Mr. Purdie,
You will be pleased, through your paper, to return capt. Squires, of his majesty's ship Otter, my warmest thanks for his very kind hospital treatment of my two slaves Aaron and Johnny, from the county of King and Queen, during their stay on board his ship. The publick may be informed, that upon notice given me that they were on board, I applied by my overseer on wednesday last, through mr. [Andrew] Sprowle, and obtained leave to search for them; but as the captain had taken them upon a cruise, they were not then to be found. Providentially, however, on saturday evening, during the gust, a tender was drove on our shore, upon Back river, commanded by Matthew Squires, esq; in which came on shore the two fellows above-mentioned, with a number of other people, who immediately ran off into the woods. On sunday morning, two of my neighbours brought into me Aaron, taken up near the wreck; and in the evening, Johnny was delivered me from the captain's division. I herewith send you some depositions, taken in the presence of gentlemen of reputation in town, which I beg the favour of you to publish in your next paper. The originals may be seen at any time.
Hampton, September 4, 1775.
[First enclosure]
The deposition of Archibald Campbell and Angus Fisher, being of lawful age, depose and say, that on the 24th of August last they were impressed from the ship Thomas, James Crawford master, and put on board a tender belonging to the Otter sloop of war, Matthew Squires, esq; commander; and when they went on board the tender, there were three negro men, and one mulatto, two of which (Aaron and Johnny, since taken) are claimed by Wilson Miles Cary, esq; and are the same negroes that came on board the tender. The mulatto man, named Joe Harris, escaped from the tender after she was cast away, and appears to be the property of mr. Henry King of Hampton. And these deponents farther say not.
Archibald Campbell.
his
Angus X Fisher.
mark
Elizabeth City, ss. SWORN to before us, September 4, 1775.
Walter M'Clurg.
Henry King.
[Second enclosure]
The deposition of George Gray, gunner of the sloop Otter, being of lawful age, deposeth and sayeth, that between six and eight weeks ago, while the Otter sloop of war, commanded by Matthew Squires, esq; lay in York river, there came on board the said sloop two negroes, Aaron and Johnny, who have been employed by capt. Squires, and were cast away in a tender with the said Squires on saturday the 2d of this instant. They have been since claimed by Wilson Miles Cary, esq; and are the same negroes that were on board the Otter sloop of war. ー This deponent farther sayeth, that about a month ago, a small mulatto man, by the name of Joe Harris, came on board the said sloop of war, who he believes was entered on the ship's books, and has been employed by capt. Squires on board the tender as pilot; he was in the tender with capt. Squires when cast away, the 2d instant. And farther this deponent sayeth not.
George Gray.
Elizabeth City ss. SWORN to before us, September 4, 1775.
Walter M'Clurg.
Henry King.
