Tyrrel County

16th July 1777}

Benjamin Harrison (son of Thomas) being broug[ht] before us Justices for the County aforesaid being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God deposeth & saith. That at his Fathers house Daniel Legate asked him if he would swear to keep a Secret, which he this Deponent agreed to & Legate swore him & then read the Constitution to him, what H he wanted this Deponent to swear to, but this Deponent objected as he could not read it himself, then as an inducement to this Deponent to take the Second Oath he mentioned that several considerable People were concerned in it particularly, Stewart, Sherrard, Lewhellen & Hays, in Martin County, Wm Brimage, Peleg Belote & one Brogdan in Bertie, besides some people in this County, upon this Deponents refusing to swear to stand by & support the Constitution, the said Legate then requested him to take an Oath to keep it secret, which this deponent did. The said Legate read to him a third Oath the purport of which was that [under injuctions of several illegible that they illegible of] any persons being Draughted or pressed to go to war against there will, that they should not be suffered to go but should be relieved there was several ^other^ matters in the Oath which this Deponant cannot recollect & this Deponent further saith that he heard Legate say that he General How had [some] hint of matters carrying on by the Associators before [illegible]

This Deponent further saith that he refused to take [illegible] the third Oath, & then ^Legate^ swore him again to Secrecy, This Depone[nt] [fu]rther [sai]th [illegible illegible] informed [illegible illegible illegible illegible] was swore as a Senior Warden & further this Deponent saith not—

Benjamen harisson

Benjamen Harrison principal £100

Jonathan Davies Security £100

for appearance at the next Court of Oyer & Terminer to be held at Edenton

Sworn & acknowledged before us

Archd Corrie J.P

Chas. Johnson

[Benjamin] Harrison
Son of Thomas—
Makes principals
Sundry Com fees