October 2, 1781

Berkshire Ss At the Supream Judical Court of the Common Wealth of the Massachusetts holden at Great Barrington within and for the County of Bershire upon the Teusday next after the fourth Teusday in September 17811

James Hewet of resident at said great Barrington being Indicted by the Grand jury for Damning the Congress Execrating the Inhabents and army of america and using many insulting and threatning Expression against the united States of america against the Laws in that case mo with an intent to prevent the raising of the army against the peace of the Common Wealth & the dignity of the same and the said James Hewet being set to the bar plead not guilty to the said Indictment and then informed the Court that he was a subject of the King of great Britain and one of the Troops British army taken prisoner at Saratogo

and thereupon it is ordered that the said Sheriff of the said County of Berkshire take the said James into his Custody and that he secure him in Irons send him to Boston & there deliver him to the order of his Excellency the Governor that he may be dealt with as a Prisoner of War

MS (Suffolk Files, no. 159960. Massachusetts Judicial Archives, Boston, Mass.); not in RTP’s handwriting.

1.

This case was heard at the same session of the Supreme Judicial Court as Commonwealth v. Moses Graves, Jr. (above).