Robert Thomas v. Henry Pile. Deposition of William Simms Jennifer Guiliano Trevor Muñoz William G. Thomas III transcription and encoding Elizabeth Askren Kaci L. Nash Laura K. Weakly University of Nebraska-Lincoln University of Maryland National Endowment for the Humanities 2014 O Say Can You See University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
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 Deposition of William Simms July 21, 1792 Our transcription is based on a digital image of the original. Maryland State Archives General Court of Western Shore (Judgments) MSA S498-343 Supplementary Documents Deposition Civil Petition for Freedom October 1794 McPherson, Alexander Semple, John Simms, William Thomas, Peg Charles County (Md.) Port Tobacco (Md.) Thomas, Robert Pile, Henry Duvall, Gabriel, 1752-1844 Key, Philip Barton, 1757-1815 Maryland. General Court of the Western Shore Annapolis (Md.) reviewed; edited added xml:ids encoded and transcribed

Charles County Sct. 21 July 1792.

At the Request of Robert Thomas Petitioner for his freedom in the General Court a Revd. Henry Pile, The following Deposition of William Simms, aged aged about Eighty Three years. was Taken. The questions put to him for Plaintiff and Defendant, as Suggested by the Council

and all he knows in the matter

That he knows nothing of the Petitioner or from whom he descended. he has heard by many persons that the Black People Called Mingo had a Right to their freedom and this talk was about the time the Butlers first Contended for their freedom, and have often heard it spoke of since but by What Right they Claimed it so I can't say.

he has seen a black Woman called Peg, belonging John Sewmple in Portobacco, and commonly called Semples Cook.

and further saith not

Willim Sims his W mark

Charles County Ss. 21 July 1792. I do hereby certifie that William Simms being sworn on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God, that the above deposition contains the Whole Truth, to best of his Knowledge

Sworn Before Alexr. McPherson

Admitted to be read in Evidence G. Duvall for Petrs. Philip B Key for defdt.

2

William Simms Deposition

18. Entered

filed 31. Octo 1794.