same, so that every spectator might hear. Harrison, as well as others of the parties, said he might have let that alone, for they did not regard the Act, nor them that read it, nor them that made it; for they had their orders for what they had done. John Carnaghan then came, and demanded said Harrison to shew his authority, if he had any. At first he seemed to refuse, but at last did read, and this deponent saw the same signed by William Crawford, wherein he had orders to press horses, raise men, &c., go to Hanna's Town, open the Jail doors, and set the prisoners at liberty; and further saith not,

JAMES KINKAID.

Sworn and subscribed before me, the 13th of February, 1775.

WM. LOCHEY.

DEPOSITION OF SAMUEL WHITESITT.

WESTMORELAND County, ss:

Personally appeared before us, the subscribers, three of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County aforesaid, Samuel Whitesitt, who, being duly sworn upon the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, did depose and say, that this day, the 7th day of February, in the morning, between twilight, there came a number of armed men, and with a large sledge, about ten pounds weight, broke open the outside Jail door, and one of the inside doors, both being locked, and sent the prisoners then in Jail, being three in number, (who were committed, one, by name John Neil, for a riot, and throwing down a man's house, with a number of others, the other two, by name Samuel Warden and Samuel Wilson, who were committed for a trespass,) off, and giving each of the prisoners, after the Jail being broke, a pistol, and told them, the prisoners, that they had helped them so far, and now to clear their own way; and the said Samuel Whitesitt further says, that he heard the number of armed men aforesaid say, that for their so doing they had orders from Captain William Crawford; and further this deponent saith not.

SAMUEL WHITESITT.

Sworn and subscribed before us, this 7th of February, 1775.

ROBERT HANNA,
WM. LOCHEY,
WM. BRACKEN.

DEPOSITION OF CHARLES FOREMAN.

WESTMORELAND County, ss:

Personally appeared before us, the subscribers, three of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County afore said, Charles Foreman, who, being duly sworn upon the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, doth depose and say, that this morning, between twilight, being the 7th day of February, he heard a noise at the Jail, and getting out of his bed, he saw a number of armed men breaking the door, and charging the prisoners then in Jail to go about their business, and he heard John Canaghan, Esqaire, Sheriff of the County aforesaid, ask one Benjamin Harrison, who appeared to be their head man, whether they had any orders for their so doing, upon which he read a paper, and said it was Captain William Crawford's orders so to do; and the said Charles Foreman further saith, that he saw one Samuel Wilson make a push at one Robert Hanna, Esquire, with a gun, and told him not to be so saucy, and a great deal of ill tongue; and further this deponent saith not.

CHAS. FOREMAN.

Sworn and subscribed before us, this 7th day of February, 1775.

ROBERT HANNA,
WM. LOCHEY,
WM. BRACKEN.

ROBERT HANNA, WILLIAM LOCHEY, JOHN CARNAGHAN, AND DEVEREUX SMITH, TO GOVERNOUR PENN.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOUR: SIR, Our difficulties on account of the Connolly party is now grown to an extreme; all we can do or say in favour of our privileges from Pennsylvania will not do; the Depositions sent down, or transmitted to you, will, we hope, give you a sense of their very irregular proceedings. We are sorry to have occasion to repeat our complaints so often, but William Crawford, Esquire, and Dorsey Penticost, hath each opened a Land Office, and assumed the title of Deputy Surveyors to execute their entries. Several surveys they have already made. The people in general have already given up; and what can we do to support Government, there now being writs granted for almost every acting officer in this County, and we are every day expecting confinement. In short, any person applying for justice to us, maybe assured to be arrested by them. James Smith, Captain, was taken and bound over to the Virginia Court, for only applying to the laws of Pennsylvania to have a banditti of villains punished for pulling down his house. Our Jail is of no use; the worst rascal is set at liberty; so we rest with patience, waiting for the opinion of your Honour, with such instructions as you may think adequate to our present difficulties. This from, sir, your Honour's most obedient and most humble servants,

Hanna's Town, Westmoreland County, February 13, 1775.

DEVEREUX SMITH TO GOVERNOUR PENN.

Hanna's Town, February 14, 1775.

SIR: The situation of this County, at present, is really distressing. Every roan who has the least feeling, must pity the poor inhabitants, who, after returning to their places when the disturbances with the Indians subsided, are now daily plundered of what little provisions they had to support their families, by a party of men kept up by order of Lord Dunmore, for what reason I am not able to judge. The Indians were never more peaceable than at present; it is true they have nine Mingoes prisoners in the Garrison; but they have other places of confinement that might answer as well, and save the expense of keeping seventy-five men in pay, and robbing the country to support them with provisions.

A set of people who call themselves Virginians, have taken possession of most of the lands here, and say they have rights from the Virginia offices, two of which are held here, one by Captain William Crawford, and the other by D. Penticost.

The obstructions to the proceedings of our Court, prevents us from recovering our just debts; unless some speedy steps be taken to prevent their outrageous proceedings, this County must be inevitably ruined.

Mr. Connolly and Mr. John Campbell left Pittsburgh about fifteen days ago, and are gone for Williamsburgh. They had a petition handed about, which was signed by some people disaffected to this Government, praying the House of Burgesses that a Town might be laid out near Pittsburgh.

I send you the enclosed Depositions, that your Honour may see the many difficulties we labour under, and the unhappy situation of the inhabitants of this County. I am, with the greatest respect, your very humble servant,

DEVEREUX SMITH.

DEPOSITION OF DEVEREUX SMITH.

WESTMORELAND County, ss:

Personally appeared before Joseph Spear, Esquire, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for said County, Devereux Smith, Esquire, and being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that on the night of the 8th instant, between eight and nine o'clock, twelve or more armed men, belonging to the Garrison kept up by Lord Dunmore's orders at this place, surrounded the house of the said Devereux Smith, in Pittsburgh, in the said County, throwed stones, and attempted to break open his doors and windows, to the great terrour of his family, at the same time telling him that they would shew what Virginia boys could do. That with the violence of their throwing stones, &c, they splitone of his window-shutters, and continued about the street till near twelve o'clock, during which he was under the necessity of sitting up in arms to protect his infant family; and further this deponent saith not.

DEVEREUX SMITH.

Sworn and subscribed, the 10th of February, 1775, before me.

JOS. SPEAR.