(  36 )       7ber 15^th . 1692
 
Their Maties                                                                             Thomas Williams being Called to the barr in
         Contra            }                                                   Court.  These twelve Evidences were Sworn on
Thomas Williams                                                          behalf of their Maties agt sd Williams. viz^tB
~  ~  ~  ~  ~   ~   ~                                                        Thomas: Evernden. Thomas Stockwell. Wm Reynolds
Michael: Williams & Patience his wife  Rozannah: Boyer. Wm. Tisdale. & Anne
his wife Andrew a Dutchman. Rebecca wife to Wm. Planner. Rebecca Stevens &
ffrances wife to Thomas: Williams C     & being Sworne upon y^e holy Evangelists
were with these following Depositions Sent up to the Grand Jury (upon their Oaths
attending with this indictment following. ______  - - - - - - -   _______   - - - - - - -
 
Somerset Sc. The Jurors for their Maties at a Grand Jury held for the body of this
County at Manokin the Second tuesday in Jan^ry last past being Sworn upon the holy
Evangelists, doe present, & find that Thomas Williams at Animessex & within y^e
Jurisdiction of this Court not having the fear of God before his eyes, but by the
Instigation of the devil, prompted by a wicked & abominable Lust with one Mary =
Berry heretofore of Evil fame & lacivious deportm^t. Sometime before the 15^th. in Decem^r
an^o Domi 1691. did Comitt that most horrible & abominable Sin of Adultery & on her
begatt a Basterd Child, w^ch in its own Nature is So odious & hatefull to God & Man that y^e
Law hath made the Crime Capital. but the Said Thomas: Williams not Satisfied with that
unlawfull act of it Self So heynious but at Animessex aforesd Some time before the
Said fifteenth of Decem^r as is abovesd, did wickedly & felloniously intice Seduce Conceal
& Contract, to & with the sd Mary Berry, to dispatch, kill & felloniously to murder y^e Said fruit
or Child of his & her bodies begotten, that it might not be known but Concealed from the
knowledge of all persons, the sd Thomas the Said Mary Berry did Clandestinly Convey into
a Tobacco house at y^e Plantacon of the sd Thomas, where togeather with the help of the sd
Thomas onely the Said Mary was delivered, the Child most barbarously & unhumanly murdered
& thrown to the hoggs in the peach Orchard to be devoured, not vouchsafing y^e Said Infant B
a grave, for fear of Suspicion, But God whose eyes Sees & tryes the secrets of all hearts and
actions, would not permit or Suffer So horrible & wicked a Sin to be Smothered or concealed
did miraculously bring the Same to light, by ffrances Williams, the wife of the Said Thomas
Williams, who upon the Said 15^th. day of December 1691. did openly publicly & to the parties  to
witt, the Said Thomas & Mary avouch & declare y^e Same at the house of Michael: Williams and
elsewhere. Now their Maties Atto^rney Comes & Sayes that the premises Considered & the heyniousness
of the Crime duely weighed, the Said Thomas Ought to Suffer the pains & punishments B