereton, the officer detached this deponent with William McClemmy
John Polk & Thomas Caton to intercept the said Bloodsworth and
John Brereton, accordingly they crossed Wicomico Creek and posted
themselves by the side of the road near M^r Thomas Holbrook's
plantation and in the night after the moon was down, they saw two
men coming towards them, when they were within a few yards, they
challenged & ordered the two men to surrender, immediately Bloods-
worth halted and presented his piece at them and flashed, and this
deponeth & the others that were with him discharged their musquets,
upon hearing some persons Jump over the ditch they went towards
the place and said you infernal buggers surrender or we'll put you to
death, upon which John Brereton cried out for Gods sake not to shoot
him, and instantly arose out of a field of wheat, and came to them
with his cartridge Box, they called upon him for the Bayonet, but he
denied that he had it, and said that Bloodsworth snatched his musquet
out of his hand at the time he went out with him, and said if he the
said Brereton did not go with him, he would blow him through. After
they travelled some distance Brereton confessed that he had the
Bayonet, and it was where he lay, and said that he was afraid if he
acknolwedged that he had the Bayonet, they would put him to death.
And further saith not
William McClemmy of Lawful age being sworn saith that John
Brereton was not a Sentinel on duty at the time when Bloodsworth
made his escape; this deponent being one of the detachment that
was sent to intercept the prisoner & John Brereton who had left the
said detachment, and in M^r Holbrook's lane he saw two men, whom
he supposed to be the men he was in pursuit of, upon which he chal-
lenged 'em to surrender & one of 'em presented his piece & flashed,
instantly this deponent & his party fired at the two men then in view,
he heard one or both of 'em Jump over a ditch, immediately this
deponent and one of his party went to the place and said if he did not
come out, if he this deponent found him he would put him to death,
upon which the said Brereton arose out of a Wheat field and surren-
dered himself, and confessed to this deponent that Bloodsworth had
snatched his musquet from him, and that it was against his will he