HM Council depositions 1686

Joseph Hinson:

deposition before His Majesty's Council, 12 August 1686

The deposition of Joseph Hinson aged 33 years or thereabouts declareth yt about the beginning of October in ye year 1684, coming to towne with Capt Chris. Burrows, Lieut. Willm Seymour, Jeremiah Burrows, Thomas Burton, & a molatto man we landed at ye Towne bridge about three of ye clock in ye afternoon. I saw ye GoverE ye Honble Richard Cony in his walke, and another man at worke by him and Capt Burrows went to him and we rest of ye gang yt wch came with him went another way to repose ourselves at Mr Andrew Manwarings house and there we staid till about two or three o'clock in ye morning, afterwards we went to look for Capt Burrows. I heard ye watch say "who is there", Capt Burrows answered yt it was he, so myself and Jerome Burrows, Thomas Burton went to ye bridge, as we were coming I heard the GoverE say "watch who is there", ye watch made answer & said "none but Capt Burrows, a civill man", ye Gover came forth from his house & said "Watch seize Capt Burrows", ye watch did reply yt he had done noe wrong, soe ye Gover shoved ye watch forward & said "seize him he is a traiterly dog". Capt Burrows said he was noe traitor he would serve the king as long as he could then ye GovE took ye constables staff and struck Capt Burrows severall blows; Capt Burrows retreated back and drew his sword so ye GoverE took up a halbert & struck Capt Burrows sevrall blows; soe Capt Burrows indevoured to defend off ye blows & cryd "pray, good sir, if I have done any wrong lett me be tryed by ye kings laws", soe ye GoverE still continued striking blows on Capt Burrows, so Capt Burrows kept going backwards, at last ye GovE and Capt Burrows closed together & fell to ye ground. Then Jeremiah Burrows said to ye watch "are ye minded to see murder done", and Jeremiah Burrows commanded ye kings peace. Then came Capt John Tucker & led ye GoverE away and further saith not.

Joseph Hinson

Sworne before ye Honble ye Councell ye 12th Augt 1686, and by them excepted under his proviso yt nothing in it conteind should be of force wherein ye depont should be a party.