The Enquirer

BRITISH ROBBERIES & ABOMINATIONS.

FROM THE BURLINGTON (VT.) CENTINEL.

MR. MILLS—

Enclosed are several affidavits and certificates with respect to the barbarous & brutal conduct of those good people who are declared to be the "bulwark of our religion," at Swanton, while on their expedition within our waters last week. Every outrage of the British has as yet been either denied or palliated, if not justified, by men who have the hardihood to call themselves Americans. That the enormities committed at Swanton, will have an effect on the minds of such wretches, is hardly to be expected; but that they will serve to present to the honest farmers and mechanics of our state, the real character of the enemy we are contending with, cannot be doubted. The facts are sworn to, and the magistrate who has taken the evidence, and who has long been a warm and decided federalist, resides in the neighbourhood of the injured persons, and has certified with other citizens, his belief of the truth of the statements. If any honest man should still doubt on the subject, let him repair to Swanton, let him visit the distressed families who have been wantonly stripped, and while he bears from their own lips their tale of woe, and views their destitute condition, he will be satisfied that every word is true as "holy writ."

AN AMERICAN.

J. Candis Esselstyn, of Swanton, do testify and say, that on Monday of the present week, the British force landed at Mr. Manzers. Part of the Soldiers came to our house, and took from us about two sides of leather, one pair of boots, one pair of steel yards, all our knives, forks and spoons of any value, three pewter plates, tea-pot, two bowls, about eighty pounds of sugar, three men's shirts, one pair pantaloons, two new vest patterns, one white cambric gown, one sheet, one pair pillow cases, shoemaker's tools and bench, needles, shears, looking-glass, six pair of stockings, three handkerchiefs, two bonnets, which they tore to pieces and burnt, they took a trunk and all my husband's papers, which were of considerable value, and numerous other things. A young woman by the name of ——, was living in our family; about 14 or 15 soldiers took her, carried her by force into her room, her screeches were unavailing, they shut the door and were there with her a considerable length of time. The young woman told the deponent they did by force what they desired to do: she was extremely abused, and but one out of the number appeared to have any mercy on her, he was a mulatto, as she believed: this deponent fled from the house and did not return until they were gone; a wanton destruction of every kind of property took place, & this deponent is left destitute of almost every article of clothing, and of other things necessary for the use of a family.

CANDIS ASSELSTYNE.

Sworn to, this 7th day of Aug. A. D. 1813.

Before me, Elrazen Brooks, Justice Peace.

I, Andrew Asselstyn, have read the above deposition, and believe it to be substantially true.

ANDREW ASSELSTYNE.

Sworn to, this 7th day of August, A. D. 1813.

Before me, E. Brooks, Justice Peace.

I certify, that the British took from me two shirts, one sheet, and a number of trifling things: they also took from me a black silk handkerchief, and two pair of pantaloons, one pair of which, through the interference of a negro among them, was returned.

GOONRAD ASSELSTYNE

Sworn to, this 7th day of Aug. A. D. 1813.

Before me, E. Brooks, Justice Peace.

I, Polly Seager, testify and say, that the British came to our house on Monday, and took from us, one gown, one shawl, one handkerchief, three pair stockings, six caps, one umbrella, woman's shirt, petticoat, and a great number of small articles, consisting of crockery, wearing apparel, and household furniture.

POLLY SEAGER.

Sworn to, this 7th day of August, A. D. 1813.

Before me, E. Brooks, Justice Peace.

I, Betsey Manzer, testify and say, that on Monday of the present week, the British landed at our landing in Swanton; they entered our house and took from us the following articles, to wit: fifteen sheets, seven pair pillow cases, nine towels, three table cloths, one feather bed, five pair pillows, two coverlids, eight gowns, six women's shirts, three yards red flannel, one red broadcloth cloak, very valuable, one satin bonnet, eleven pounds woolen yarn, four pounds cotton yarn, twenty-one runs of yarn, seven great coats, five men's shirts, seven pair good pantaloons, about one barrel and a half pork, one smoked ham, a set of knives and forks, four spoons, six pair cotton stockings, nine pair woolen do., three pair socks, an auger, saw, half bushel, one side and a half leather, a set of shoemaker's tools, drawing knife, ink stand, trammel, four pairs, two black handkerchiefs, two white cambric do., four cotton checked aprons, new hat from the little boy, thimbles, needles, pins, thread, hymn books, three soaps, two axes, pair anvils, two sleighs, fifteen geese, fifteen hens, our garden pulled up, and almost destroyed. We planted twenty bushels of potatoes, all were taken but about the planting of two bushels, which were too small to pull; destroyed all the writings of value of Mr. Manzer, trod down and destroyed our wheat and flax, took a pair of silver buckles, new coat, three vests, besides a number of articles of small value. Our house was left completely destitute of all the necessaries of life. I applied to the officers, who were continually here, to have the property delivered up: they told me that I must look to our own government for redress. In addition to the above, they went into our orchard, some trees they wholly spoiled, by splitting them; others, limbs were broken off and young trees were extremely injured. I received a personal insult from an officer, but repelled him with disdain. The deponent can only say, that they are by the rapacity of the British outrage left almost destitute of every necessary of life.

BETSEY MANZER.

Sworn to, this 7th day of Aug. A. D. 1813.

Before me, E. Brooks, Justice Peace.

I, Martin Manzer, do testify and say, that I have examined the above deposition, of Betsey Manzer, and believe it substantially true. I further testify, that on the British landing they ordered me to pilot them to Swanton Falls, which I was compelled to do, during which time, the commanding officer threatened to kill me a great many times. I was guarded at Swanton, and returned with them. I further say that a number of my neighbours, from best information, have been robbed of a considerable part of their personal and indoor property.

MARTIN MANZER.

Sworn to, the 7th day of Aug. A. D. 1813

Before me, E. Brooks, Justice Peace.

We, the undersigned, having attended the taking of the depositions hereto annexed, having heard the examination, and witnessed in a degree the barbarous outrages committed on the property of the individuals, do not hesitate to say, that we believe the depositions substantially correct, and also, that other people in the vicinity of their landing have been almost equal sufferers with the unfortunate deponents.

ASHAEL LANGWORTHY,

ELEAZUR BROOKS,

WILLIAM FOSTER,

GEORGE W. POWERS.