John McIntosh More excepted; but that it being
agreed among them, first to acquaint the said Colonel with their
intentions, and their reasons for such resolutions, John McIntosh L.
(Lynvilge) was employed by the said freeholders to lay the same
before him, who returned them an answer 'that they should have credit
for provisions, with two cows and three calves, and a breeding mare
if they would continue on their plantations.' That the people with
the view of these helps, and hoping for the further favor and
countenance of the said Colonel, and being loth to leave their little
all behind them, and begin the world in a strange place, were willing
to make out a livelihood in the colony; but whilst they were in
expectation of these things, this deponent being at his plantation,
two miles from the town, in Dec., 1738, he received a letter from
Ronald McDonald, which was sent by order of the said McIntosh More,
and brought to this deponent by William, son of the said McIntosh,
ordering him, the said deponent, immediately to come himself, and
bring William Monro along with him to town, and advising him that,
'if he did so, he would be made a man of, but, that if he did not, he
would be ruined forever.' That this deponent coming away without loss
of time, he got to the said McIntosh More's house about nine of the
clock that night, where he found several of the inhabitants together,
and where the said McIntosh More did tell this deponent, 'that if he
would sign a paper, which he then offered him, that the said Colonel
would give him cattle and servants from time to time, and that he
would be a good friend to as many as would sign the said paper, but
that they would see what would become of those that would not sign
it, for that the people of Savannah would be all ruined, who opposed
the said Colonel in it.' That this deponent did not know the contents
of the said paper, but seeing that some before him had signed it, his
hopes on one side, and fears on the other, made him sign it also.
That upon his conversing with some of the people, after leaving the
house, he was acquainted with the contents and design of said paper,
which this deponent believes to be the petition from the eighteen,
which the trustees have printed, and that very night he became
sensible of the wrong he had done; and that his conscience did
thereupon accuse him