Abigail English, testimony, 1749 December 19

December 19. 1749.

The Testimony of Abigail English. I have Severaltimes heard Captain Daniel Smalley Discourse about the Case of Samuel Smalley and his Negro girl, but what I have heard him said can’t remem- -ber so as to give my Distict and particular account of it, but only this in the general his Discourse imported that he thought Samuel smalley to be guilty according to the report of him. I heard him say after he came up from Norwich at a certain time, that Phillis had had the women with her, or had made a false alaram, or to that Effect, and that she was Ex amined in the time of her Distreſs and I think he said that she Charg’d it upon Sam Smalley, he told of a string that was found about her. — he gave my Husband a Letter, which he Read from Mr. Dean and his wife, what was in the Letter I can't give a particular account of but according to the best of my Remembrance it was about Fillis’s having the women with her and the grame’s Examining her, and that she Laid it to Sam Smalley. John English Testifieth and sayeth that some time afte[gap: page_torn] the ctt meeting Respecting the Dificulty Between Capt. Smaly and Samuel Smaley Capt. Smaley was at my House and there be shewed me a paper signd and i sopose written by Jobez Dean of norwich Respecting his Negro Girl, being with child and as i Remember it was to this affect that he has had had the weoman with his negro Girl and that she Declared she was withe child and that she Laid it to Samuel Smaly and that they sendth [illegible] shall Soposed she was with child and that his wife was so wel Satisfyed about it that she had prepared things to wrap the child in and had Likewise Given the child away when it should be born i asked Cap’t Smaley upon my Reading that paper or soon after or he told me of his oath acceptd which i ant Certain whether or no he Beleaved she was with child he told me that he Did not think she was with Child although Mr Dean and his wife thought she was yet He himself could not think so and as i Remember the Reason why Capt Smaley showed me that paper was in apposition to a Report that there was about that the negro Girl Laied the child to her former master (viz) Capt. Smaley The Letter that Capt. Smalley bro from Dean and [gap: page_torn]