Virginia Fairfax County Sct. [3 December 1778]
Lawrence Sandford Mariner, of full Age, deposeth & sayeth, that some time in the Year 1776 he this Depot. was called upon to appraise & value upon Oath sundry Sails which were taken & seized for the Use of the Potomack Navy, from a Brigantine of Doctor William Savage's then lying at the Mouth of Quantico Creek in Potomack River, that all the said Sails were in very bad Condition, & so mildewed & rotten that they were unfit for Use, or carrying a Vessel to Sea, except one, a small forestay-sail, that this Depot. Capt. Richd. Conway (who is now down the Country) Mr. Thomas Flemming & Mr. Thomas Crafts were sworn to appraise and value the said sails, which they minutely examined, & appraised at the price they were then worth; but what the exact amount was this Depot. doth not now remember, but thinks it was twenty odd pounds; that this Depot. does not think any of the said Sails, except the before mentioned small forestay-sail, was worth the charge of refitting or altering; that this Depot. at the time commanded the Brigantine Adventure in the Commonwealth's Service, loading with Tobacco at Alexandria, & was frequently on board the different vessels of the Potomack Navy, as they were fitting up for public Service; & knows that the said sails were not, nor cou'd not be made use of for the said Vessels, otherwise than as Oakum Bags, to stuff the Nettings; to which use most of them were applyed; that this Depot. knows that the Managers of the Potomack Navy were under great Difficultys in procuring Sails & other Necessaries for fitting up the armed Vessels, and were very anxious to get them equipped for Defence, in Case any of the Enemie's Vessels shou'd come up the River, before they were compleated; which this Depot. believes was the Reason why the abovementioned Sails (as well as some others of much better Quality from other Vessels) were seized; and this Depot. further sayeth that one of the Mariners who had belonged to Doctor Savages Brig, & said he had been her Boatswain, told this Depot. that the said Brig had other & better Sails than those which had been seized but they had been secreted & kept out of the Way—that this Depot. was on board the said Brig of Doctor Savage's early in the Year 1775, that she was then in very bad Condition, & this Depot. thinks cou'd not have been ventured to Sea with any tollerable Safety, that he himself wou'd not have taken the Command of such a Vessel, or have gone to Sea in her; that she was an old Shattered Vessel, & as this Depot. understood had been purchased as a Wreck, or condemned Vessel by Doctor Savage at Norfolk; who after being at considerable Expence, sent her on a voyage to Ireland, from whence she returned, & had been laid up a long time at Quantico, when the said Sails were seized, and her Hands discharged, except one, the beforementioned Boatswain, who this Depot. understood was left to take Care of the Riggin & Apparrel of the said Vessel, which this Depot. understood & believes was unfit to go to Sea again—and further this Depot. sayeth not.
(Alexandria April 2 2nd. 1778 The above deposition was taken in the presence of & sworn to before)
J. P. Virginia Fairfax County Sct.
Thomas Flemming of the said County Ship-Carpenter; being of full age, deposeth & sayeth, that some time in the Summer of the Year 1776 he this Depot. was called upon to appraise & value upon Oath sundry Sails which he understood were taken & seized by George Mason & John Dalton Esqrs. for the Use of the Potomack Navy, from a Brigantine of Doctor William Savage's then lying in the Mouth of Quantico Creek in Potomack River; that all the said Sails were in very bad Condition & so mildewed, & rotten that they were unfit for Use, or carrying a Vessel to Sea; except one, a small Sail commonly a fore-Stay-Sail; that this Depot. Capt. Richd. Conway (who is now down the Country) Capt. Lawrence Sandford, & Mr. Thomas Crafts were sworn to appraise & value the said Sails, which after due Examination, they accordingly did at about twenty three or twenty four pounds (this Depot. can't now recollect the exact Sum) which at the then [prevailing] prices, were the full Value of them; that this Depot. does not know what use were afterwards made of the said Sails; but does not think that any of them, except the before mentioned small fore-Stay-Sail, cou'd have been made Sea-worthy; or were worth the charge of fitting on or altering; that the abovementioned Brigantine lay some time in the Harbour of Alexandria, & this Depot. understood was a Wreck which Doctor Savage had purchased at Norfolk, & been at considerable charge in fitting out for Sea, & had made a voyage to Ireland before she came to Alexandria; that she went from Alexandria to the Mouth of Quantico, where she had been laid up a long time, when the said Sails were taken from her, & this Depot. understood was intended to sold or condemned as unfit for Sea, and further this Depot. sayeth not.
[Ramsay's endorsement also appears here.]
Virginia Fairfax County Sct.
Thomas Crafts Sail-Maker of the said County, being of full Age, deposeth & saith, that some time in the Summer of the Year 1776 he this Depot. was called upon to appraise & value upon Oath Sundry Sails which he understood were seized & taken by George Mason & John Dalton Esqrs. for the Use of the Potomack Navy, from a Vessel belonging to Doctor William Savage, then lying at the Mouth of Quantico in potomack River, that the said Sails were of different kinds, & eight in Number; that all the said Sails were in very bad Condition, & rotten, except one, a small Sail, commonly called a fore-Stay-Sail, & that no Vessel could have used or gone to Sea with them; that this Depot. Capt. Richard Conway (who is now down the Country) Capt. Lawrence Sandford, & Mr. Thomas Flemming were sworn to appraise & value the said Sails that they accordingly after a minute Examination, valued & appraised the said Sails at twenty three pounds some odd Shillings, this Depot. can't now recollect the precise Sum, but it did not amount to twenty four pounds; which according to the then Prices, were the full Value of the said Sails; that this Depot. made up all the Sails that were used in fitting the Potomack Navy, but that he did not make up or fit any of the aforesaid Sails, for that purpose; all the others being unfit for that Use, except the before mentioned small-fore-stay Sail—and further this Deponent sayeth not.
(Alexandria April 2 2 d 1778 The above deposition taken in the presence of & sworn to before) THOMAS CRAFTS