Snow Francis

Snow Francis

The deposition of Snow Francis of Lawful age who Testifies & says - the man who now calls himself by the name of John Peters, is my brother, and is also brother to Frank Francis, and Charles Francis, and was Baptized by the name of Peter, by the Rev. Mr. Andrew Peters, late pastor Pastor of the church of Christ in Middleton, and for several many years went by the name of Peter Francis but since the British troops left Boston he has calld his name John Peters, tho[ugh] the other brethren of the same Family are all call’d & known by the name of Francis, & ever have been — and I the deponant (Some time in the fall of the year 1779) heard him the said John Peters (as he calls himself) say that he had rather Benjamin Wilkins should administer on the Estate of John Wilkins late of Middleton gentleman Decea[s]’d, than any body. [A]nd this I heard him say several times — and I many times heard him say that Mrs. Wilkins, the widow of the abovesaid John Wilkins might sell the Estate for a Trifle, and that the Creditors could git nothing — and that in the abovesaid year 1779 I the deponant was hired by the abovesaid widow Naomi Wilkins to carry on her farm & work for her, upon the same - in which time the said Peters frequently came to her for Provisions, & money, which she let him have, some times, Pork, Beaf, Butter & cheese and once I saw her deliver to him a considerable Sum

1780-12-21

VERSO:] Sum of Money which I saw him receive and carry away with him, and heard him, and heard him say, that money he wanted to inable him to carry on a Law Sute in which he had in the court at Boston. [F]or which Provision, Money, &c. I have lately heard the abovesaid widow Wilkins say, she had never received no returns – the deponant further saith that on Sunday the 3rd day of December Instant being a tedious Snow Storm, I was asked by Maj. Ezra Putnam after devine service was concluded for that day to go up to the farm aforesaid, and give some forder to Mrs. Wilkins the cattle which was then unhoused in the on the farm, which cattle was appraised to the administrator[ion?] but I did not think proper to go alone, expecting if I did I should be inter[r]upted by the abovesaid Peters, on which the said Putnam went with me to the barn, and took an arm ful of forder (which was cut & put into the barn by order of Benjamin Wilkins Administrator on the said Estate) and as he was going out of the barn was met, by said Peters who insulted him the said Putnam, and said he had a good mind to Split out his Brains, calling him a monkey & a theife and as he the said Putnam attempted to take another arms ful of forder he the said Peters Pul[le]d it out of his arms, and Pushed him away. [Snow Francis, X his mark]

Essex Session Danvers December the 21st 1780 then personally appeared the above named Snow Francis and after being carefully examined, & cautioned to tell the whole truth, made solemn oath to the aforegoing deposition by him Subscribed. [T]aken at the request of Maj. Ezra Putnam, to be used in a cause to be heard & tryed at the Supreem Court of Probate for the Commonwealth of Massachusets, to be held at Boston on [T]hurdsday the 28th day of December Instant, wherein John Peters of Middleton is petitioner & Benjamin Wilkins Jr. is respondant. The said Snow Francis liveing more than 30 miles from the place of Tryal is the cause of this caption. The said John Peters was notified & present at the takeing the caption before me
Amos Putnam Jus. Pais [Justice of the Peace]

[T]he said John Peters objected against the deposition by reason (as he said) the deponant had been guilty of a Trespass, with Major Putnam in takeing away from the farm aforesaid corn, Apples, &c.