October 24, 1775.

The deposition of William Dashiell, Inspector, being duly sworn, deposeth: That some time ago he was at the lower ferry, on Wicomico River, and that Captain George Day Scott was there exercising his Company; that Isaac Atkinson and Mr. Thomas Brumfield were in a high dispute; that Captain Thomas Shiles, Adjutant of said Company, went up to them, and asked Atkinson on what terms he was raising his Company: whether it was to join with the proceedings of the Continental Congress and the Provincial Convention, or not. Atkinson replied, that it was to oppose them, and he would do it, and offered to lay Mr. Whitear a doubloon he would by that day week have three hundred men to join him in the opposition.

The deposition of Captain Thomas Shiles, being duly sworn, deposeth: That some time ago he was at the lower ferry, on Wicomico River, exercising Capt. George Day Scott’s Company; that there was a very high dispute between Isaac Atkinson and Thomas Brumfield; the said Shiles ordered his men to lay down their arms, which they did; he then went up to Atkinson, and said that he understood that he, the said Atkinson, had ordered his men to meet there that day, with sharp flints in their guns; Atkinson said he did give such orders; then this deponent asked Atkinson on what terms he was making up his Company: whether it was to join the Convention cause and the Continental Congress, or whether he was in opposition; he answered, he was in opposition, and offered to lay Mr. Whethear a doubloon by that day week he would have three hundred men to join him in opposition; upon which, one of his men (William Hieman) answered, “Yes, five hundred; for he is the only man that had opened their eyes, and is the man that ought to be upheld.”

The deposition of Littleton Ayres, being duly sworn, deposeth: That he was some time ago at the lower ferry, on Wicomico River, and that Mr. Isaac Atkinson was also there; this deponent said he understood that Isaac Atkinson and Mr. Thomas Brumfield had had some conversation about the Association; and this deponent further saith, that he heard Atkinson say that he would never sign the Association, and that there were several people of his opinion, and that he would protect any set of people that would not sign the Association.

The deposition of Thomas Brumfield, being duly sworn, deposeth: That some time ago that he and Isaac Atkinson were in conversation about America and England, and that it was the said Isaac Atkinson’s opinion that it was rebellion the way the people of Boston were going on, and that he believed the people of Boston wanted a King of their own in America.

The deposition of George Bollard, being duly sworn, deposeth: That some time ago he met Isaac Atkinson on the road, and that Atkinson said that he was told by a gentleman in the County that if he would head a Company from home, that his fortune would be doubled ten times; but he, the said Atkinson, said he despised such a thing. This deponent further saith, that he heard Atkinson say that he did not like any thing the Congress had done.

The deposition of George Ayres, being duly sworn, deposeth: That some time ago Isaac Atkinson was charged with ordering his men to appear with sharp flints in their guns, for he intended to shoot powder that day; and upon being charged with it, he said it was to shoot as a huzza at the breaking up of his Company; and this deponent further saith, that he, the said Atkinson, said he had the opinion of as wise a man and of as great a property as any in the Country for to go on in the way he then was.

November 7, 1775.

The deposition of George Whitear, being duly sworn, deposeth: That on September 23, 1775, that he, this deponent, was at the lower ferry, on Wicomico River, and that Mr. Isaac Atkinson was there also; that, upon a dispute between the said Atkinson and this deponent, the said Atkinson did say that he could, on the Saturday following, appear at the said ferry with three or four hundred men to back him in the measures he was then pursuing, of which he offered to bet this deponent a doubloon; soon after which, Captain Thomas Shiles came up and asked him if he intended to raise a Company contrary to the resolves of the Convention, to which he answered in the affirmative.

A true copy from the Minutes:

PETER WATERS, Clerk.

Letter from the Committee of Observation for Worcester County to the Eastern Shore Council of Safety:

November 15, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Enclosed you have a deposition of a very alarming nature, which we think it our duty to communicate to you, and desire that it may, as speedily as possible, be taken into consideration.

We and the rest of the friends of liberty in this County are in a bad situation; we have no ammunition, and the Tories exceed our number. We hope you will send us assistance as soon as you can. Mr. Dennis, the bearer hereof, who is Clerk of our Committee, will give you such information of our affairs here as will clearly evince the necessity of something being done, and that speedily.

We are, Gentlemen, respectfully, yours,

ROBERT DONE,
HENRY JOHNSON,
PETER CHAILLE.

The deposition of Mary Robins, wife of Josiah Robins, being sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, deposeth and saith: That on the 15th of November, 1775, in the morning of the same day, Benjamin Butler came to the house of her said husband, and inquired whether there was any person in the house except his family; her husband made answer that there was; upon which they went out, and, after some time, her husband came in and told her that he was going to a certain William Bartlet Townsend’s; that a certain Levin Townsend had been down to Norfolk, on board the man-of-war, and had brought up a quantity of ammunition, and that all those who were for the King were to go down to the said William Bartlet Townsend’s, to get their share of the ammunition; and that the said Levin Townsend had brought a paper from on board the said man-of-war, that they were to sign; and that the said Levin Townsend was to set out this day on his return to the man-of-war; and that, if there was a sufficient number of signers to the aforesaid paper, they were to have assistance immediately from the said man-of-war.

November 15, 1775.

The above Deposition taken before

JOHN SELBY.

Copy of a Resolve from Congress:

In Congress, October 6, 1775.

On motion made, Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Provincial Assemblies or Conventions, and Councils or Committees of Safety, to arrest and secure every person in their respective Colonies whose going at large may, in their opinion, endanger the safety of the Colony or the liberties of America.

A true copy from the Minutes:

CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.

Letter from the Chairman of the Committee of Observation for Worcester County to the Eastern Shore Council of Safety:

Snow-Hill, November 17, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: We lately, by Mr. Dennis, signified to you that we have had information of some persons in our County procuring a quantity of ammunition from the men of war at Norfolk; that they had procured some kind of writing from them, that all who are against the present measures were to sign and transmit back to the commanders of the men of war; and that, if they had sufficient encouragement, they were to send regular troops to their assistance. We have now certain intelligence that a number of persons among us, who are disaffected to our cause, have signed the writing above mentioned, and have taken an oath to secrecy; that about twenty in number, on Wednesday night, took boat, and are gone down to Norfolk, to procure a large quantity of arms and ammunition and men to their assistance. We have had information that a number of regular troops have landed in Accomack County; but the report, as yet, is not confirmed. We have now

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