Sir,

Inclosed I send your Excellency the Deposition of Cap^t. John Adams & others brought to me by Major Dunbibin who took them out of a Prize (taken by the Enemy and bound to S^t Augustine) that was drove a Shore about seven Miles from this Town, there being no Gaol in this County I have ordered them on board the Brig^a. of War (Washington)¹ till your Excellency will please to communicate some further instructions Respecting them, whether being forced into the British Service, they may be considered & treated as prisoners of War agreeable to Resolve of Congress, or otherwise may be permitted to enter on Board the Washington as Subjects to the United States (of which they affect a great desire) on proviso they take the State Oath agreeable to Law, In the cases above mentiond your Excell^y will be able to Judge by Reading the depositions, and shall wait your Instructions.—² I am with due Respect.— [&c.] 

[Enclosure]

State of North Carolina New Hanover County.

Before me Tho^s. Bloodworth—one of the Justices for the County aforesaid personally appeared John Adams who made Oath on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God and sayeth— 

That he was at S^t. Eustatia in February 1777 and there took a Passage in the Sloop called Heart of Cedar commanded by Richard Minors which was going from that place to Cha^s. Town S^o. Carolina—and arrived at that place in a passage of Twenty Eight days, and left the vessell in a few days and entered as Mate on board a Schooner commanded by Cap^t. Wyat belonging to Mess^rs. Gillion & Mays³ of that place bound on a Voyage to S^t. Eustatia and fell in with S^t. Thomas's and was taken by a Tartola privateer sloop called the Rose, commanded by John Adams of Liverpool and was carried into Tartola and remained there four Weeks, and being much in distress was obliged to commence mate of a brig^a. bound for Liverpoole Com manded by John Canning of that place, after my arrival there had several offers of employ, did not take up with any of them but went passenger on board of a ship bound for Tartola James Lee master after my arrival quited said Vessell and ship'd mate of a Sloop belonging to S^t A Croix when I arrived there was offered the command of a Schooner belong^g to Nathaniel Cruger of that place loaded with Salt and bound for Edenton in North Carolina which offer I accepted of and sailed as master of the said Schooner called the Favourite, on the 28^th. December last, and was taken by the Ship Galatea commanded by Thomas Jordan on the 8^th. January⁴ and was detained as prisoner on board said Vessell one Month & a half and then sent to Augustine and from the Misconduct of the Master of the Prize going to Augustine the Hinchinbrook⁵ took Charge of her at which time I was Robbed of my Clothes &c I was put on Shore a few days after my arrival at Augustine I took Lodgings at a Tavern and not having money enough to Satisfy my Landlord was then obliged to take up with the offer of Cap^t. Osborne who Commands the Ranger⁶ to ship with him as a Prize Master on proviso he would pay what I was then indebted— That he saild with said Osborne from Augustine on a Cruize the 16 March last and the third day after sailing we Took a Schooner belonging to Georgia loaded with Rice & Indigo bound for S^t A Croix commanded by a Cap^t. Forster After which we proceeded to Occacock and on the passage came Across a Small Sloop commanded by Cap^t Savory with some Salt on board she being of little Value stript her of the Sails & Scuttled her— Took the pilot on board at Occacock who promised to Conduct us in and out we then went over the bar & dropt Anchor between a Ship & a Brig^a. laying in that harbour we Mann'd the Pilot Boat & our own and went on board y^e ship and took possession of her and hoisted out 19 Hdds of Tobbacco and left her— And then went on board the Brig^a & Took Possession of her and Cargoe and carried them out of the Harbour at that time there was coming in a Mudian⁷ Sloop loaded with Salt which the Sloop boarded and took which two Vessels was sent to Augustine—⁸ We the next day came of[f] Beaufort and took a Schooner loaded with Tobbacco &c which this deponent had the Command of and was proceeding to Augustine with her And the Wind blowing hard all day on Saturday the 11 of this Instant and great part of the night I being below about 12 OClock was called up by one of the men and was told I was on shore & Verily Believe from the Misconduct of the Sailors that the Vessell got on shore, And further Sayeth not.— 

John Adams

Taken & sworn to this 18th: Apl. 1778 Before me—

Tho^s. Bloodworth.