This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Biddle, Burroughs, Conglington, Dickinson, Dubois, Elwell, Howard or Heward, Mayhew, Miller, Nieukirk, Paullin, Penton, Shinn, Sparks, Shute, Vanmeter, Young Classification: Military Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/oRB.2ACI/723 Message Board Post: 1778 Inquisition (Rev, War Records # 8034) from the Archives of the Salem County Clerk Salem county: An Inquisition taken and made at Piles Grove in the County of Salem aforesaid the twenty six day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight by the oaths or affirmations of William Shute, Henry Sparks, Joseph Shinn, Joseph Paullin, Thomas Mayhew, Allen Conglington, jr. , Abner Penton, Aaron Bidle, Joseph Howard, Cornelius Newkirk, Joseph Dickinson, Robert Sparks, Philip young, Jacob Dubois, Joseph Vanmeter, Isaac Burroughs and John Elwell, jr. Good and Lawful men of the said County before John Mayhew, Esq, one of the Justices of the Peace of the said County who upon their oaths or affirmation aforesaid say that William Miller, Esq. Late of Upper Pennsneck in the county aforesaid did since the fourth day of October one thousand Seven hundred and Seventy six to wit on or about the Second Day or October on thousand Seven hundred and Seventy seven a Detachment of the army of the King of Great Britain being then landed at Raccoon! Creek in the county of Gloucester the said Miller being asked he then being one of the Captains of the Militia in Penns Neck aforesaid said if he did not intent to Call out the Militia under his command company to oppose them he replied, no, it is best for us all to hide our arms and the officers to keep out of the way til such times as we should see whether the English would conquer and that he thought it best for the people here in general to trade with the Enemy shipping and then they would not hurt and ransack us and when the Enemy was gone then take our arms again against the form of his allegiance to this State and against the peace of this State the Government and Dignity of the same We Whose names are hereunto set and Seals affixed being the jurors above named do upon the Evidence to us produced find the inquisition aforesaid true. William Shute Henry Sparks Joseph Shinn Allin Congleton Abner Penton Joseph Heward Aaron Biddle Joseph Heward Cornelius Nieukirk Robert Sparks Philip Young Joseph Vanmeter on reverse side John Elwell Isaac Burroughs on bottom of other side witness: Aaron Bidle William Bidle Salem; I the within named Justice do certify that the within inquisition was taken by the jurors there in named witness my hand and seal John Mayhew I note though he is named as a juror, Thomas Mayhew's signature does not appear on the document. VNC