Gibbs, on conversing with this deponent on the American disputes with Great Britain, expressed himself very warmly in the American cause. This deponent, after expressing his own sentiments upon the occasion, said Gibbs told him he could make free to speak the sentiments of his mind to him.      WILLIAM RICHARDSON.

Sworn before

JOSEPH DASHIELL.

Thursday, November 30, 1775.

At a meeting of the Eastern Shore branch of the Council of Safety of Maryland, at Talbot County Court-House, by adjournment, were present, the following Members, viz: James Hollyday, Richard Lloyd, Edward Lloyd, Thomas Smyth, Henry Hooper, Esquires.

William Hindman, having previously subscribed the Association, was qualified as Clerk to this Council, before William Hayward, Esq., by taking the oath prescribed by the Convention.

Captain Thomas Ennalls, of the Cambridge Blues, produced to the Council a paper writing, hereto annexed, purporting to be the Commitment of Abraham Gibbs and Benjamin Shockly, together with the bodies of the said Gibbs and Shockly; and a Letter from the Committee of Observation for Worcester County, and sundry Depositions relating to the said Gibbs and Shockly were communicated to the Council and read: and thereupon,

Ordered, That the said Gibbs and Shockly be committed to the custody of the Committee of Observation for Talbot County, to be kept under a safe guard, and produced to this Council at their sitting at this place to-morrow, and the said Captain Ennalls is discharged of the custody of the said Gibbs and Shockly.

The Board adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o’clock.

Friday, December 1, 1775.

The Board met according to adjournment: Present as yesterday.

Letter from Robert Goldsborough to the Eastern Shore Council of Safety:

November 30, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: I fully designed attending the Council of Safety this day, and got as far as Mr. Ennalls’s on my way, last night, and sent my horses and carriage over the river, but was again attacked last night with another fit of the gout, which renders me unable to attend. I have sent you enclosed two letters, which came to my hands since I had the pleasure of seeing you, one of which contains the depositions taken by the Committee of Worcester County, against the two men who were sent over yesterday.

I gave notice to the Committee of Worcester, that the witnesses against them should attend you this day in person; and I also sent an express with the letter to the Somerset Committee, desiring the witnesses to attend against Atkinson; and I am informed, by the express I sent down, that they will all be up agreeable to the order.

Enclosed is also a receipt for the powder and lead which Captain Campbell gave the man who carried it to Vienna; the man lost it on the road, and it was found and sent to me.

I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

ROBERT GOLDSBOROUGH.

Isaac Atkinson, who at the last sitting of this Board, at Chestertown, was committed to the custody of the Committee of Observation for Kent County, was brought before this Board, in the custody of the Committee of Observation for Talbot County: and

Thereupon, the Board proceeded to take the Depositions of Thomas Shiles, William Dashiell, George Ayres, and Littleton Ayres, the only witnesses who appear against the said Atkinson. And took the Depositions of the said Thomas Shiles and William Dashiell, and then took the Deposition of William Stewart, at the request of the said Atkinson; which Depositions were taken in the presence of the said Atkinson, and are hereunto annexed.

The said Atkinson was then recommitted to the custody of the Committee of Talbot County aforesaid, to be brought before the Board to-morrow morning, at their sitting at this place.

The Board adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o’clock.

Saturday, December 2, 1775.

The Board met according to adjournment: Present as yesterday.

Isaac Atkinson was brought before the Board, in custody as aforesaid.

The Board took the Deposition of George Ayres and Littleton Ayres, in the presence of the said Atkinson; which Depositions are hereunto annexed.

The Depositions aforesaid were then read to the said Atkinson, and he was informed that he might now make his defence against the charge exhibited against him, as stated in the proceedings of this Board at Chestertown; which charge was now again recited to the said Atkinson.

And the said Atkinson, having made his defence, withdrew, in custody of the Committee last aforesaid.

The Board then took into consideration the charge aforesaid, against the said Atkinson, the Depositions aforesaid, taken yesterday and this day, and the defence made by the said Atkinson.

And, after full consideration thereof, the Board were of opinion, that the said Isaac Atkinson hath, since the breaking up of the last Provincial Convention of this Province, been raising a Company in Somerset County, to oppose the measures of the Continental Congress and Convention of this Province; and hath declared he would protect any set of men who would not sign the Association.

Resolved, therefore, That the said Atkinson hath thereby been guilty of an high and dangerous offence, tending to disunite the Inhabitants of this Province in their present opposition.

Resolved, therefore, That the said Isaac Atkinson be closely imprisoned in the house of the Sheriff of Talbot County aforesaid, in the custody of the said Sheriff, until the 16th day of this instant December, unless the next Convention shall sooner rise; and if the next Convention shall sooner rise, then until the rising of the next Convention.

Ordered, That the Committee of Observation for Talbot County do forthwith deliver the said Isaac Atkinson into the custody of the Sheriff of Talbot County aforesaid, to be imprisoned as aforesaid, together with a copy of the following Commitment:

“By the Eastern Shore branch of the Council of Safety, of MARYLAND, the2d day of DECEMBER, 1775:

“Ordered, That the Sheriff of Talbot County receive into his custody, from the Committee of Observation for Talbot County, the body of Isaac Atkinson, to be by the said Sheriff closely imprisoned in the house of him, the said Sheriff, and in his custody, until the 16th day of this instant December, unless the next Convention shall sooner rise; and if the next Convention shall sooner rise, then until the rising of the next Convention.”

The said Isaac Atkinson was then ordered to be brought in; and being before the Board, the Resolutions of the Board were communicated to him, and a copy of the commitment aforesaid was delivered to the Committee of Observation for Talbot County.

Abraham Gibbs was brought before the Board; and upon considering the Affidavits transmitted to the Board by the Committee of Observation for Worcester County, relative to the said Gibbs,

Ordered, That the said Gibbs be discharged out of custody.

The Board took into consideration the Representation of the Committee of Worcester County, against Benjamin Shockly, and the Depositions transmitted by them to the Board, relative to the said Shockly; and thereupon,

Ordered, That the said Benjamin Shockly be delivered to the Committee of Observation for Talbot County, into the custody of Captain Greenbury Goldsborough, of Talbot County, to be by him sent under safe guard to Captain Thomas Ennalls, of Dorchester County; to be by the said Captain Ennalls sent under safe guard to Captain James Campbell, at Vienna; and by the said Captain Campbell to be sent under safe guard to the Committee of Worcester County aforesaid; and that the said Committee of Worcester County keep the said Benjamin Shockly in safe custody until the next Convention shall take order in the premises.