South-Carolina, Charlestown District:
This day personally appeared before me, John Wanton, Captain of a sloop from Rhode-Island, who being duly sworn, sayeth, that on or about the twelfth of October last, he arrived in Rebellion Road, near Charlestown, in the Colony aforesaid, when Captain Thornbrough of the Tamer sloop of war, caused his vessel to anchor under his stern; and caused him, the said Deponent, to go on board the Cherokee, to speak with Lord William Campbell. That after the said Lord William Campbell had inquired into the Deponent's case, he told him, that by the late acts of parliament, his sloop was liable to be seized; and, that he should, in discharge of his duty, send him to St. Augustine; this Deponent apprehending, in order to be condemned. And afterwards, his mate informed him, that an officer from on board the Tamer privately acquainted him, the said mate, that Lord William Campbell had determined to send the Depenent's vessel to St. Augustine, in order to be condemned.
That the said Lord William Campbell, against the consent of the said Deponent, caused an armed force to be put on board his vessel, to conduct her to St. Augustine. That Lord William Campbell did not make him, the Deponent, a bearer of any letter to Governor Tonyn. That he, the Deponent, never did tell Lord William Campbell, that he had two landsmen on board; having in reality two good seamen and a boy, who were fully sufficient to guard his vessel. That on the passage towards St. Augustine, one Walker, who, by Lord William Campbell, was put on board his, the Deponent's vessel to command her, told him, the Deponent, that he had a letter from Lord William Campbell, to Governor Tonyn; with strict orders, that if he was in any danger of being taken by the Americans, he should be sure to sink the said letter in the sea, with cwo swivel bullets, which the said Deponent saw; and which, the said Walker told him, had been delivered to him for that purpose. And the said Walker also told him, the Deponent, that Lord William Campbell's Secretary had told him, that the letter was, to desire that soldiers should be sent to Charlestown from St. Augustine. And further this Deponent sayeth not.
Sworn before me, the 6th November 1775. Peter Bounetheau, J. P.
