But we do assure your Excellency, how ill soever fuse petitioners have deserved of us ; Their Indiscretions shall not be able to make any Impressions on us to their prejudice, but we Avill still go on to Discharge our Dutys according to Law and good Conscience. And though we very well know some Turbulent people amongst us are now busy to scrape up all the Little Complaints they can against us ; We are humbly Con fident that the Groundlessnesse and Untruth of this petition, will Induce your Excellency to give but Litle Credit to any other Suggtstions, people of this sort of Spirit may make against us. We rernaine May it |)lease your Excellency your Excellency's most obed' and most humble Serves W'" Hallett John Smith

John Hunt Johat^ Whitehead

RichJ Betts John Clement

W"' Doughty Wi : Cornell

Jn : Jackson Tim : Bagley.

Jamaica 23 J May 1719. To His Excelh-y Brigadier Hunter Governour of the province of NXiw York et :

PERS RELATING TO CHURCHES IN QUEENS COUNTY. 287

Richard Combs Deputy Constable of Jamaica being Deposed sait'i Having some time ago received a Warrant from diverse Justices of tlie peace of Queens County witji an assessment t'lereto annexed to Levy the Minister's Rate for Jamaica About ten da}s past he went to tlie liouse of Daniel Bull in Jamaica One of the persons taxed in the same Rate and demanded Ids proportion tliereof to whicli demand t]ie said Bull said that he did not know whetlier he would pay it or not This Deponent furtJier saith that on fryday morning last lie witli one man in his Company went again to the said Bull's house and demanded Ids said Riite But Bull fell into a great passion Avitli him and told him he would pay liim nothing on which this Deponent said he must tlien Distrain fur itt but Bull immediately took up an axe Swinging it over this Deponents head said in very great hast he would split his brains if he touched am thing there that one Jacamiah Denton presently came to the window wiiora this Deponent Commanded in the King's name to assist him but he Laughed and said he woidd not obey lura and said he was no Constable and refused Then this Deponent told the said Daniel Bull he would go and get more Company to Assist him to make the Distress to which Bull said you may go as soon as you will for File get an Army ready to meet you Tins Deponent did then Liimediately go up and down the Town and musterred up about Sixteen or Seventeen people to assist 1dm and sent Messengers to some Justices of tlie peace to actpiaint them with tliis matter M'' Justice Clement went along with this Deponent towards the said Bull's house where they saw M*" Justice Whitehead who Came over to them Tiiat being now before the said Bull's Door he the said Bull with One William Carman Samuel Ludlam Robert Denton Hezekiali Denton Henry Ludlam and Ephraim Smith stood there with great Clubbs in their hands and strip t to their Wastcoats Then this Deponent addressing himself to the said Bull told him he came to Distrain for the Ministers Rate but Bull told him he should make no Distress there Then this Deponent Commanded the said persons who stood with their Clubbs to Assist him in making the Distress but they refused & Lifting up their Clubbs bid him come if lie durst and gave him