Province of New York Court of Vice Admiralty.
The Deposition of Sands Niles1 in the Cause of John Tabor Kempe Esquire his Majesty's Advocate General for the Province of New York at and by the Relation of Harry Harwood2 Esq Commander of his Majesty's Sloop of War the Falcon on Behalf of himself and the other Officers and the Crew of the said Sloop of War and all others interested therein against the armed Sloop Schuyler3 her Apparel and Furniture, taken upon the Standing interrogatories filed in this Court.
First.
To the first Interrogatory this Deponent saith that he was born in Stonington in Connecticut—that he has lived there for the greatest Part of seven Years last past, and that he is a Subject of the united States of America.
Secondly.
To the second Interrogatory this Deponent saith that he was present at the Taking of the armed Sloop Schuyler.
Thirdly.
To the third Interrogatory this Deponent saith that the said Sloop was taken to the Eastward of Sataucket Harbour,4 on the tenth Day of December last—that the Reason of her being taken was that she was transporting about Sixty three armed Men, from Connecticut to Long Island in the Province of New York—that the said Sloop was taken by his Majesty's Sloop of War the Falcon commanded by Harry Hanvood Esquire.
4
To the fourth interrogatory this Deponent saith that the Name of the Master of the said Sloop is John Carr5—that he was appointed to the Command of the said Sloop by the Board of War of the united States of America—that the said John Carr took Possession of the said Sloop at New London in Connecticut—that the said John Carr was born in Ireland and that his last fixed Place of Residence was at Philadelphia in Pensylvania
5.
To the fifth Interrogatory this Deponent saith that he cannot materially depose.
6
To the Sixth Interrogatory this Deponent saith that he was on Board the said Sloop Schuyler when she was taken—
7.
To the Seventh Interrogatory this Deponent saith, that the Name of the said Sloop is the Schuyler—that she has been called by that Name as long as he the Deponent has known her—
8.
To the Eighth Interrogatory this Deponent saith that he cannot materially depose.
9.
To the ninth Interrogatory this Deponent saith, that the said Sloop the Schuyler belongs to and was fitted out by the continental Congress
10 11 12 13 14 15
To the tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth Interrogatories this Deponent saith that he cannot materially depose.
16:
To the Sixteenth Interrogatory this Deponent saith that when the Falcon was coming up to the said Sloop the said John Carr bundled up a Number of Papers which the Deponent believes were the Papers of the said Sloop and then made his Escape.
17 18 19 20
To the 17. 18. 19. 20th: Interrogatories, and to the first, second, third, fourth and fifth additional
1 2 3 4 5
Interrogatories this Deponent saith that he cannot depose.
Sands Niles
Taken the 8 Day of January 1778. D Mathews6 Regr
D, UkLPR, H.C.A. 32/450/9.
1. Ensign, Ely's Regiment, Connecticut Militia.
2. Comdr. Harry Harmood, R.N.
3. Continental Navy sloop Schuyler.
4. Setauket, Long Island.
5. Lt. John Kerr, Continental Navy.
6. David Mathews, register of the Vice Admiralty Court of New York.
