986 PAPERS RELATIxXG TO

DriSKill whose house was in their road, when they came to Driskills house he told the Serjt he knew of no Deserters & that it was false who ever had told him that his daughter was married to one -- as the Serj' had been inform'd by the people of the Country tliat Driskill was a man of bad character and did knowingly entertain Deserters, he secured said Driskill who then confess'd that his daughter was married to a Deserter from tlie 55'^ and that he knew of one Armstrong from Gage's light Infantry & would assist him in taking them, after the Serg' had settled with Driskill in what manner they were to act, he with one man of his party went to a house a little distance from Driskills, and after they were got into bed the above mentioned Jonathan Mead a Blacksmith with about thirty other people forced into the house and drag'd the Serjt and Allan Cooper a Granadier into ditferent rooms and beat tliem in a most cruel manner, saying Damn the King and all such raschally fellows that were after Deserters, and after they were tir'd of beating them kept them prisoners all night witliout having any proper authority for it, the next morning Samuel Smith a Constable & likewise an Officer of the malitia, came to them and said he had a warrant to take him the Serj^ and his party before a Justice of the peace, the Serj' then directed liim to the house where the rest of the party was who were also secured and with him carried before Justice Roswell Hopkins, who abused them very much saying that Lieu' Lyons his Oificer & he deserv'd both to be hang'd & utter'd many abusive expressions & would not even suffer them to say any thing in their defence but comitted them unheard to the common Goal, nor would the Justice take the least cognisance of their information against Driskill for concealing Deserters, nor of Mead the Blacksmith heading a possy breaking into the house where tliey lay, beating them in a most terrible manner and using y^ traiterous expressions he did against the Kings Sacred Majesty.