18 WHO OWNED THE BELL? 



hous was built 1 I being in company with captain Lawthrop Cap* more 

 and Cap* Joseph gardner at Cap* gardners hous 2 1 heard Cap* gardner 

 say to Captain Lawthrop I think, said hee, wee must haue your Bell, 

 for our meeting hous is bigger than yours and your bell is bigger than 

 ours I think wee may doe well to change bells. Captain Lawthrop 

 Keplyed hee knew no need of that: our bell said hee is very well 

 where it is. the bell was giuen to mee for the place where now it is : 

 Captain more answered him that all though the bell wee re giuen to 

 you yet said hee I dont know, but I might haue kept the bell as well 

 as you for I brought it home and I neuer gaue a bill of Lading for it 

 neither was I euer paid for the freight of it. Captain Lawthrop an- 

 swered Captain more that hee might haue kept such and such things 

 naming seuerall things as well as the bell for I had no more bill of Lad- 

 ing to show for them said hee then for the Bell : Come Come said Cap- 

 tain more Let us drink up our wine and say no more of it I supose 

 wee shall neuer trouble you for none of them. 



Sworne in Court att Salem :28: 9 : 1679. 



Attest Hilliard Veren Cler*. 



The testymony of Anthony Needam aged about 48 years who sayth 

 that I being a souldier under the Comand of Major Sedgwick at the 

 takeing of the french forts viz S nt Johns and port Koyall which is about 

 25 or 26 years agoe. and wee haueing taken the fort of Saint Johns and 

 hauing found a bell at the said fort I heard Cap* Lawthrop desire the 

 said generall Sedgwick that hee would pleas to bestow the said bell up- 

 on him for the plantation where hee dwellt they hauing a new meet- 

 inghous that wanted a bell, the said generall Answered that hee had 

 otherwaise disposed of that bell and therfore could not giue it him 

 but I will promise you said hee to Cap* Lawthrop that Iff wee take 

 euer another bell thou shallt haue it: and afterwards when wee had 

 taken port Royall and there being a bell there hanging in a hous they 

 called the new ffryary Cap* Lawthrop came to the s d general Sedg- 

 wick hee being standing in the fort : and in my hearing asked him to 

 giue him the said bell for the use abouesaid and the said generall freely 

 gave it him acording to his former promise and bade him take it down 

 So Cap 1 Lawthrop called me with him and he and I went presently up 

 and threw the bell down and then Cap* Lawthrop ordered myselfe 

 with some others to carrie the bell and ship it on board of Cap* moors 

 ketch for him so acordingly wee presently went and caried the bell 

 now in controuersie and shipt on board of Capt mores ketch for 

 Captain Lawthrop acordin to his order. 



Sworne etc. 28 : 9 : 79. 



1 [A. D., 1670.] a The Downing, better known as the Bradstreet house in Sa- 

 lem, afterwards the Globe Tavern, the site next vest of Plummer Hal). 



