No 1

November the 16th 1775. The Deposition of Edward Pettitt being of full Age deposeth and Saith that he lay at Josiah Robins's the last night & waking before day about an hour (as he apprehended) he heard some Person come to the house on which Mr Robins got up and asked him to set down by the fire upon which he heard the said Robins and the Person then come talking but did not give Attention, 'till he heard the said Robins say talk easy Pettitt is up Stairs upon which this Deponant got up and went down immediately and ask'd who had been there so early & Robins said Benjamin Butler, this Deponant said he was early, Robins said he only came on an Errand and was gone & said he was afraid the Horses were in the Field & went out hastily, upon which the said Pettitt told him if he wou'd drive them up his Horse wou'd follow & then went to one of the Neighbours, when he came back said Robins was gone, he then ask'd Mrs Robins where her Husband was, She was slow in answering 'till she sent the Boys out & then told this deponant that her Husband was gone to Wm Barclay Townsand's; that Levin Townsand had been on Board the Man of War & brought Powder & Shott enough to his Fathers & what they call'd Torys were all meeting in order to have it delivered, as it wou'd not be safe to keep it in one Place, and when they had divided the same they were to give the Man of War notice and he was to send up to their Assistance that the matter might be put an End to, in a short time; sometime between this and Christmass.

Taken before John Selby