The enrolled members of the Company, in whom the right of election rested, preferred one of their own number, John Cock, for their Captain ; and when the Poll was closed, it wiis found that the aristocratic aspirant had received only eleven votes, while his plebeian ojiponent had received forty-eight, and one had been given to William Betts.^ The defeated aspirant subsequently complained that, although his successful opponent had signed the Amociation, he had done so without having heartily approved it, supporting his charge with an affidavit of William Hadley,' who had aspired to the First Lieutenancy

1 That " Militia Bill," in extetao, waa published as a Note to the Jmurnal of (he Ptovittcial Oongrexs, " l>ie JIartis. 9 ho., A.M., August 22, "177.")."

2 Votes of thf. MilUia Embodyed in ye PrecinH of Che Ynnkerf and of ojicer» names this 24 August, 1775. -- HMnriciil Mumiscrqitf, etc. : MHilanj Jteturns, xxvi., 23 ; xxvii., 263.

3 " Wf.st< h>:ster Oov.s-tv, ss.

" William Haiiley, of tlie said Couiitv, yeoman, jxTSoiially appeaiMl

I of the Company, and had received only twelve of the sixty votes which were cast for that office;* and, of course, the Committee of Safety of the County transmittecl the affidavit to the Provincial Coni gress, promising to supplement what w;us then i sent with evidence that Cock had "spoken very dis- I "respectfully of the Congress;"' and invitingthat body ! to withhold the Commission to which Cock was en-

■ titled under the provisions of the Congress's own enactment.^ Six days afterwards, fifty-nine of the