John Lymburner Deposition

I John Lymburner of Lawful age do testify and say that I taken a Prisoner by the Americans at the Siege of Penobscot, and was in close confinement on board the Brig Hazard, in Irons, and Archibald Heney was also Prisoner with me at the same time aboard the Hazard, we were treated very severely for adhereing to the British troops, called Tories and Refugees, was threatened to be hanged as soon as they had taken Fort George. When the English Fleet arrived we were carried up Penobscot River under the command of an American Officer with a guard of about twenty or thirty men and we understood that we were to be carried through the woods to Kennebuk - but soon after we got into the woods, said Haney and myself ran away from them back to Penobscot River and got aboard of a British Vessel lying at Sandy point in Penobscot River, and said Haney was appointed a Pilote aboard said Vessel to carry her to Fort George, when we both arrived safe in said Vessel, and sent immediately to the Fort, where we were congratulated on our Escape- The General inquired particularly how the Americans used us. We told him that we were treated with the greatest severity. We drew Rations from that time for ourselves, and after a few days for our Families during the time we were on the Neck, which was about three or four years - I considered myself as a British Subject and understood that sd. Heney did the same, and we, myself & said Heney, were received and treated by the British Troops as faithfull & loyall Subjects to the Kind of Great Britain I took the Oath of Allegiance to the King before the Siege, which as I was born a British Subject, I freely did, I understood that said Heney did the same, and I understood that every man that tarried here did the same, but never heard of any man's being compelled to take the Oath - for I always understood that every man that was not willing to take the Oath might go off with all their property upon applying to the General for leave which was frequently done and granted And I further say that I went before Col Goldthwait; one of his magesty's Justices of the Peace, of my own accord & acknowledged myself to be a faithfull subject to the Kind of Great Britain and Swore Allegiance to him, and the said Justice told me that the said Archibald Heney had done the same and that he had made a Record of all that had taken the Oath, which Records I understood were sent to St. John's - And I the Deponent further say that John Campbell was Commander in Chief of Fort George and was called Brigadier General that I was well acquainted with his handwriting and that I believe that the Paper annexed to this Deposition Signed by John Campbell B. Genl. is the said Commander's own handwriting.

John Lymburner

Lincoln Ss. 12th May 1788. Then John Lymburner personally appeared before me, and after being carefully examined and cautioned to testify the whole truth and nothing but the truth made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration by him subscribed. Taken at the request of Archibald Haney to be used ---at the Supreme Judicial Court next to be holden at Pownalborough within & for the county of Lincoln on the second Tuesday following the fourth Tuesday of June next, in a tryal of an action or plea of tresspass then & there to be heard wherin Archibald Haney is appellant and Thomas Thompson is appellee. The Deponent -- living more than thirty miles from the place of tryal is the cause of this caption the said Thompson the appellee being more than twenty miles from this place of caption was not notified nor present at the taking hereof- Before me Joseph Hibbert J peace

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