July 27th 1776

Moses Yell being sworn on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God deposethand sayeth. That some Time about the 15th of this Instant this deponentwas going in a Vessel to Potowmac River with Tar and Plank, but on seeing Dunmore's Fleet this Deponent return'd and anchor'd under Smith's Island, about two or three Hours after he had anchor'd Joseph Wheland with oneother Man unknown to this Deponent came on Board the Vessel this deponent was in, & Joseph Wheland ask'd this Deponent if he saw the Fleet, thisDeponent answer'd he had seen the Fleet & return'd in consequence of it, Joseph Wheland then ask'd this whence he came & where he was bound, & who he was for, this Deponent answer'd he had not a Design tokill any Person, but was a Friend to his Country Joseph Wheland thenask'd this Deponent which he thought was right the King or the Shirt Men, this Deponent answer'd he thought the Americans were right Joseph Wheland then told this Deponent he was for the Fleet, and had Orders from Ld Dunmore to take any Vessel belonging to the Rebels and destroy such as hethought proper and carry the rest to the Fleet, the sd Wheland then demanded a Sight of this deponent's papers, which this Deponent gavehim, the sd Wheland then took the Papers a Pocket Book a[bo]ut fortyShillings Cash and all the Clo[aths] belonging to this Deponent that were inthe Vessel, e[xce]pt what he had on, and carryed this Deponent togetherwith the Cloaths and Money on Board a Tender which he inform'd this Deponent he had the Command of, and likewise the sd Wheland inform'd himhe had the Command of the other Vessels that were with the one, this Deponent was put on Board of, this Deponent sayeth Joseph Wheland told him he had taken a Vessel belonging to White in Nanticoke and that he Wheland intended to fit her out with four four Pounders and twelve Swivels to guard the Islands and keep the Shirt Men from going on to abuse the Inhabitants, the afsd Wheland told him he must take out the Mast from his Yell's Vessel and put in the Vessel he had taken from White which was then driven on Ground and had lost her Mast, but before he had got her over the Bar he Yell understood from an Old Man on Board the Tender that Wheland had recd an Express from the Fleet ordering him to come up to Potowmac to assist the Fleet in geting Water as quick as possible as Orders were come to the Fleet to go out, as soon as they cou'd, Part to Martinico to fight the French, (as they expected a War there) & part to New York or Hallifax, Wheland soon after order'd Fire set to White's Vessel and one other which he had not got over the Bar, & put this deponent on Shore gave him Part of his Cloaths & told him he might take his Boat again, this Deponent sayeth that Marmaduke Mister was one of the Persons that kept Guard over him one Night while he was on Board the Tender, the afsd Mister ask'd this Deponent who he was for, whether King or Country this Deponent answer'd he was Friend to every person that behav'd well the afsd Mr then commanded in the King's Name to tell him the Truth this Deponent then told him he was born in this Country and had a Right to defend his Liberty, Mister then said what these damn'd Rebels call Liberty I call Slavery, & so the people will find it, this Deponent further sayeth that Marmaduke Mister set Fire to one of the Vessels that was burn'd and was to have the Iron for doing it. this Deponent sayeth that John Evans Robert Howith and one Price were likewise on Board the same Tender under the Command of the afd Joseph Wheland (he supposes) as he often heard them call him Captn, this Deponent saith he heard John Evans say he was determind to have several of the.principal people on the Islands either dead or alive, or get some of their Negroes. this Deponent saith he has seen Joseph Wheland John Evans, Robert Howith, and Price the four persons [above] mention'd since they have been under Guard at the Streights and that they are the same Persons he saw on Board the Tender above mention'd. ー this Deponent further saith on his asking Joseph Wheland for his Cloths wheland threatned to put him in Irons in the Vessels hole. the Deponent likewise saith that John Evans told him not to be uneasy about his Cloaths and Money for Wheland wou'd give them to him after he was ready to go from the Island, for the paper Money wou'd be of no more use to him than Blank Paper.

Sworn before Hugh Culeston

[Endorsed] Moses Yell lives in St Mary's County near Leonard Town in Bretons Bay²