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BRISTOL, ss., WARREN, Sept. 5, 1775: The above-named Samuel Law appeared before me, and being cautioned to depose the whole truth, made oath to the truth of the above deposition. Before me: JOHN KINNICUT, Just Peace. I, the deponent, of lawful age, do testify and say, that at a Town-meeting called in Swanzey, in order to raise a Company of Minute-men, to be ready on the shortest notice to march in defence of our Country, soon after the battle at Bunker’s Hill, Col. Jerathmeel Bowers appeared to be very fierce against raising said Company, and said there was no man wanted, for there were more men there than they knew what to do with, and that it was not expected that Swanzey should send any; and after debate with him, it was voted to raise said Company; and it was proposed to allow each man three Shillings a day, if they went out of the Town on alarm, which thing Col. Bowers fiercely opposed, signifying that if they had three Shillings a day, and went out of the Town, they would not care when they returned; and we could not get a vote in the Town to allow them any thing. BENJAMIN MARTIN. BRISTOL, ss., WARREN, Sept. 5, 1775: The above-named Benjamin Martin appeared before me, and being cautioned to depose the whole truth, made oath to the truth of the above deposition. Before me: JOHN KINNICUT, Just. Peace. Swanzey, September 5, 1775. We, Benjamin Cole, 2d, and James Mason, of Swanzey, of lawful age, testify and say, that we were at a Town-meeting in Swanzey, on Monday following the battle of Bunker’s Hill, where a motion was made and seconded to raise a Minute Company, to be ready on the shortest notice, for the defence of our Country, which was opposed by Colonel Jerathmeel Bowers; notwithstanding it was voted. After which the said Bowers said much about no men being wanted, and that many would be sent back that were gone; and then it was moved to reconsider the said vote, and it was done; after which it was moved to enlist as many of the Militia of the Town of Swanzey, in order to be ready on the shortest notice, for the defence of the Country, and to allow them eighteen Pence a-piece for every half day that they should exercise by order of the Selectmen of the Town; and the above-said Bowers opposed it, saying he would protest against the meeting, for it was illegal, and that every man should be taxed by the rate-street, for his estate should not pay any of the cost, and called upon the people to take notice that he was against it, and would always be against it. And it was said by some, if we did not want men nor money, we did not want a Committee; and it was moved and seconded to have the Committee dismissed, and it was done accordingly.
BRISTOL, ss., WARREN, Sept. 5, 1775: The above-named Benjamin Cole and James Mason appeared before me, and being duly cautioned to speak the whole truth, made oath to the truth of the above deposition. Before me: JOHN KINNICUT, Just. Peace. Swanzey, September 5, 1775. I, Simeon Mason, of Swanzey, in the County of Bristol, being of lawful age, testifieth and saith, that being at a Town-meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Swanzey, some time last fall, for the raising of a supply of a stock of powder for said Town, that Colonel Jerathmeel Bowers being there, opposed the stock being raised by them, and prevailed upon the inhabitants of said Town not to raise said stock, notwithstanding the agreements of many of the inhabitants of said Town to the contrary. Likewise, I being at a meeting of the inhabitants of said Town of Swanzey, the Monday after the fight at Bunker’s Hill, for raising an Alarm Company in defence of our lives and liberties, and our Country, Colonel Jerathmeel Bowers being there, very much opposed it, and said it was contrary to the rules of the Congress to do it; and likewise said it was contrary to the plan, and very much opposed it; and said there was men enough at our campus Roxbury; and said it was needless for us to raise any, for many that were there would be sent back again, for they was not wanted. SIMEON MASON. BRISTOL, ss., WARREN, Sept. 5, 1775: The above-named Simeon Mason appeared, and being cautioned to depose the whole truth, made oath to the truth of the above deposition. Before me: JOHN KINNICUT, Just. Peace. Swanzey, September15, 1775. We, the deponents, of lawful age, do testify and say, that at a Town-meeting called in order to raise a Company of Minute-Men to be ready on the shortest notice to march in the defence of our Country, soon after the battle at Bunker’s Hill, Colonel Jerathmeel Bowers appeared to be very fierce against raising said Company, and said there was no men wanted, for there was more men there than they knew what to do with, and that it was not expected Swanzey should send any; and after a debate with him, it was Voted to raise said Company; and it was proposed to allow said Company, by said Town, a proper allowance, for those learning the military exercise, two half days in a week; then said Bowers made a speech against the proceedings, telling them how costly it would be, and bow hard it would be for the Town to pay the cost; and that the learning of the exercise would do them no good; and also, that it would hurt our cause, and earnestly moved to the Moderator to call a vote to dismiss said Company; and after a dispute, he prevailed to have a vote called, and the Company was dismissed by a majority of one or two; and said Bowers seemed to be well pleased; and alter which, amongst other things, a motion was made, that if there was no need of men nor of money for our defence, that there was no need of a Committee, and seconded by Colonel Bowers, that the Committee be dismissed, and they were dismissed accordingly. Afterwards, when colonel Bowers withdrew from the meeting, the Town thinking dangerous to be without a Committee, chose a new Committee. We now say that we think said Bowers, has acted an unfriendly part to his Country, in intimidating his townsmen for about a year last past, so that they have done little or nothing for the good of the common cause.
BRISTOL, ss., WARREN, Sept. 5, 1775: The above-named John Mason, Israel Barney, and Daniel Morton, being cautioned to depose the whole truth, made oath to the truth of the above deposition. Before me: JOHN KINNICUT, Just, Peace. ALSTEAD (NEW-HAMPSHIRE) COMMITTEE. The Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Alstead being applied to, by complaint, sundry times and from sundry persons, against Simon Baxter, of said Alstead, he being inimical to his Country in a most dangerous manner, accordingly appointed Friday, 18th of August, inst., for a time to examine into the matter: and after having served a citation upon said Baxter to attend and answer to any allegation that might be laid against him on that account, accordingly met with the Town in general, and a number of persons from adjacent Towns, and went into a full hearing of said matter. And after hearing the evidence against said Baxter, with his own declaration, which was that he would victual Gage’s Army had he an opportunity, with sundry other open and dangerous declarations against the peace and good of the Country, under the present unhappy situation, therefore determined, with the advice of all present, that the said Simon Baxter’s conduct has been, and still his avowed principles by his open and dangerous declaration before this body, is highly inimical, &c; and adjudge that the said Baxter be confined to his farm in Alstead, and that he give up his arms, and that all persons be cautioned to withhold commerce and dealings with *
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