( 203 )   March 17^th 1692/3
The defend^t pleads not guilty & puts him Self upon the  Court.  Ja: Sangster
and the plt also. J. Strawbridge.
Declaration being read and the four Evidences Sworne for the plt.  viz Geo:Benson & Anne
his Wife. Roger Burkam. & Sam: Worthington. ____  The wor^ll. Court having Considered the
premises do give their judgment according to Declaracon als Executo //  7 hides & 3 p^re Shoes.
w^th Cost
~       ~        ~        ~        ~        ~        ~                ~         ~        ~       ~        ~         ~       ~
John Rowell Plt                                 Somerset County Ss//
        Contra                                         }          Wm: Matthews of this County Planter was attached to answer
Wm: Matthews. Dft                          unto John: Rowell of the Same County Cordwinder in a plea
~     ~      ~       ~     ~                           of trespass upon the Case. _____ And whereupon the Said
John:Rowell by John:Strawbridge his Attorney Complaineth
And Saith that whereas the Said William:Matthews in or about the 15^th day of June an^o.Domini
1691. at Morumscoe within the Jurisdiction of this Court Came to the Plantacon of the Said
John:Rowell (in the absence of the Said John:Rowell) Came Craftily deceitfully cuningly
& deceatfully Cheatingly to Margaret y^e wife of the said John:Rowell under y^e Colour and
pretence of friendshipp & and told the sd Marg^t. Rowell that he would & Could doe her A
kindness in the absence of her husband, that with her Consent, he the Said Matthews would
marke Seaven young Catle of the Said John:Rowells goods, that was unmarked in his own
Name & marke, and that to Doe her the said Marg^t. a kindness, he would Save & keep them -
from any other Credito^rs for the use of her the Said Marg^t. and her Children, notwithstanding
the Said Wm: Matthews after he had the Consent of the Said Margett:Rowell to marke the said 7
young Catle in his own name & marke which he did accordingly, and was to leave the said
Catle upon the Plantation of the Said Rowell for the use of the Said Marg^t. He the Said Wm.
Matthews did with in four months or thereabouts after did takeaway the foresd Catle from
off the Plantacon of the Said John:Rowell, & did Convert & dispose of the foresd 7 young
Catle to the use of him the Said Wm:Matthews the sd 7 head of young Catle was valued to
1600 pounds of Merchantable tobacco, together with one Iron pestell, two bushels of Indian Corne
& one bushel & a half of wheat, which the Said Wm Matthews keeps & detains from the said
John: Rowell, the Pestell Corn & wheat is valued at 240^;b: to tob in all the abovesd acco^ts Coms
to 1840^lb tob. as p^r acco^t  here produced in Court more plainly may appear all the abovesaid p^tticula^rs
the Said Wm:Matthews doth unjustly      -bly & fraudulently keep & detain from the said
John Rowlell Contrary to all Law, equity (     ) of Reason or any authority, order of Court
or Magistrate, to the utter ruin & undoing of y^e sd Jn^o. Rowell wife Children & poore family
so that the plt John Rowell is (much) hurt in mind & made worse in Estate, So that he is damnified
& hath damage to the value of three thousand Six hundred & eighty pounds of C