(Copy)
City of New York Ss

Joshua How, Samuel Thompson and Bodwell Hews being severally and duly sworn upon the holy Evanglist of Almighty God depose and say, that on or about the 12th of July last, they were each of them at a place called the New Slip in New York and observed a Barge belonging to the Asia Man of War come up the Slip and it being proposed to take the Barge and Crew, Ensign [Edward] Tyley [Tilley] opposed it, telling the People there had been no Orders from the General nor from the Congress for any such thing, and advised them, not to meddle with the Barge or her people unkss in their own defence, if attacked, but not being able to prevent it, he with his little party secured the Barge's People and conducted them up to General [David] Wooster and soon returned being joined by a larger party with Orders, to see the Barge put into the water again and all the Arms and every thing belonging to her replaced ー With much difficulty he got the Barge into the water & then left her & was not present when the Barge was burned.

Sworn this 23d of Septr 1775 Before me Bⁿ Blagge Justice of the Peace