CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS.

543

great Seal of the province of New York. That he this Deponent was present when Ethan Allen ,Seth Warner, Robert Cochran , Peleg Sunderland, Remember Baker and others of the BenningtonRioters held a pretended Court for the Trial of Benjamin Spencer Esq r one of his Majesty’sJustices of the peace for the said County of Charlotte, and saw the said Rioters in part pull downdemolish and burn the dwelling house of the said Benjamin Spencer. That the next day thisDeponent passing by the dwelling house of Simpson Jennings then Coroner of- the said County ; thesaid Robert Cochran being in Company with the said Remember Baker ordered this deponent toremove the Cribs of Corn which were near the dwelling house of the said Simpson Jennings addingwe well send our Boys immediately to set the house in flames, That the Deponent did not thinkproper to comply with the orders of the said Robert Cochran ; but went to his ow r n house, fromwhence he saw the house of the said Simpson Jennings in flames which reduced it to ashes. Andthis Deponent further says, that he has always acted orderly and peaceably towards Governmentand inoffensively towards his Neighbours. That he hath nevertheless incurred the Resentment ofthe said Mob who have from time to time threatned to abuse him and turn him out of possessionof his Land. And as this Deponent has been informed and verily believes to be true they have alsofrequently threatned to burn Ills house over his Head. And this Deponent saith that he was undercontinual apprehensions of great danger to his person & property by Reason of the said threatsand violent proceedings of the said Rioters and thought it necessary for his own preservation (as infact he hath done) to keep Fire Arms loaded in his dwelling house that he might be ready to standon his defence whenever he should be attacked. And the deponent further saith that being informedthat Benjamin Hough Esq r one of his Majesty’s Justices of the peace for the said County ofCharlotte was seized and carried off by the said Bennington Riotess this Deponent and some otherpersons made preparations to rescue him, but found it was too late. That a few days afterwards thisdeponent being on a visit to Pownal Town met with the said Benjamin Hough after he had beenabused beaten and set at Liberty by the said Rioters. That the said Benjamin Hough shewed himhis naked back which was then sore and appeared to have been much cut & wounded and thewaistcoat which he then wore was stiff with Blood. That the Deponent on his said Journey topownal was informed that a message had been left for him by one of his Neighbours, that the Mobhad sworn that they would have him if he was above Ground. That this Deponent shortly after-wards received a letter from his Wife, informing him that if he would make an acknowledgment tothe Mob and join them in their proceedings or contribute towards their support, it might be safefor him to return to his house, if not, it would be best for him to keep away. That this Deponentnot being able to reconcile to his conscience the terms imposed on him by the said Rioters, and beingat the same time apprehensive of real danger from the said Mob to his person in case he shouldreturn, is from motives of self preservation obliged to quit his Habitation and Family and is wellpersuaded that he cannot with any Degree of safety return Home without Danger from the saidRioters. That this Deponent on his w r ay to New York called at the House of Bliss WilloughbyEsq r one of his Majesty’s Justices of the peace for the County of Albany residing near Bennington .That he found him armed in great distress & danger and having people in his House ready to takearms in his Defence in Case he should be attacked by the Rioters which he assured this Deponenthe hourly expected. And further this deponent saith not.

Daniel Walker Jun r .

Sworn before me this 7 th Day of March MDCCLXXV.

Danl Horsmanden.