Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-04-10
From the Providence Journal.
Documentary History
COMPILED BY nos. WIN. u. STAPLES.
( Continually

Continusd)
Instead Of pursuing the course recon-
mended by the Admiral, the Governor
took the following aflidavits, going te
discredi, Aaron's statement
Samuel Thurston, of tho island o
Prudence, in the township of Portsmouth
in the county of Newport, OF lawful age
declarcth and saith, that Aaron, mulall o
lad Of about l6 years of age, now OF
board his Majesty IS ship the Swan, com
manded by Capt. Ayscough, is an in.
dented servant TO Samuel Tompkins, Of
Prudence aforesaid, SON. in-law to the
said Samuel Thurston, which Samuel
Tompkins hath lived in the snme house
with the declaranl for many years past,
and have jointly managed farm toge,h-
er that he is fully persuaded, the said
Aaron hath not been off from the said
island for more than twelve months pre-
ceding the Cd day Of July instant in
the night of which the said Aaron stole
their bpat and went on board bis Majes-
ty's ship the Beaver that particularly
on the night aller the ninth of June last,
being the same night that his Mujesty's IS
schooner the Gaspee was burnt, he is
well assured that The said Aaron remain
ed in his house the whole Of the night,
he having seen him in the evening and
early IN the morning ol the 10Th ut his
work that at that time, there was but
one boat at that end Of said island, which
~as then so nuc'' ves ei ,epoiT that the
said declarant thinks she could not swim,
nnd then lay bottom upwards in order 10
be re6ued, being the same boat the said
Aaron stole after she was repaired that
he, the declarant, thinks it absolutely
impossible, that the said Aaron should
have been, that night, any where near
the place where the said schooner was
burnt and that the said Aaron remain
ed at home from the said ninth of June
until the said Cd day Of July, and never,
during that time, gave him the least in
formation, suggestion or hint Of having
any knowledge Of the business of the said
schooner. SAINT. THURSTON.
Colony of RHODE ISLAND, SC,
Newport, July 10, 1873.
Personally appeared Samuel Thurs
ton, Zone Of the people called Quakers,)
and on his solemn affirmation, declared
that the aboYe written declaration is true,
before j. WANTON, Coy,
Samuel Tompkins, Of the island of
Prudence,in the township of Portsmouth,
in the county Of Newport, on oath de-
careth and saith, that Aaron, a mulatto
lad Of about l6 years Of age, now on
board his Majesty's ship the Swan, COM
monded by Capt. Ayscough, is an in
dented servant 10 the deponent ; that he
is fully persuaded the said Aaron hath
not been off from the said island more
than once or twice for twelve months
preceding the Cd day OF July inst. in the
night of which the said Aaron stole a
boat belonging to the deponent and his
falher-in-law, Mr.. Samuel Thurston,
and went on board his Majesty S ship the
Beaver that particularly on the night
after the ninth Of June last, being the
same night that his Majesty's schooner
the Gaspee was burnt, he is well assur-
ed the said Aaron remained in his house
the whole of the night, he having seen
him about o'clock that evening, with
the rest Of the servants in the family,
about which time they retired to bed !;
and, also, very early in the morning OF
the 10Th, the said Aaron, according TO
his usual custom, brought the cows into
the yard TO be MIXED that at the time
there was but one boat at that end Of the
island, which was then so much out Of
repair that the deponent is confident she
could not sw m, and then lay bottom up
wards, in order to be refitcd, being the
same boat the said Aaron stole after she
was repaired that he, the said depo-
nent, thinks it absolutely impossible thai
The said Aaron should have been tha,
nigh, any where near the place where
the schooner Gaspec was burnt (; and
tha, he, the said Aaron, rema,ned al
home from the said 9lh of June until the
said ID day of July, and never, during
that time, gave him the least information
suggestion, or hint Of his having any the
least knowledge Of the destruction o
The said schooner.
SAML TOMPKINS.
Colony Of RnopE ISLAND, Sc, }
Newport, July u, l77s.
Mr.. Samuel Tompkins personally mp
penrcd and made solemn oath TO tn,
truth Of the above deposition by hin
subscribed, before
J. WANTON, Governor