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MAT, 1902.]
THE WRECK OF THE "DODDINGTON," 1765.
225
was Granted tho' Not without many Interruptions from Chisholm & King.07 Notwithstanding the Air the Carpenter Gives himself in Saying Nothing Should go in the Boat Butt What the Carpenter Appruves of, I Expect I am to have the Directions of Stowing her, and it I Can patt the Carrening Blocks which Are Only 6 in Number in the Boat, without discomoding any Body, hope'a None Would have any Objections, and on the Contrary would not desire it; And as to your Shareing the Money Desire you think better of it; Being of Such Consequence as am Sure will Touch Your lives. King and Chisholm Answered they knew the Laws of their Country as well as I, And they would Run the Risque of hanging; which Ended the dispute.
And for about a month Afterwards was Pretty Quite, When the Carpenter took upon [himself] to Find Fault with me for Taking a Boy in the Boat with me One day when I went the Off Side of the Island To Try if [Ij Could See any of the Treasare. This Boy happend to be One Who assisted the Carpenter, the Very Seldom Employ! and at This Time Was Idl,e; therefore thought it no Crime to take him. He directed, his Discourse to Mi Collett Saying I might Employ my Time much Better in Fishing, than looking About for Treasure, which would be of no Service to any Body here, if he had his Will; Adding if I had been there when the Boat Went of Chain Should not have gone in the Boat And that he had No Business with any Body that belonge'd to Him. Here Mr Collett Interrupted him Saying he thought MT Jones had a Right to Take any Body he pleased in the Boat with him, and if it was Otherwise that for his part, Should be subject to None Else; And as to Looking for the Treasure knew it to be my duty, Adding that he would Vouch if I did not find any thing Else to Detain me, that would Bring in fish, Chisholme was Very Impertinent all this Time and Said I might Spare my Self the Trouble of Looking for Treasure, that if he Thought what was Saved Already would not be Share that he would Take it on his Back and Throw it Over the Rocks, Where it Never Should be seen More. The Carpenter Spoke Next Baying he was hunted ; but Damn him if he would not do the Less for it. When I came in Brought in 10 Large Hish with me butt Could Se Nothing on the Ground where I Expected to find the Ships Bottom. As Soon as I meet Mr Collett He Told me All the Above, Desireing me at the same time Not to Take Any Notice of it, and Not to be so much with the Carpenter, Which Counsel I Took, And only Concerned my Self in Getting up Plank, and Other Things Which we wanted most. It would be Needless to Mention the Abuses I and Mr Collett Receiv, dayly therefore Shall pass Over a Month Which brings me to the Time the Treasure Chest was Broke Open And 600 Pounds Taken Out by the following persons : Viz, Rich Topping Carpenter, Samuel Powell gth Mate, Nath Chis holme Quarter Master, Jno King, Bobt. Beasley, Fore Mast Men, Jno Lester Montrols. The Person who first Found out this Peice of Villainy was soonce, who being Curious to know the Weight of it, found it so light that convinced him, that there could not be much in it; and Turning the Bottom up found it had been Cut with a Chissell, apon which discovery went To the Rest And Told them of it. At Which Peice of News, those that Broke it Open Seem as much Surprized at as any of the Rest, Which Was King and Beasley, who with About 8 More Mett me as I was Comoing towards the Tent, and King in the most Sorryfull manner Told me what had happened. Exclaiming all the way till we came to The Chest Against the Villains that did it, and desire'd in a particular Manner that I would find Some Method to find who they Were. Accordingly, As Soon as I had Secured the Remaining 1600 dollors, MT Collett and I went into the Store Tent and drew up an Oath, which I Offered To Take first, and then Administer it to the others. Some Seeme'd Willing, but Waited for the Carpenter to Take it first, which he Refused, as did all the Rest. I then desire'd it might be postponed till next Sunday, That Whosoever Were the Aggressors Might have an opportunity to Return it or Carry it from Whence they Took it, Which Was agreed upon by all, Excepting the Carpenter Chisholme and Powell, who Satt Mute all the While. I Intreated them all I Could to Return the Money Again ; Telling them it Could Not be kept Secrete, and that Whosoever was the Unhappy people that Took it, and persisted in keeping it, Would Answer for it with Their Lives. This had no Effect for the Tuesday following, this being Sunday. They all took
67 Three Words ordeed.
