434 Appendix.
sel after Sun sett, found she had broke Bulk and was then dis-
charging her Cargoe, that then enquiring if the Captain was on
Board was informed he was, but when as this Deponant believes
the Capt.n understood the Kings' Officer was on Board no Person
then would confess himself to be Capt.n, but a Person whom this
Deponant believed to be the Capt.n invited Mr Morton and this
Deponant into the Cabbin and upon M.r Mortons Asking him how
he came to break Bulk without making an Entry, said he was not
then Capt. but had been a Master of a Vessel for 17 or 18 yrs,
and that he knew his Duty & was always willing to pay his Respects
to a Custom House Officer, M.r Morton then Asked him if he did
not know that his Sloop and Cargoe was forfeited by breaking Bulk
without an Entry—he confessed it was so, M.r Morton then Asked
how he could do so he said that M.r Purlviance (to whom the Sloop
was Consigned) Ordered the Small Craft alongside, and desired him
to Break Bulk and pay no Regard to any King's Officer whatever,
M.r Morten then desired that the Capt should come to him the next
Morning and the Person whom this Deponant verily believes to be
Capt.n said he should—but he did not come—that M.r Morton the
Day following sett off for Anna[polis].—That on or about the 30.th
of April an advertisement Appeared in Consequence of a Seizure
made on the Sloop afsd intimating that a Reward of one hundred
Dollars would be given for Apprehending this Deponant—that this
Deponant Apprehending every means would be taken in order to
Punish him for merely doing his Duty in the Capacity afsd, and fear-
ing his Life was in danger from a lawless Mob—was Compelled to
fly from his Home and take Shelter in the woods adjoining Bait.
Town—That a certain Henry Thompson, went to one Ja.s Morgans
House to enquire after this Deponant & then declared that if he
could find him this Deponant his Life Should be taken from him,
if there was not another Man in America, that M.r Morgan then
gave this Deponant Intelligence of his Danger, and requested he
would keep out of the way—that during the time of this Deponants
being in the Woods he heard three 3 Guns Fired on Board of Thomp-
son's Brig, and which he understood to be the Signal for the Mob
to Rise—that Capt. Tho.s Elliott and many others not known to this
Deponant was then in the woods in Pursuit of him, and that he
verily believes if they had found him this Deponant his Life would
have been taken from him & further saith not...
John McMechan [sic]
The aforegoing Deposition sworn to this tenth Day of May 1773
before Us the Subscribers two of the Right Honourable the Lord
Proprietary of the Province of Maryland his Justices of the Peace
for Ann Arundel County.
R Ghiselin
Wm Steuart
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