Legal Papers of John Adams, volume 1

Deposition of John Newbegin<a xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0" href="#LJA01d021n1" class="note" id="LJA01d021n1a">1</a>: 19 January 1773 Newbegin, John

1773-01-19

1774-07-09

Deposition of John Newbegin: 19 January 1773 Newbegin, John
Deposition of John Newbegin1
19 January 1773

I John Newbegin of Lawful Age testify and say that the Evening of the 18th Day of March 1766 Silas Burbanks spake to me and told me a number of People were to meet at his House next Evening and 124were going to take a walk, that he had wanted to see me a good while and ask'd me if I would come. I promised I would and accordingly I did; Timothy Stuart, Samuel Stuart, Jonathan Andrews Jnr. with several others met there the Evening of the 19th of said Month and the said Silas was present, it was then proposed by some of the Company to go down to Mr. Richard Kings to punish his Body (because they said he had been a bad Man, destroy'd the poor and taken away Peoples Estates) which was agreed to by the above named Persons and about nine oClock, (I judge it was) they set out I went with them as far as the Road against his House but did not go out of the Road. The Reason I did not was because I found by their talk they were going to carry Matters further than I expected, but the said Silas Burbank, and Timothy Stuart, Samuel Stuart Jonathan Andrews Jur. with others go into the House and Shop as they told me afterwards and were all active in breaking open the House and Shop and doing the Mischief that was done, we all return'd to said Burbanks and staid there an Hour or more; there I saw several of the said Richard Kings Notes of Hand which the said Silas either read or delivered to some of the Company to read and then they were thrown into the Fire and burnt up, one by one as they were read. Among others I remember a Note against Nathl. Milliken two or three Notes against some of the Stuarts either the Father or Sons or both all payable to said Richard, and there were among other Papers said Burbanks and some of the others shewed which were brought from Mr. Kings—Burbanks said they broke open Mr. Kings Desk to get his Papers and some or other of the Company mentioned destroying the Pewter and hacking the Walls of the House. The breaking the Windows I heard; they made a very great Noise breaking in and doing the mischief, but said but little. Further I say that we waited some time before we went to Mr. Kings for John Stuart the Father of the above named Stuarts, Amos Andrews and Jonathan Andrews, some of the Company saying they had promissed to come, and Amos Andrews afterwards told me he designed to, and should, have been there but he was not well. I have heard the said John Stuart, Amos Andrews, and Jonathan Andrews often say since that they were very glad the Thing was done, and let what would come they would bear their part of the Cost that might arise, and from frequent conversation with them, I understood clearly perceived they were knowing and advising to the said Riot before it was committed. And I know they three did contribute Money to get Burbanks out of Gaol at York where he was comitted for an Offence in rescuing some Oxen from Benja. Hooper an Officer, and the Reason they paid 125for him was for fear he should turn Kings Evidence2 if he could not get out any other Way. The said John Stuart, Amos Andrews and Jonathan Andrews always appeared as much concern'd about being discover'd as the others.

John Newbegin Verification omitted.

And the said Newbegin being asked if he saw Amos Andrews pay any money to get Burbank out of Gaol, answers that he did not, but that he went to Amos Andrews and asked him to pay it, and said Amos say'd he had not the money then but he would get it and pay it shortly.—and some time afterwards said Andrews told him he had paid it.

Sworn in Court at Falmouth July 9, 1774. Att. Sam Winthrop Cler.
1.

19 Jan. 1773, SF 139645. Signed by the deponent. Note that this deposition and the one that follows were also “Sworn in Court” at the action of review in July 1774, indicating that the deponent took the stand and reaffirmed the substance of his testimony.

2.

Presumably this refers to the Crown and not to the plaintiff.

Deposition of Jonathan Wingate<a xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0" href="#LJA01d022n1" class="note" id="LJA01d022n1a">1</a>: 16 June 1773 Wingate, Jonathan

1773-06-16

Deposition of Jonathan Wingate: 16 June 1773 Wingate, Jonathan
Deposition of Jonathan Wingate1
16 June 1773

I Jonathan Wingate of lawful age testify and say that about eight or ten days before Mr. Richard Kings house and shop were broken open in March 1766 I was in a Shoemaker's shop belonging to one Hodgdon not thirty rods from my own house when Amos Andrews came into said shop and soon of his own motion began to discourse about the mobbing and riots that had lately happened in several parts of the province and then said the Mr. Richard King was reported to be a very bad man, took all advantages of people, was a near neighbour to him and he had found him very troublesome and he thought it would be a good scheme to mob him, and that it would do him good that such a thing had been talked of for some time in their road and he would join in it and he asked me if I would too; some days after this I was going by his door upon my private business. Seeing him standing at his door I stopped and we renewed the discourse on the same subject; which of us then began it I don't remember; but he then said it was a very good thing to pay Mr. King a visit and to mob him; that he might be made a better man by it, and said he would go, and again asked me if I would go too; he also desired me to speak to Mr. John Stewart to ask his advice about it as I was then to go by his house about my business I accordingly went into Mr. Stewart's house and coming out of it I met him coming in I then related to him what had 126passed between Mr. Andrews and me about Mobbing Mr. King as aforesaid; and that Mr. Andrews had desired me to talk with him about it; and I then asked him whether he thought it was best to do it; to which he replied with earnestness yes by all means; which I think he repeated. In my way home from Mr. Amos Andrews to Mr. Stewarts I called at Jonathan Andrews' Shop with whom I conversed on the same subject but do not remember which of us began the conversation; he said it would be a good thing to pay Mr. King a visit and that he might be made a better man by it. I have frequently conversed with the above three persons about the riot at Mr. King's house, since, and they have frequently expressed their approbation of and satisfaction in what had been done; and said Stewart and Amos Andrews declared they would stand by it and every one would be a fool that would not and from conversation with said Jonathan I have no doubt but he was of the same mind. Said Stewart and Amos Andrews have to my Knowledge used their endeavours by persuasions to prevent any persons from being witnesses for Mr. King and making discovery of any persons concerned and declared that nothing would be too bad for any one that should. And Amos Andrews told me he was to be and should have been present himself at the Riot, but was prevented by the Colic or the Belly Ach.

Jona. Wingate Verification omitted. Sworn in Court July 1774 Att. Sam Winthrop Cler.
1.

16 June 1773. SF 139645. Signed by the deponent.