At a Meeting of the Committee of Observation for Prince Georges County at the house of Richard Carnes in Piscataway on Friday the 4th day of August 1775 . . .

In consequence of its being Recommended by the Provincial Convention to the General Committee of Observation for the County aforesaid to call all evidences before them who may be expected can give the proper information respecting a Report that prevails of Mr. Christopher Lowndes having cleared out a Brigg from this Province for Barbadoes with Provisions, that were thrown into the hands of some of the Officers of his Majestys Ships of War for the purpose of Supplying the Army under the Command of General [Thomas] Gage; this Committee Summoned before them Mr. John Tolson aged sixteen Years and of good Reputation, who being sworn on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God before Luke Marbury one of the Right Honble the Lord Proprietarys Justices of the peace for Prince Georges County, Deposeth and sayeth, that on or about the Twentieth day of May last he sail'd from Alexandria on Board the Brigg Harriot Captain William Scott belonging to the said Christopher Lowndes, and that he Went Passenger on Board of her to the Island of Barbadoes, where she discharged her Cargoe and that to his the said Deponants knowledge she did not discharge or dispose of any part of it till she arrived in the Road of Barbadoes, and that no part of the Said Cargoe was putt into the hands of any officer of his Majestys Ships of War for the purpose of supplying them or the Army under the command of General Gageー

This Deponant likewise sayeth that in Hampton Road, on their way out they were boarded by some people who said, they belonged to a Vessel of War who took one of the Hands from the Said Brigg, and this Deponant sayeth no more

Sworn before Luke Marbury

Ordered that a Copy of these Proceedings be sent to the Provincial Convention now sitting at Annapolis

True Copy, from the Records, signed by order of the Committee

Thomas Clagett, Clerk