Before John Stanley Esqr, one of the Members of His Majesty's Council for the Island of St Christopher, His Majesty's Sollicitor General for His Leeward Charibbee Islands in America, and one of the Justices assigned to keep the Peace within the said Island of St Christopher.
Personally appeared John Troff man [sic Trotman] aged Seventeen years, or there abouts, who being Sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, deposeth and Saith, that some time in the month of April 1773, he this Deponent was Sent by his Father Henry Trotman, Merchant in the Island of Barbados (where he this Deponent was born) to the Care of Messrs James and Drinker of Philadelphia Merchants, for Education, and that, soon after his arrival there, he was Sent by his said Guardians to Prince Town, in the Province of New Jersey, to a scool kept at that place by the Revd Dr John Witherspoon, who was afterwards chosen one of the Members to Serve in the Continental Congress for the Said Province of new Jersey. And this Deponent further Saith, that in the month of September last (it being vacation time) he went from Prince Town afore Said to Spend his Holidays as usual, with his beforementioned Guardians at Philadelphia, and that One Evening, he this Deponent being walking out rather later than usual, with George \\Test, of Carolina, who was one of his Scool fellows, he this Deponent and the Said George West met on a wharf, in Philadelphia aforesaid, by a Gang of Men (whose Practice, this Deponent was afterwards informed, it was every Night to hunt for and press all the Men they could meet with into the Service of the Continental Congress) who forced this Deponent and the said George West on board a Brigantine fitted out by the Continental Congress, called the Andrew Doria, commanded by one Capt: [Isaiah] Robinson, mounting Fourteen double fortified four Pounders, Fourteen or Sixteen Swivel Guns, carrying 100 Men, or there abouts, and which was then lying at Gloucester in the River Delaware, about five miles from Philadelphia. And this Deponent farther Saith, that the sd Brigantine soon afterwards sailed for the Island of St Eustatia, where she arrived some time about the middle of the mounth of November last; and that upon the sd Brigantines coming to an anchor off the Town in that Island, She Saluted Fort Orange with Thirteen Guns, and that, after some Interval, the Salute was returned by the sd Fort with nine or Eleven Guns (but which the Deponent doth not now recollect) the Sd Brigantine during the Time of the Salute and the return thereof, having the Colours called the Continental Congress Colours then flying. And this Deponent farther Saith, that he this Deponent, with three other Persons belonging to the Sd Brigantine (two Englishmen and one Frenchman) on the Evening of their arrival at St Eustatia, were ordered by the Master of the sd Brigantine to carry him onboard an American Pilot Boat, then lying at anchor in the Road of St Eustatia; and that upon their putting him onboard they were ordered by the Sd Master to return with all Expedition to the Sd Brigantine, and to get the Boat hoisted in: and this Deponent Saith that, upon their quitting the Pilot Boat, this Deponent and the sd three other Men consulted amongst themselves how to make their Escape from the Sd Brigantine, & takeing the Resolution of attempting to come to this Island, after rowing all Night, they arrived at Sandy point, in this Island, about Seven of the Clock, the next morning. And this Deponent farther Saith, that, from what he could learn on board the Sd Brigantine, he verily believes the object of the Sd Brigantine's Voyage to St Eustatius was to purchase Clothing and other Neces:,aries for the use of the Continental American Army. And this Deponent Saith, that whilst he was onboard the Sd Brigantine, he was in general treated as well as he could expect, in his circumstances, by every Person on board, except the Boatswain, who was a Foreigner, who beat him this Deponent very severely several Times.
Sworn this 14th day of Decr 1776,
before me (Sighn'd) John Stanley.