Jonathan Clark' s Affidavit

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SOUTH-CAROLINA, Ninety-Six District:

This day personally appeared before me Jonathan Clark, resident upon the banks of Saluda River, in the Cherokee country, who being duly sworn sayeth, that on or about the thirteenth instant, being in the Cherokee country aforesaid, he saw and conversed with John Garwick, an intimate friend and countryman of Alexander Cameron, Deputy Superintendent among the Cherokee Indians, touching the danger of the Cherokees commencing hostilities; that if there was any danger, he, the said Jonathan, might remove in time to a place of security; and that he spoke on this subject to the said John, because of his close connection with the said Alexander, and thereby of his, the said John' s, ability to give information touching that subject; that on this subject the said John answered that he, Jonathan, need not be under any apprehensions of danger, until such time as there should be some disturbances below in the country, between the King' s Army and the Colonists, and that then it would be high time for him, the said Jonathan, to take care of himself, and remove from the frontiers. Also, the said John continued his discourse, and said that about three weeks then last past, the said Alexander had held a meeting with the Cherokee Indians, at which about four hundred of them were assembled, when he, the said John, heard the said Alexander tell the said Indians, that the people of America had used the King very ill, and had killed a considerable number of his Army, and that the King was to send out more soldiers to suppress them; that the Indians ought not to turn against their father, (meaning the King) but that they should join

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The said John also further said, that the said Alexander did all he could to influence the said Indians to join the King' s forces against the people of Carolina; and who could blame him for doing so, since he, the said Alexander, was in the King' s service. Also, that in conclusion, about forty of the said Indians turning their backs to the said Alexander, discharged their guns; and then the whole assembly sat up the war-whoop, which he, the said John, said was as a signal that they, the said Indians, approved the discourse of the said Alexander, and agreed to what he had said. And further this deponent saith not.

JONATHAN CLARK.

Sworn and signed before me, this 21st day of August, 1775:

WM˙ HENRY DRAYTON, Quorum Unus.

SOUTH-CAROLINA, Ninety-Six District:

This day personally appeared before me James Wood, John Wood, Moses Wood, and John Prince, of the .District aforesaid, who being severally sworn according to law, say that they know the above-mentioned Jonathan Clark, believe him to be an honest man and worthy of credit, and that they do not know any thing to the prejudice of his reputation. And further the said deponents say not.

JAMES WOOD,
MOSES WOOD,
JOHN WOOD,
JOHN PRINCE.

Sworn and signed before me this 21st day of August, 1775:

WM˙ HENRY DRAYTON, Quorum Unus.