Declaration of William Spear, Massachusetts Navy, June 9, 1778

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Boston June the 9 1778.

I William Spear, Mariner, of Lawfull age Testify and say that I heard Lieutenant Walter Hach,¹ of the Brigantine Hazard Captain Simeon Sampson Commander, Say that the Devil had got into the people in the hole, and he very Well knew that the time was up and the men was sickly And that they ought to go home and Likewise that He hop'd the affair, meaning the Round Robin, would Have an affect Moreover the men he had ingage'd thier time was up. Say it was but five months.

William Spear.

Mass. State
Suff. County	Boston June 9^th. 1778
	William Spear made Oath to the Truth of the foregoing Declaration by him subscribed, Before me, Sam^l. Pemberton, Just. Peace

DS, M-Ar, Mass. Archives Collection, vol. 168 (Revolution Council Papers, 1777–1778), fol. 423. This declaration is followed by declarations of some of the other signers of the "Round Robin," a seaman's petition for redress of grievances, including, Charles Dyer, Nathaniel Arnold, Peter Cunningham, Thomas Richard, James Sloan, James Piper, James Howel and Thomas McCann. DS, M-Ar, Mass. Archives Collection, vol. 168 (Revolution Council Papers, 1777–1778), fols. 424–26.

1. Lt. Walter Hatch, second lieutenant of Massachusetts Navy brigantine Hazard.

Document Information

Date

1778 June 9

Volume

Volume 13

Series

American Theater, June 1 to August 15, 1778