356 Letters to the Governor and Council

July 18
Red Book
No. 26
Letter 116

He was acting in the Enemys Barges when they murder'd Burn'd
& Plunder'd Particularly at Lower Marlbro the 8^th Day of Ap^l last,
He was also a Principal man, at the taking of several Vessels Loaded
with Tob^o in the mouth of Patux^t in December last besides what is
mention'd in Your Excellency's Letter to me on that Subject. He
Has also traveled through the Country under two Names, & Different
pretences & told various falsehoods & shew'd a Commission from
the Enemy &c &c.
M^r John Mackall a Majestrate of S^t Marys I think Deserves Cen-
sure. His administring the Oath of Allegiance, & Granting a Cer-
tificate to Anderson, Gave Colour for His application to Col^o Barnes,
whom I am willing to suppose, was Influenc'd only, by that Plausable
Appearance of His being a Good Subject, to Grant Him a Pass &
Give Him the Letter which He carried to your Excellency. These
several Circumstances together, Occasion'd His Passing thro this
County without Interruption — & had He not spoke freely to Heath-
man & Ogg, in Confidence of security, having restor'd to them their
Vessell, w^th a Complement of Salt, & they afterwards Devulg'd it,
so that it came to Capt. Yellot, who was going Immediately to An-
napolis, He Anderson, might probably have PasS^td unmolested to
the Enemys Lines at New York. Magistrates & Officers Ought to
be Extreamly Caution to whom they administer Oaths, or Grant
Passes; otherwise, whatever Laws may be Enacted, it will be very
Difficult, Nay almost Impossible, to Detect Traitors & Spies when
Passing thro: the Country, as I believe they frequently have Done
without the least Notice.
I am much obliged to your Excellency for the Current Inteligence,
& heartily wish for a Confirmation of the Defeat of the Brittish
Fleet in the West Indies. I am in Pain for General Greens Army
tho I am willing to flatter myself that the report of His retreat from
Fort Ninety six is of Torie Fabrication. I cou'd likewise wish that
the report respecting the Defeat of General Waine with a Detach-
ment of the Marquesses Army may be false, tho I have my fears that
Part is true.
M^rs Fitzhugh & my son William join w^th me in respectful Compl^ts
to you your Lady & Family

July 16
Red Book
No. 26
Letter 117

Calvert County, The Deposition of Thomas Heathman aged about
thirty six years being duly sworn on the holy Evangels of Almighty
God deposeth & saidth That on Friday 29^th June last he fell in Com-
pany with a Man at Hunting Town who called himself Anderson
dressed in a country Cotten kersey coat light sandy hair grey eyes and

being asked by Col Joseph Wilkinson if he ever saw this person

before & where. The deponents answers he believes him to be same
person that captured him in Patuxent River a few days before
Christmas last as one of Ridley's Crew in a Barge, That he told