East Greenwich 19th Decr 1775
Governour Cooke
Inclosed you will Recieve the Evidence of one Parker Relating the Transactions of Some of the People in Newport I am very much Surprised that So much pains is Taken to Secure the Town of Newport and the Towns on the Continuant Lef[t] out I wish you and the Rest of the People Concern'd May Not make a Seperate Bargain with that Enverite Enimy Wallis without Taking in all The Town in this Colony ー only Give your Self a moment Time to Think of the Condition of many Famelies in the Colony now Stript from Every Comfut of Life and Exist only by the Charity of the People where Evir they fall in, that if Wallis is at Peace with Newport he in mene Time may Ravige the other Part of the Colony Which I Humbly Conceive will Not be Borne with wth the Suffering People in the other Parts of the Colony I am Sir [&c.]
Job Hawkins
[Enclosure]
Dec. 19, 1775.
The Deposition of James Parker of Southkingstown in the County of Kings County, Taylor, of Lawful Age and Engaged according To Law Testifieth and Saith, That I was a Minite man Inlisted on Capt Saml Babcocks Company upon my Passage from Stoningtown Harbour to Block Island about the Middle of September Last Past I was Pressed by Capt Inglish Commander of the Tender Called the Kingfisher, and Carried into Newport Harbour and Turned over on board, the Swan, James Askough Commander, and from thence went Round to Boston in the Same Vessel and then Returned back to Newport again, and Since we Returned to Newport I Have often Seen Aran Lopas, George Gibbs & Samuel Fowler Come on board the Swan in the Evening of Dark Nights and would stay till about three or four oClock in the Morning and then would Go on Shore Privately and when they was on board Capt Wallace Yoused to be on board the Swan with them and further Say That one William Naps Corwainder yoused to Come on board the Swan in the Night Season and bring Sheep and beef on board said Ship, Sometimes Turkeys Geese Turnips Milk and Sundry other Things for a supply of the People, and have Several Times Seen John Martin Now Deceased on board both by Day and Night and further Saith Not ー
James Parker
[Endorsed] Kent ss East Greenwich December the 19th A D 1775
Personally appeared the above subscriber James Parker and Made Solemn Oath To the Truth of the above Deposition Before
H. Cooke Just Peace
1. "Revolutionary Correspondence of Governor Nicholas Cooke," Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, New Series, XXXVI, 296-97. Hereafter cited as "Nicholas Cooke Correspondence," AAS Proceedings.
