Transcription by Susan G. Elliott, 26 August 2022
The transcription follows the photos of the manuscript.
I Dick Brattle of Weathersfield County of Winsor and State of Vermont now resident
of Bellingham County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age do
testify and say in the year after the Constitution took place I went to Amariah Frost Esqr of Milford, and found him to work in his garden I asked him if he held Bess Corbet as his slave He said she was not his slave, but was given to his wife as a slave. I observed to him that she was free by the Constitution. He observed it would be better for her to stay with him if he did well by her. I told him if he did well by her that I did not know but it was and then turned and came away.
Quest by the Defendent how long did this Bess live with Esqr Frost after you had this conversation with him –
Answer if I remember right about five years
Quest by the Plaintif did you ever see Esqr Frost before The time you had this conversation with him
(Answer?) yes
Quest by the same did you ever have any conversation with Esqr Frost except what you have stated concerning Bess.
Answer not.
Quest by the same how far do you live from this place
Answer I cannot tell
Quest ^ by the same^ for what purpose did you come to this place from your home in Vermont –
An(?) I came by the request of Esqr Bates
Quest ^by the same^ did you or did you not come ^from home^ on purpose to give this deposition
Ans Esqr Bates has not made any other business known to me
Quest by the same how long is it Since you had the above mentioned conversation with Esqr Frost
A I cannot tell the number of years –
Q by the same did you ever inform any of the Blacks that they were free
A I do not know
Quest by the same was there any body present when you had this conversation with Esqr Frost
Ans I did not see any body
Ques by the defendant who informed you that slaves became free by the constitution
Ans Esqr Metcalf
And further the Deponant saith not
Dick Brattle [signature]
On the Eleventh day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Eighteen, The aforesaid deponent was examined and cautioned, and sworn agreeable to Laws to the Deposition aforesaid by him subscribed taken at the Request of John Bates Esqr agent for the Inhabitants of the Town of Bellingham in the County of Norfolk and to be used in an action of the case now pending between them, and the Inhabitance of the Town of Milford in the County of Worcester, before the Hon. Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court to be holden at Worcester in and for the County of Worcester on the Twenty second day of September Instant and the adverse party was present. The deponent Being about to go out of the Commonwealth and not to return in time for the trial is the cause of taking this Deposition.
Willm Makepeace Justice of the Peace
Justices fees for notice
Deposition & caption – $0,75
Officers for serving notice travel &c – 0 70
Deponants fees for Travel & attendance – 1,00
Worcester Supreme Jud. C. September Term 1818
Opened & filed
(?) (?) Bigelow, (Clerk?)
I Dick Brattle of Weathersfield County of Winsor and State of Vermont now resident
of Bellingham County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age do
testify and say In the year one thousand seven hundred and Eighty four I went to Milford to Amariah Frost Esqr and he was to work in his garden. I observed to him the said Frost that his slave was now free by the Constitution, meening Bess Corbet, he the sd Frost said that she the said Bess Corbet was given to his wife by Doctr Corbet and he further observed to me that it [scratched out word] would be better for her to continue with him as his slave than go from him into the world if he did well by her.
(Qust?) By the Defendant How long did this Bess Corbet live with Esqr Frost after you had this conversation with him
Answer by the deponent I lived in Milford four years after and the said Bess Corbet was then living with Esqr Frost at that time.
[NOTE: Dick was born in September of 1762, therefore turned 21 in 1783, when he presumably received his freedom, based on his account in his pension applicaion. 1784 is when he stated he spoke to A.F. Jr. The state constitution was written in 1780. He moved from Bellingham at 26 or 27 years old, bringing us to 1788 or 1789. – Mass. Constitution ratified October 25, 1780 – Dick was 18]
And further the deponent saith not (?)
Dick Brattle [signature]
SOURCE: Massachusetts Archives. Transcribed by Susan Elliott.
