The Deposition of Benjamin Hill aged about fifty two years of Bertie County Esqre taken in virtue of an Order of the Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, Dated at Whitehall the 14th day of July 1748.
Who being sworn on the Holy Evangelists Deposeth and saith that he was one of the Members of Assembly called to meet at Newbern in November 1739, that when he got there observed that most of the Southern Members were met, but that several of the Northern Members that Designed to come by a Water Passage were not then arrived being detained by contrary Winds and bad weather And being told by Mr. Chief Justice Smith that the Southern Members intended to exhibit malitious Articles of Impeachment against him and that the Articles were drawing up by some of the Members of Council and requested him this Deponent together with some more of his friends to absent themselves that there might not be sufficient number to make a House until
the Northern Members were arrived & then he should not fear them and furthur told this Deponent that the Governor had promised that if the Members that were to come by water did not arrive in a few days and that if this Deponent would contrive that some of the Members then present would not meet to make up a House he had the Governor's promise to dissolve the Assembly, And thereupon this Depont being well assured that some of the Council and the Southern Members were strenous to carry on their Impeachment & being satisfied to have the Governor's Countenance therein he together with John Hodgson, Benjamin Peyton, and John Blount, did not attend the House for several Days. That on the evening of the first or second day he this Deponent with John Hodgson met his Excellency in Town who smileingly told this Deponent that he and his Companion were to be hanged for that the Kings Attorney and several Members had been for a Warrant to take them into Custody, but that he had for Answer said that he as Governor had nothing to do with the Members of their House and seemed well pleased with the conduct of this Deponent and his Companions. And furthur saith that in a few days the Northern Members not arriving, his Excellency dissolved the Assembly, and furthur saith not.Edenton, this 19th day of May 1749.