The deponent then proceeded to Hinsdale with said prisoners Where he found John Groutan Attorney at Law in the County aforesaid advising with the before mentioned Deans; said Grout desired to know of the deponent which way he determined to Travell with the said Deans to New York, said Grout said he thought it best to go Thro' the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, Where provision was made by the Law of that Province that the deponent may Travel with his prisoners unmolested and in ease there should be an attempt to Rescue the Prisoners he had a Right to Require the people of the County to assist him, but the deponent told said Grout that he should Take further advice before he set out, and on the monday . morning following, being the fourth day of September 1769 said Wells Came to Hinsdale where the deponent and the said Wil-

628 CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE

lard and William the said prisoners were and after said Wells having Opportunity to advise with said Willard and William, said Wells came and asked the deponent which way he had determined to go to New York, the Deponent told said Wells that he had determined to go across the mountains and Woods to Albany, the said Wells then said the deponent had better go thro' the Massachusetts, that he Imagined there could be no Difficulty attending his going Thro' that Province, and advised the Deponent to Go thro' the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, but the depot the day following set out for Albany across the woods with his prisoner and assistants, and on their way met said Samuel Wells, who said to the deponent then you are Determined to go acros the Woods, the Deponent Answered. he had, said Wells then said he wished the Deponent had gone thro' the Province of the Massachusetts Bay for if he had said Wells said that Grout, meaning the before mentioned Grout, would have been Ready for the deponent and his Assistants at Springfield or some where along there, Who would have arrested the deponent and his assistants and Committed them to Goal, and the prisoners then would have gone at Large the said Wells then said that whenhe went to Hinsdale, the day before he had determined to send said Grout into the Massachusetts, to fix matters against the deponent got there with his prisoners, that the Deponent and his assistants' might be arrested but the said Wells said when he got to Hinsdale he found that said Grout was gone into the Massachusetts for the last mentioned purpose.