High Sheriff of the City & County of Albany, to assist in a Posse of the County to be raised by him in obtaining Possession of the House & Farm of James Brakenridge at Wallomskack by virtue of a writt of Possession to him directed. Issued out of the Supreme Court.of Judicature of New York : in consequence of which Summons he with many others attended the Sheriff to' the House (said to be the said Brakenridge's): that at their coming theire they found (as they had been before inform'd) the House

NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS. Bef

to appearance full of men and the Doors fastened and Loop Holes made therein as well as in. other parts of the House which he believes were made to make Defence in Case any attempt of violence should be made on said House: that the Sheriff demanded admittance which those from within refused, on which the Sheriff told them who he was & inform'd them of his Business and asked whether they were within hearing they answered in the affirmative on which the Sheriff Standing at the Door with Robert Yates Esq" the latter read the writt of Possession with an audable voice which they from within disregarded and persisted in refusing admittance. On which the greatest Part of the Posse being retired being intimated by a considerable number of armed men on the South East & another Party on the north of said House at the Distance of about one hundred yard from said House : the Sheriff endeavoured several times to rally the Posse, but was left with this Deponent and about twenty others on the Spot, and once when the Sheriff knock'd with his Hanger against the Door this Deponent hear'd as it were the Cocking of Fire arms and looking towards the North (which the Door of the House faced) saw several men stand in the Posture of fireing, and verily believes that if the Sheriff had attempted to force open the Door that several Lives would have been lost, and as the Sheriffs Party were unarmed (except a very few) this Deponentis convinced that the sheriff did all that a prudent man could do to obtain the Possession at said Brakenridge's and his Bad success there made it impossible for him to keep the Posse to go as he said to one Fuller's on a like Errand,