Viewing page 135 of 324

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

she then went to Squire Ren. for justice & carried her contract with her. The Squire told her the contract was unlawful and that they could not compel her to stay on their place but there was nothing done with the said Cooper for beating her.

All the Hands on the Plaice become dissatisfied. The Plaice soon after became innundated. one day, as we was on a flat, cutting trees, Mr. Murdock got angry, & cut a grape vine & beat one of the men, severely. The mans name is Horrice. a short time after, the aforesaid Jinkins, beat a man (Austin) with his Pistol. we then went to Mr Murdock, & asked of him if that was the law, & he told us it was the law to knock us down a time or two with a stick or tie us up by the thumbs 2 or 3 hours.

I will now state how I came away from the Plaice. I went to Mr Cooper & told him I wanted to leave the Plaice, he said I could not go until he saw Mr Murdock. I went to him agen the next day, & he told me that Mr Murdock said if I would go to work, & be a good hand until the 1st of August he would give me money to go home, I was sick at the time with the gravells. The same evening Mr Jenkins, sent for me & told me that I must go to work the next day. he was loading his Pistol at the time. I told him I was not able, and the next morning my Father went to him & told him