Charlotte County to wit

John Chatforth Iate of Yorkshire in old England duly sworn deposeth & saith that he went from Squire Gilleland's Patent to St Johns about the first of May last, where he has been since employed in fanning ー that his Father and Mother live there ー that he procured a Pass from Major [Charles] Preston to come from St Johns to Mr Gillelands to Harvest, and accordingly left that Place the 21t July ー that at that Time there were about four Hundred and sixty regular Troops there ー But no Canadians except, two Indian Interpreters, and about Half a Dozen hauling Picketts for the Fortification ー that there are between thirty & forty Indians there, some of them of the Coynawagas, and some of the Mepassagas who go out for Spies ー that this Deponent believes their Orders are not to pass the Line, but cannot tell whether they would act agt the Colonies if required ー did not hear that Genl. [Guy] Carlton was inlisting any Canadians ー was informed by Mr [John] Duguid that there were some Indians at Montreal, but does not know certainly as he never was there ー that he this Deponent had heard the Canadians say they wish to remain neutral ー that the Fortification at St Johns is a Fort with a double Row of Picketts and the largest Picketts of it are as big as a Man's Thigh ー that there are Trenches on the Out Side, and a Breast Work on the Inside of the Picketts ー that they intend to let Water from the Lake into the Trenches ー that he was not allowed to go into the Fort, but supposes it to contain about an Acre of Ground, believes they have about eight or ten Guns mounted, Mortars included and are preparing to mount more, as they have more Embrazures for them ー that the Fort is square and without Bastions ー that there is another Fortification to the Northward of the one described, and like it on which no Cannon are mounted ー that the Timber ready framed was hauling by the Canadians from Chamblee when he left St Johns for building two Shooners, one of which is to be of fifty four Feet Keel, & the other of fifty five ー that the Timber belonged to Mr Bell and was seized by the Regulars at Chamblee ー that Provisions in Canada were veiy scarce, and that Flour was the most so ー that this Deponent saw no Boats at St Johns except two small Batteaus, and did not hear of their having any more elsewhere ー that more regular Troops were expected in Canada, which News they heard from Quebec ー that he cannot tell what other Troops are in Canada, but that there are some at Chamblee, tho he cannot tell their Number ー he knows John Duguid who was a Cooper at St Johns employed by the Commissary ー that the Schooners were coming up the Lake as soon as they were finished ー that he this Deponent lived better than Half a Mile from the Fort ー that he has not lately seen any Provisions come to St Johns & all that are brought must pass by his Door ー that he saw the two Men who were taken with the Indian Boy and believes they were sent to Montreal ー that he does not suppose the Canadians would take it ill if the Colony Troops were to pass the Line ー that he heard & believes there were about three Thousand People assembled at Chamblee to defend themselves agt being forced to take up Arms, who did not continue together above two or three Days, but he cannot tell in what Manner they were dispersed ー that the Canadians have Arms but no Ammunition ー that the regular Troops declared that when they came up the Lake they would destroy Squire Gilleland's Settlement, and further saith notー

Sworn this 2d Day of August 1775 before me Ph. Schuyler ー Judge.

[Endorsed] The Above Deposition was taken from the Mouth of the Deponent in the Presence of Genl Schuyler, Col. [Benjamin] Hinman, Col. [Samuel] Motte, &Major [Joseph] Welch, by

John Macpherson.

[Endorsed] Read in Congress Sepr 13th 1775.