Copy John Sands first Mate, George David second Mate Robert Martin Mariner of and belonging to the Snow Dickenson burthen about Two hun
dred and forty Tons of and belonging to Philadelphia in North America the property of Messrs Bayard & Jackson of Philadelphia aforesaid severally make Oath and first the said John Sands speaking for himsel£ saith that they sailed from Philadelphia aforesaid the 16h Day of February last with a Loading of Flour Wax, Staves and Spermaceti Can~les J:>ound for. Nantz i~ France That. the Captain of the sa1p.~ Vessel {Willialll: Meston) declared to him the said John Sands that he had rece.ived Directions,from his owners not to open his orders til he had been som~. time at Sea and that about a fortnight after they had sailed the Captain called this Deponent into. the Cabin and informed him that he had opened his orders but .was astonished at their Contents this th(l Deponen't then .read the Qrders und,er the hands
(as he-believes) of the said Messrs Bayard and Jackson by which is appearr<;l that the C~rgo belonged to the Contine~tal Congress and \liat they were t.o take in the Neat proceeds thereof in Arms and A:rp.munitio:r;i for the use of the Congress. That this Deponent then informed the Ships C:rew.of the.nature of their Orders and they being all unanimous not to comply therewith he.went with.them'to the Captain and informed hini that he ha4 no longer any Command aboard and that he seized th,e same V.~ssel in His Majesty's Name That the Captain from that time behaved .htajself Il1:erely as a Passenger and the Crew steered the Vessel for London but were obliged by contrary Winds to make the .. Port of .. Bristol whe:r;e they, arrJved .. this Morning. , And the said George David and Robert Martin speaking for themselves severally say as to what is herein before stated to have passed after the Ships C:rew were made acquaint~d with their or1er~ they do verily beli<:v~ the same to be true.
. . . John Sands George Davis
~worn t~e Eighth day of <!-Pril . 1 . . .. . 1776 at the City of :a-r:istol before ine .
Jno Seager Junr ー a Master in Chancery Ex~raordy
In the presence of Jer: Osborne Noty Publick
[Endorsed] In Mr Jackson's (to JP) of 9th April 1776. Copy transmitted to Sir Stanier Porten in Mt: Pown~ll's Letter of 9th.April 1776.
