December 1st 1775.  Solomon Butler of lawfull age being Sworn Deposeth & saith that Levi[n] Towns[and] sent for this Depont by Hugh Vestry that he wanted to see him and talk with him, that he went on the Tuesday Evening before Townsend went away, that he this Deponent was sworn to secrecy, and Townsend told him he wanted him to go down to the Mouth of the River, for that there was plenty of Salt there very Cheap, and that this Deponent accordingly agreed to go & went home next Morning to get his Cloaths & by Levin Town[sands] direction carried his Gun, Townsend telling him there was plenty of Fowl at the mouth of the River  th[at he] accordingly embark'd with Townsend & his Company and that in their way down the River they took possession of Daniel Boston's Vessell, that they then proceeded to the Mouth of the River, when they arrived there and found there was no Salt, this Deponent with some others expressed great uneasiness and were desirous of returning, that Levin Townsend & his Father & sundry others laugh'd at them and told them they must go farther for the Salt, and immediately took their Boat on Board, and secured all who appeared desirous to return, under the Hatches, then when they arrived at Norfolk Levin Townsend & Isaac Coston went on Board the Man-of-War, & on their return to their Company solicited them strongly to enlist under Lord Dunmore, and told them they should have a Guinea and a Crown advanced, and standing pay allow'd them with a Suit of Regimentals a Gun & Bayonet &c. that this Deponant and several others refused to Enlist, that he heard Levin Townsend say that he intended to fit out a Tender to cruise in the Bay and take all the prizes they could and then to proceed up Pocomoke River to take the Committee of Worcestcr County Prisoners and carry them to Lord Dunmore, and that Isaac Coston, William Dickerson, Benjamin Selby, Francis Britt, Joseph Gray Tayler, Levi Townsend, Elias Townsend, Zadock Townsend and Josiah Ward approved highly of Townsend's scheme & were determined to join him in it, that Townsend repeatedly expressed a Confidence of being joined by a large Number of the people on his return home, that Thomas Moore was at old Townsends the day the Company set off, and went with them to the Landing where he wished them well and told them he Expected to see them again in a short time, that Moore likewise met them at the Ferry down the River and had Conversation with some of the Company which this Deponent did not hear, that as they went down a Beef was killed & brought a board, that this Deponent heard Isaac Costen & Francis Britt say that they helpd bring the Beef on Board, but who the others were he Cannot tell, that he heard Levin Townsend say he paid a half Joe for it, and that he obliged the Company to pay their proportion ー

Sworn before Joseph Dashiell