[Worcester County, Maryland]
November the 30th 1775. Thomas Cluff of lawfull age being Sworn deposeth & saith that he went at a certain place geathering of Corn & that Levin Townsend sent for this Depont and when this Depont arivd a Wm B. Townsends, Levin Townsend ask'd this Depont if he did not want Salt, that if he did, provided he woud go with him he shou'd have it very reasonable, upon which this Depont agreed to go with sundry others down as far as the mouth of Pocomoke river upon which the said Levin Townsend administred an Oath to him to keep the matter Secret, but not finding any Salt this Depont & some others wanted to return, upon which the said Townsend confined them & that the said Levin Townsend & others went on shore where they kill'd a Beef whereupon they proceeded down to Norfolk & upon their arival [at] Norfolk the said Levin Townsend & Isaac Costin one of the Number went on board Lord Dunmore's Ship & some time after returned to this Depont & said Levin Townsend asked this Deponent & Company if they were willing to inlist under Govemour Dunmore, that if they wou'd they shou'd have a Suit of Regimentals a Gun a Gunea and a Crown entrance, with their standing pay: and that this Depont said he wou'd rather choose to go Home again & that said Townsand said you cannot return Home, for you will not be let return, you will be taken up & further told this Depont that if this Depont did not go up to the Standad in Norfolk the Governor woud most certainly detain him & this Depont. further saith that the afsd Levin Townsand came with an Officer who administred an Oath to him the Contents of which this Depont can't particularly recollect: and further saith that the said Levin Townsand was fitting out a small Vessell for a Tender & that said Levin Townsand told this Deponant that he intended to come up Pocomoke River in the Tender afsd and that a certain Edmond Scarborough of Virginia was to go to Pocomoke with as an Assistant & that the said Levin Townsand said that after he took a Cruize or two up the Bay in order to make some Prizes, he shou'd Lay his Vessell against the Cypresses in Pocomoke River and that he wou'd then seize the Committee of Worcester County whilst they were asleep in their Beds & convey them on board his Vessell, & then proceed down to the Govemour as quick as possible and this Depont further saith that when Levin Townsand was insisting on him to inlist under Governour Dunmore, William Bartlet Townsand press'd this Depont to do it; and told him (this Depont) that he cou'd not [know] any thing that was better for him & Very strongly recommended it to him, and the said Wm B. Townsand further told this Deponent he shou'd come up Pokomoke River in the Tender with his son Levin and this Depont further saith that thi[s] Levin Townsand desired this Depont and the others that returned with him to keep a look out on the Annamessis's Shore for his return to assist the said Levin in his Scheme, & further saith not.
The above Oath taken before, Joseph Dashiell