104 Letters to the Governor and Council

March 4

Whaland's Father Informed One of our Neighbours that he Let
him go at large sum time before he Came away if this practice is fol-
lowed no one will venture to take any of them up and send them
forward as they will be there to suffer for it, If I had Direction to go
into Somerset, I think I could apprehend him, he has lately robed a
Certain Thomas Reucker who I think would assist me to Trap him
A few nights ago. M^r Planner Williams was plundered of a great
part of his movable Property, by only nine men, who we have Reason
to believe ware all Islanders, and as long as they stay there, so long
that will Be the Case, there is not a week, that sum of our friends
are not robed by sum of those Retches under Color of Belonging to
the British Cruisers, whenever your Excellency & Council propose
to Remove the people and stock of the Islands should be Glad to
assist with all my heart as I consider them at this time the most
Dangerous Enemy we have to watch the Motions off — and am Cer-
tain if they Can do us no other Damage they will rob & Plunder all
they Can before they are removed.

February 20

[R. Stevens, Cambridge to Joseph Dashiell, Esq. Worcester Co.]

M^r Dashiel has applied here for some Cartouch Boxes & Gun
flints there was nothing Came here (as I understood by M^r Middle-
ton) but what was for the use of this County, Except some Lead
which was for Caroline County, Neither was there any Letter nor
Memorandum from the Governeur and Council to any Person here
Respecting the Articles sent.
NB. Should any come to hand shall take care of them

March 4

[George Dashiell, Som^t Co^ty to Gov. Lee.] (Fav^d by Mr. McBryde)

I am sorry to inform Your Excellency that it has become abso-
lutely necessary to call out a number of our Militia to protect us from
the ravages of the enemy sundry of the inhabitants of this county
within a few Days past have suffered much by parties either from
british Cruisers or the inhabitants of the largier Islands (tho' I be-
lieve the latter) as a number of them are well known by persons that
they have plundered. A detachm^t of thirty men is stationed con-
tiguous to Green Hill warehouse to prevent their plundering it of
the public tobacco a considerable quantity of which is deposited there
and should an attempt be made on that house I am apprehensive they
would succeed in it as I have not confidence in our Militia when
call'd out by Classes Salisbury is 12 miles distant from Greenhill
warehouse A place of Safety and houses sufficient for the reception
of the tobacco it may if Judged necessary be conveyed by water, and
will be attended with little expence and trouble, I have considered
it my duty to inform your Excellency of the danger which I appre-
hend there is of loosing it if not timely removed. Our Militia when