Deposition of Daniel Leggett, 13 August 1777

Transcription

State of NoCarolina

Chowan County Ss.

Personally appeared Daniel Leggett who being sworn on the Holy Evangelist Deposeth & says that he went from Bertie to Martin County to the House of John Collins where he stayed all night being Saturday the seventh day of June from thence he went the next morning to James Sherrod to a meeting where one Rawlings was to preach the said Rawlings took this Deponent out on one side and asked this Deponent what he thought of the times, who answered he did not know but that they were very bad. The said Rawlings asked this Deponent if he did not think they were in great danger of loosing their Religion that it was reported that Thirteen or Fourteen Persons in the ^Provincial^ Congress had ~~damned~~ ^objected^ the Trinity the said Rawlings asked the Deponent if he did not think it would be a good Thing if the People were to join in a Society to support their Religion, who answered he thought it would. The said Rawlings then asked this deponent if he would Join in such an undertaking who replied he thought he could. The said Rawlings then asked this Deponent if such a thing was on hand if he would ^not^ swear to keep a Secret he replied he thought he could keep a secret he then asked this Deponent if he would swear who said he thought he could, the said Rawlings having a book in his Pocket swore this deponent to Secrecy, he then told this deponent there was such a thing in hand, that they had formed Constitutions as a Guide to go by, that there was a Man appointed to keep them and provided I would swear to keep his name ~~secret~~ & all he should read or say to this deponent secret he would give this deponent a Sign to go to him that he might know he was and that he had been qualified in order to go to him after this deponent had been Qualified Rawlings then told him James Sherrod had the Constitution & Oath and was called Senior Warden, the said Rawlings gave this deponent a Stick with three notches in it to carry to Sherrod who by that knew this deponent had been Sworn twice, that when this deponent gave Sherrod the Stick he asked him what he gave it for who said for a Sign, he Sherrod, said a Sign of what ~~who~~ this deponent said a sign of a Word, he Sherrod, said have you that. Deponent answered I have, he Sherrod said give it to me. Deponent said he would Letter it with him, he said begin, deponent said B. Sherrod said E. I said, T. He said R. Deponent said U. Sherrod said E. Then Sherrod read the Constitution to this deponent, who then Swore this deponent and gave him the other sign and this deponent says that since the scheme of the Association has been discovered he wandered about from place to place and has been supplied with Victuals by Josiah Harrison and further he says not—

Daniel Legett

Daniel Legget voluntarily came and appeared before us again and Deposeth that he Swore the follow Persons into the late Conspiracy. To wit, Peterson Brogdon of Bertie County, John Brogdon of said County who only swore two Oaths, John Skiles of said County, William Brogdon of said County, Aaron Brogden of said County, William Skiles of said County who this deponent only swore to the Constitution, Robert Knox of do. & only do., Michael Ward of do. & do., George Ward of do. & do., William Brimage of do & do., William Adams of do & do, Lemuel Hyman of do. & do., John Hurst of do. & do., John [Bysrick] of do & do, John Stewart the third ^& 4th^ Oath, William Collins, all three Oaths, Richard Fagan do., Nathaniel Everit do., William Shields one Oath, the above all of Martin County.