The Deposition of Amos Hilton Commander of the Schooner Hope from Jamaica bound & intended to Newport of lawful age testifies & says that being about half way between Block Island & the main some of the people acquainted me that two boats were rowing towards & looking with the Glass I found them to be two whale boats. they coming up and firing two swivel Guns at us, we striking to the two boats,¹ when I directly discovered another boat who came along Side of us in about half of an Hour before which time the two abovementioned boats had ordered the Schooner to the westward—

Question asked the Deponent by M^r. Elisha Champlin—part owner of the last boat—Whether the Schooner could not have been taken by small arms?—Answer. yes.

Question asked the Deponent by Samuel Segar one of the owners of the last mentioned boat—How far off he thought the third boat was when he saw her first? Answer. between two & three miles. 

Question by the abovementioned Champlain—Whether the third Boat put any hands on board the Schooner or not?—Answer I do suppose there was 

Question by Cap^t. Brooks & Cap^t. Griffin—Whether he surrendered his Vessel to these two Boats before he saw the third boat?—Answer. Yes. 

Hartford County Ss Chatham [Conn.] 11^th. June AD. 1778.

Personally appeared Amos Hilton commander of the Schooner Hope & made solemn Oath to the truth of the above written Deposition & Answers before me 

The above Deposition was taken at the Desire & in presence of Cap^ts Griffin & Brooks as also M^r. Champlain & M^r Segar owners of the boat called the third boat—The Deponent being about to set out on a journey to Salem in the State of the Massachusetts Bay where it is said he belong^d— 

E. White Just^e. Pac^s

Opened in Special County Court at Hartford July 14. 1778. 

By George Wyllys Regest^r. of s^d. Court 
A true Copy as on file 
examind 

By George Wyllys Regest^r.