HM Council depositions 1686

Joseph Milbourne:

deposition before His Majesty's Council, 10 August 1686

About ye month of March last was tow years having a Negro boy strayed from my service wch I was informed was about ye age of 12 years and had continued in the possession of John Cox, Jane his widdow & Executrix & me in her right ever since his birth, and understanding His Excelly ye Colln. Richard Cony, our GoverE, had seized ye sd boy for ye late Bermuda Compa, I did repaire to his sd Excelly and declard what I heard concerning ye seizing ye said boy & was severall times with his Excelly about ye said boy and was denyd to replevy ye sd boy, after which this depont understood an order of Councell was made yt I should have ye sd boy returned givng security yt he should be forth coming at ye next assizes yt a tryall might be had for ye said boy, whereupon a bond was drawne to yt purpose & I had ye same boy brought to me by ye GoverE boy & I did goe with my security according to ye Secretaries direccon to signe ye said bond, but he being absent none was then taken & afterwards as I remember I did send ye Secretie word to this purpose, yt I would pforme ye sd bond & procure ye sd security as they promised me to signe ye sd bond when they came to Towne againe, but some time after I was committed to prison by His Excelly there to continue till I did deliver him ye said negro boy and I did continue in custody thirteen or fourteen days about which time petitioning his Excellency to this effect as I remember yt if I should deliver ye said boy as I was informed, I must pay for him out of my owne estate being accountable for him to certain legatees whereupon his said Excellency was pleased to release me & order security to be taken by Capt John Hubbard, Depty. Sher. yt ye said boy should not be disposed of but should be forthcoming at the next generall assizes to be held in these Islands yt a tryall for ye said boy should be had wch I have possessed ever since.

Joseph Milbourne

Sworne before ye Councell ye 10th day of Augt. 1686