trates into Acts of Indiscretion, that might wear the appearance of Persecution; and stories to ground all their Transactions against him, on a Settled Dislike to his Office, as one that the People wish to be entirely rid of. He wants to induce a Belief in his Superiors that he is persecuted for a strict Adherence to his Duty, which he doubts not will procure him Preferment.

"It is not the Office but the Officer that is unpopular in the Province. He ascribes to himself the Attributes of Majesty, and considers himself as out of the Reach of the Laws that his Person and his Servants are sacred, and not to be called to account for even the most attrocious crimes; -that his very Potatoes are to be treated with so much Respect, that a Servant employed in gathering them, must not be arrested tho' charged on Oath with a Design against the Life of a Subject! It is by no means strange that a Mind under the Influence of such Ideas should, on the other Hand consider the People of the Country as in a State of Rebellion, disregarding all Laws but such as they can exercise to the Oppression of his Majesty's Officers, and carrying on an illicit Trade in open Deflance of them, and that he should ascribe to the magistrates against whom he complains, an unbounded Influence over the Bulk of the People, and a more Arbitrary Exercise of Power than the Bashaws of Turkey could arrive at.

Some Notes taken by the Dept. Secretary on the Examination of John Hatton, Esqr before the Governor & Council, Febr. 23, 1771.

"John Hatton Esqr being examined by the Governor in Council says:

"That he resides in Cold Spring in the County of Cape May 50, or 60 miles or more from Salem,-that he does not know how far it is from Cohansie,-does not know where Cohansie is.-believes it is in Cumberland County-it is not in Cape May. Does not know any Place called Cohansie, but knows a Creek or River of that Name.

"Saw Inspector Williams, who was down at Cape May twice; saw him there but once being from Home the other

Time he came down. Mr. Williams borrowed Hatton's Book of Letters and returned it to him. Know a Person of the name of Murch who is a Gentleman,-believes he was a Merchant, was acquainted with him,-received several Letters from him, but never sent any one of his Letters to the Commissioners. Does not recollect receiving any remarkable Letter from Murch characterizing the People of this Province. Does not know that he, Murch, was ever taken up by a Magistrate or committed to Prison. Since Murch went to England has recd a Letter from him (last Fall or Summer) requesting he would procure him a Cer-tificate of the safe landing of some Tea he had to Philadelphia consigned to one Mr. Boyd to sell. Is very clear he never sent a Copy of a Letter from Murch, to the Commissioners."

Some Notes taken by the Depy. Secretary on the Examination of John Hatton junr Febr 23d 1771.

"John Hatton junr examined by the Governor & Counon Oath says:

cil,

"His Father resides at Cold Spring in the County of Cape May, knows Salem,-has been there, but does not know the Distance they are apart,-never travelled that Road,— it is above 5 miles,-not 100,-nor 80,-has heard it is about 60, or 70 Miles. Remembers Mr Murch, an Englishman, Christian Name John he thinks,-does not know his Occupation, heard he intended to purchase Lands, but that he did not purchase any,-has seen him at his Father's House, -Mr. Murch wrote several Letters to his Father, one of which he remembers characterises the People, but does not remember what Character it gave,-believes he may havecopied this Letter-(Objects to answering such questions as reveal his Father's Secrets) Afterwards says, his Father did transmit a Copy of the Letter to the Commissioners; this Letter declared Murch did not choose to purchase Lands in such a Country. Remembers there was something about the Governor in it,-is certain it was wrote by Murch, does not know how the Letter came to the House,.. but saw it after it came.

"Never was at Cohansie,-does not know how far it is from his Father's House."

Copy of a Letter from the Commissioners of the Customs, to Governor Franklin.

"His Excellency Governor Franklin,

"Sir: Mr. Hatton Collector of Salem & Cohensy having represented to us that in the month of November last a large Ship called the Prince of Wales, Captain Crawford, arrived in Delaware Bay either from London or Liverpool which Ship was met by Several Pilot Boats (and as he had been informed) were employed to receive sundry Contraband Goods from on board said Vessel, that he attempted to go on board of her, but that they manned their Sides with Guns &c and threatened to Murder him, that he had made Seizures of one of the Pilot Boats, having some of those Goods on board, which was afterwards rescued out of his Hands by a number of Persons in a Barge belonging to the Ship, upon which occasion, he, his Son and a Negro Servant, were treated in a most barbarous manner, greatly wounded and with great difficulty got on Shore. That his Son was, afterwards met by a number of Sailors in Philadelphia, tarr'd and feathered, put in the Pillory, dragged by a Rope through the Water, and left in such a Condition that his life was despaired of-We thought it necessary to transmit Copies of the several Papers, laid before us, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury. We have since received further Accounts from Mr. Hatton complaining of the Conduct of the Magistrates, & of Distresses & Embarrassments which have appeared to us to be most extraordinary and in some Instances improbable, but as he informs us that your Excellency has issued your Proclamation and that the matter was to be heard before your Excellency and your Council on the 21st of February, We should be glad you would be pleased to acquaint us with the Result of this Enquiry, that we may be able to form a true Judgment of the Conduct of our Officer.--

"We are with great Regard Sir Your Excellency's Most Obedient Humble Servants,

HEN. HULTON,

WM. BURCH,

BENJ. HATTOWELL.

Custom House Boston 26th March 1771.

Hatton, it will be noted by a careful perusal of the foregoing correspondence, was a man whose word seemed to be doubted. It is said of him that all through the Revolution he made himself particularly offensive, and was a Tory of the strictest kind. He was probably the only pronounced one in Cape May county. He lived on his plantation at Cold Spring, which was owned by the late Daniel B. Hughes, and this property was the only Tory's property confiscated in the county, of which notice is made further on in this history. Were it not for the leniency of the neighborhood, Hatton would have had more of a rough experience during the Revolution than he did.

CHAPTER XIII.

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.

On April 29, 1771, the following military commissions. were issued for Cape May county:

Thomas Hand, Colonel; John Mackey, Lieutenant-Colonel; Joseph Savage, Major; Downs Edmunds, Adjutant. For the Lower Precinct: Silas Swain, Captain; Seth Whilden, Lieutenant; Levi Eldridge, Ensign.

For the Middle Precinct: Jacob Hand, Captain; Philip Cressey, Lieutenant; Jonathan Jenkins, Ensign.

For the Upper Precinct: Nicholas Stillwell, Captain; Enoch Stillwell, Lieutenant; Joseph Edwards, Ensign.

On November 7, 1770, Eli Eldredge was commissioned Sheriff of the county, and he served from 1771 to 1774. Eli Eldredge was born about 1730, and was the son of Samuel Eldredge. In the Revolutionary War he was First Major of Militia from August, 1775, to June, 1776. He was a member of the Legislature from 1773 to 1779, and was Clerk of Cape May county from 1779 to 1802.

On December 21, 1771, the following were chosen the "Commissioners of the Peace" for the county: William Smith, Thomas Leaming, James Whilden, Joseph Corson, Jacob Hand, Daniel Swain, Henry Hand, Reuben Ludlam, James Godfrey, John Mackey, Joseph Savage.

This letter of Aaron Leaming, who was about attending the Assembly at New Brunswick, which he had written to his constituents, is interesting, but when perusing it the reader should use his imagination in recalling expectant events at home:

"To the Freeholders of the County of Cape May:

"Gentlemen:—

"Whereas there is a great Probability of a war, and the king having ordered an augmentation of his Forces; and