The Deposition of Capt John Wanton,late of Newport & State of Rhode Island Iiow residing in Bedford in Dartmouth in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts Bay is as follows Vizt On or about the ninth Day of February last I the Deponent saild in the Brigantine Countess of Eglenton lately Captured by the Privateer Sloop America Capt William Dennis from said Bedford to South-Carolina and on my Passage had very hard Gales of Wind & large Sea, frequently the Brigt proved a remarkable fast Sailer, had a Proof of it by being Cha[s]ed by the Privateer Brigt Commet belonging to the State of South-Carolina the Particulars was as follows Vizt at Daybreak the Mate of my Brigt whose watch was then upon Deck called out a Sail close on board. I then immediately ran upon Deck & being under Close Sail the Night before being Squally Ordered all the Reefs out of the Fop sails & made all Sail except Top gallant Sails, the said Privateer appeared to be about two Gun shots Distance & carritd all Sail that she could pack both Top gallant Sails & Top mast Steering Sail We was then Rather to Southward of Veniyar [Winyah] & the said Privateer chased me up to Charlestown Barr, where I arrived about an hour before her ー The Capt of the said Privateer who went with me in Company to the Governor acknowledged to his Excellency that he had never been so much Beat in Sailing Before the said Privateer was returning from a Cruize of about three Weeks ー I saw a Number of Sails upon my passage & several of which gave me chase & allways beat them the said Brigt was as stiff a Vessel as I ever saild in, Her proving so fast a Sailer was the means of her fetching such a Very high Price for a Vessell of her Bigness, she sold for twenty two hundred & forty pound Sterling Exclusive of a New Cable One hawser two Anchors & one good fore top sail ー And further this Deponent saith not

County Bristol ss

Dartmouth April 19th 1777

the above named John Wanton personally appeared before me one of the Justices of the peace of the County of Bristol aforesaid & after being carefully examined & cautioned to testify the whole truth, made solemn oath to the truth of the aforegoing Deposition by him subscribed which was taken at the Request of Adam Babcock to be used in a Case to be heard & tryed at the Superiour Court of Judicature &c. to be held at Barnstable in & for the County of Barnstable in the month of May next upon Appeal from the Marratime Court of the Southern District which was held at Plimouth in said County of Plimouth on the 17th Day of January last Wherein the said Adam Babcock was libellant & John Brown & Capt Isaac Jones & others were Claimants the said Brown & Jones being more than thirty miles distant were not notified nor present at the taking the foregoing Deposition & the said Deponent being bound on a Voyage to sea

Before me Benjamin Atkin Justice Pacis
Copy Examd W^m Winthrop Cler ー