Maryland sst

Came before the Subscriber one of the Lords Proprietary his Justices of the Provincial Court Robert Stratford Byrne, Surveyor of His Majesty's Customs for Sassafras & Bohemia, and made Oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God, that on Thursday the Second Day of March, last being in Kent County Maryland on the great Road leading to Duck Creek in Pensylvania, he this Deponent fell in with two loaded Waggons, upon enquiring from whence they came and Destination was informed by one of the Drivers they belonged to Duck Creek and that their Loading consisted chiefly in Rum, Sugar, Coffee, a Drum, Colours, two Boxes of piece Goods &ca. chiefly the property of Messrs Lorain, Bolton & Anderson of Chester Town  That after enquiring of the Drivers if they had Cockets for their Lading this Deponent was informed in the Negative, upon which he was under the necessity of making a Seizure  that after this Deponent had escorted them on Foot for about Six or Eight Miles the Waggoners desired to Bait their Horses, that this Deponent, with reluctance, was obliged to comply, as one of the Drivers swore he would Act as he pleased, whose Name he was informed, is Shahahan ー that being apprehensive of an Attack from the Drivers behaviour and frequent assembling of People, it growing Dark and having no assistance made him the more Watchful ー that going down to the lower Waggon, where were some People examining the Contents, upon this Deponents desiring them to keep off, he could perceive a small Cask which he solemnly believes contained Gun powder and was Noticed by several of them saying they wished it their Property ー That in the dark he was attacked by a number of People who were assembled at the Mill of Oliver Gallop, that after getting him down by Force and taking a new Fusee from him, they began to rifle his Pockets, and took about Twenty Eight Shillings, a red morroco Pocket Book, two yards of Black Riband and a Powder Hom, that a number of People got upon this Deponent & treated him in a very inhuman manner, and then the general Cry was drive on the Waggons and we will take care of him, on which this Deponent immediately saw the Waggoners put their Horses expeditiously too and drive off ー that this Deponent being almost sensless from the pressure of their Bodies when the Cry of Tar and Feathers echoed, he attempted to struggle hard to avoid the Operation and could perceive them brought from the Mill of said Gallop, who by this time had absconded, and that after putting a quantity on his Head and Cloaths they dragged this Deponent several times on the Ground to the danger of his Life, that they threatened to Drown him if he would not drink with them which he reluctantly comply'd with. At this time they were dragging this Deponent to a Pond that afterwards they got a Horse saddled and mounted this Deponent several times with his Face to the Horses Tail shouting Liberty and driving him about said Mill Yard. that at Intervals this Deponent had several Swabbs of Tarr put upon his Cloaths and Stockings, that he several times cried out, not to Murder him & particularly to the Miller Gallop for Assistance, and requested him to admit this Deponent into his House which was refused, tho' he promised faithfully not to pursue the Waggons, they said they would take care this Deponent should not ー That they then, by Force, mounted this Deponent several times on a raft of Wood supported by a number of People on their Shoulders carrying him about in that brutal Manner ー That this Deponent often intreated Mercy, and accused them of robbing him, but in return received the most opprobrious Language ー That this Deponent being almost exhausted, with the Treatment he had received, begged a drink of Water several times which was refused him. ー that he often entreated several People on Horseback to intercede for him, who at first he imagined were only Spectators, but found himself mistaken as they seemed to be abettors of the Treatment he received. that after this they conducted him, or rather dragged him to another Pond of Water, as this Deponent imagines to be about a Mile from said Mill, where they were going to execute more of their Barbarity  here this Deponent was so exhusted he was obliged to intreat Mercy on his Knees most fervently, that this Deponent received several Kicks on the Feet, some violent Pressures and a little Tar, continually insulting him and speaking Words tending to high Treason ー They then conducted this Deponent about a Mile further upon the main Road leading to George Town ー and struck off into the Woods, he believes about half a Mile from the Road, damning him repeatedly, shouting Liberty and Duck Creek for ever ー , That after hauling this Deponant some distance, several Motions were made against this Deponents Life, threatening to Execute him, or at least tye him to a Tree til Morning if he did not comply with the following infamous Requisitions, on compliance with which this Deponent was to be set at Liberty ー Who gave him This Commission? Immediately to quit the Province, and inform [Lord] North if he had been in his place he would have met with worse Treatment, never to accept the like Office again, with many other Words tending to the same Purport all which this Deponent peremptorily refused, alledging they had treated him so very inhumanly that he disregarded his Life as not worth holding on such Terms and was now resigned to suffer such further Punishment as his Fate decreed ー The Speaker for the Mob upon this Occasion (who this Deponent believes belonged to the Mill) made a motion for conducting him to Duck Creek in order that he might undergo another new Suit, and led him from the Woods back in the same cruel Manner, escorted as before, to the main Road, but this Deponent could observe that many of the Former Horse Men had absconded & others coming from the Cross Roads shouting & Whistling ー That this Deponent being so very Weak, from the barbarous Usage, often intreated to sit down a Minute but was refused ー that they then dragged this Deponent through a Pool of Water on the Road & that, from Appearance, many of them were Men of Property ー This Deponent being certain of further Injury to his Person, as Horsement were passing & repassing continually being then near George Town this Deponent intreated Releasement but was refused, alledging he was to be given up a Second time to the Brutality of another set of Men ー This Deponent approaching the Town he began to apprehend his Life in the utmost Danger, the People assembling and crying out an Informer Tar & Feathers  that this Deponent providentially seeing Light in the House of one Pillotson in George Town cried out incessantly Murder, upon which his Mouth was attempted to be stopped, which brought forth numbers of People with Lights ー The Assailants crying Out Lights & dragged this Deponent along ー he then made a vigorous Effort & pushed amongst some Gentlemen whose Protection he implored, that he believes he was upwards of three Hours in the Hands of a Mob suffering the most inhuman Treatment ー Notwithstanding this Deponents sufferings, his Lodgings were surrounded all Night & he was apprehensive of being again Attacked. he therefore stood on the Defensive 'til almost Morning, that on the ensuing Day he received frequent Information of another Assault being intended that Evening by a Number in George Town, which caused this Deponent to retreat to the Woods and secret himself until the Fifth ー That George Town being in his District & where his Duty may frequently call him, this Deponent apprehends from the Language of the People if he returns he is not to exp:::ct Lenity, nor can he think of returning to his Department 'til proper Measures are adopted for his Security in prosecuting His Majestys Service ー That this Deponent has reason to believe said Oliver Gallop was concerned in this Deponents barbarous Treatment for Reasons assigned before ー That this Deponent has never as yet received any of the Stolen Goods but has received Information that the Names of the Waggoners are Shahahan & White the former a Strong looking Man & the latter lower Sized and that they both belong to Duck Creek and further Saith not.

[Endorsed, Mr. Byrne's Deposition In Mr Reeve's of 19 April]