Deposition of John Randolph in Regard to the Removal of the Powder.
The Deposition of John Randolph Esq.
That he never received any information or had he any knowledge of the removal of the Powder, until the morning after it was removed, when many of the people of this Town were under Arms at the Court House.
That he does not recollect that he heard the Governor expressly say, that he would proclaim freedom to the Slaves, but he was so well satisfied that such was his Lordships Intentions, if he thought himself under the necessity of taking up Arms in defence of his Person: that this Deponent informed the Speaker that such was his Lordship’s Resolution, leaving it to their speaker to pursue such measures as he should think most adviseable to prevent it:
That he knew little of the designs of the people, not mixing much with them and does not recollect he ever saw any of them under arms except on the removal of the powder but the Independent Company exercising where they were which Company this Deponent believes was in being a considerable time before this disturbance happened: That he thinks, Lady Dunmore had no reason, but the timidity of her Sex to suspect that any Injury would be done to her Person or Family. Nor does he know that Lord Dunmore had any just cause to be apprehensive of Danger, unless he gave credit to those Reports that were carried to him (by whom this Deponent knows not) which were of such a nature as to justify an opinion that his Person was not in a state of security and lastly this Deponent says, That he is of opinion and informed the Governor so, as a Deputy appointed by the House of Burgesses, to waite on his Lordship with their address to solicit his return, that his Person was in no Danger.
That his Lordship whether armed or unarmed this Deponent knows not was almost every Day at this Deponent’s House & in particular that Evening of his departure from W’m’sburg knew of no insult that he received in passing to and from thence, that he understood from the Governor, that he intended in case any armed people
came to this Town, that he would fix up the Royal Standard to distinguish the Friends of Government from its Foes and that if any Negroes had offered their services upon that occasion this Deponent believes they would have been well received; but was informed by the Governor some days after the removal of the Powder that some Negroes (by one of his servants) had offered to join him & take up arms, but that his answer to his servant was, to order them to go about their business. This Deponent being further examined, says that the morning after the Powder was removed in his way to the speakers where he was walking he saw Capt. Collins, Capt. Foy & he believes Capt. Stretch, pass through the people at the Court house unmolested. The Deponent further says, that he believes the distance from his house to the Palace is better than one quarter of a mile.
