Grafton County, N.H. Justice of the peace, letter, 24 July 1786

one of the Justices of the peace for said county
complains Chloe negro of said Hanover in said county ~ and on
her oath complains ~ That being poſseſsed of a certain Mans shirt made
of Bussia Sheeting with flaps eeked with dark coloured tow cloth, hanging
on a fence near the house where said Chloe now lives in said Hanover in the night next
following the 21^st instant some person or persons to this Complainant unknown
did with force and arms not having the fear of GOD before their Eyes and
being moved by the instigation of the Devil did felloniously take from thence and
carry away said Shirt; the property of this Complainant ~ and that
she hath probable cause to suspect and doth suspect that said shirt is concealed
in the dwelling house now occupied by Andrew Boynton in said Hanover,
against the peace and dignity of the State She therefore prays a warrant to search for said shirt and if it be found in
the house of said Boynton that he, his wife and Daughter Naomi may
be examined touching the premises and dealt with according to Law --

Hanover July 24^th 1786 ~ Sworn to on the day above written
Coram -- Beza:Woodward Just. Pacis

Grafton ſs. The State of New Hampshire to the Sheriff of said County
his Deputy or either of the Constables of Hanover in s^d County

Greeting --- Complaint having been made on oath as above you
are hereby required to make diligent search for the shirt above
described in the house of said Boynton and if you find it there
that you take it into your custody and likewise have the said
Andrew before me or some other Justice of the peace for said County
that he may be examined touching the premises and dealt with
as to law & justice appertains ~ Witneſs Bezaleel Woodward Esq^r
at Hanover in said County May July 24^th 1786 1786 ~
Beza:Woodward Just. Pacis
Hanover 24^th July 1786 Pursuant to the within Warrant
I have thoroughly searched the house occupied by
by the within named Boynton and cannot find
the within named & discribed Shirt --
EWheelock Constable
Fees 2/Cons^ble paid ~

Comp^t and Warrant
Knox vs. Boynton
July 24^th 1786
George Knox (signature)