[Testimony Establishing Peter’s Identity and Kidnapping]

Alexander King depones [1], that he knew the de- ceased James Williamson, in Hirnley, in the parish of Aboyne; that the said James Williamson had a son, named Peter Williamson, whom the deponent knew when he was a boy; and he seeing the said Peter Williamson immediately at his emitting this deposition, he is very sure that he is the identical Peter Williamson, whom he knew when he was a boy.

Depones, that some years before the battle of Culloden, it was the general report of the country, that when the said Peter Williamson, the pursuer, was a little boy, going with a clipped head, he was taken at Aberdeen, and carried to Philadelphia, along with several other boys.

Depones, that, about that time, the deponent had a conversation with the said James Williamson concerning his son Peter, who told the deponent several times, that he came into Aberdeen seeking his son Peter, but they would not let him near hand him.

Depones, that the said James Williamson told the deponent, that his son Peter was in custody [2] in a barn at Aberdeen, and they would not let him speak to him; and afterwards, the said James Williamson told the' deponent, that the merchants of Aberdeen had carried away his son to Philadelphia, and sold him for a slave [3].

Depones, that he heard in the country by report, that John Elphingston, merchant in Aberdeen, and one Black a merchant there, whether James or George he does not remember, did deal in that way of carrying away boys. And farther depones, that the said James Williamson told him, the deponent, that his son Peter was carried away without his consent [4], and he saw the father shed many salt tears on that account.

John Wilson depones, that he knew, and was well acquainted with James Williamson in Hirnley, and with all his children, particularly his son Peter Williamson. Depones, that the said Peter Williamson having gone to Aberdeen, as the deponent was informed, he was carried away therefrom to the plantations; and when his father and friends missed him, they made search for him many ways in the country, but could not find him; and the said James Williamson went to Aberdeen in search of him, and, upon his return, he told the deponent that he had been at Aberdeen seeking his son Peter, but could not find him, and was informed that he was taken up at Aberdeen, and carried to the plantations.

Depones, that he believes, when the said Peter Williamson was amissing, he was about eight or ten years of age, and was a stout boy: and the deponent seeing the said Peter Williamson immediately at emitting this deposition, he is sure that he is the identical person whom he knew, before he went away, to be James Williamson's son, and was at the said Peter Williamson's baptism.

Francis Frazer of Findrache Esq, depones, that, about 20 years ago, he knew the deceased James Williamson, living in Upper Balnacraig, in the parish of Lumphanan, and that he heard the said James Williamson lived formerly in Hirniey, in the parish of Aboyne.

Depones, he knew several of the said James Williamson's children, and he heard it was the practice of some of the merchants of Aberdeen to kidnap young children, and send them to the plantations to be sold for slaves. Depones, he heard in the country that all said James Williamson, or his wife, had gone into Aberdeen, and one of their sons, called Peter Williamson, had followed, and that James Smith, saddler in Aberdeen, had picked the said Peter; and the deponent heard he was either put in prison, or put on board a ship, till the ship sailed.

Depones, it was the voice of the country, that James Williamson and his wife regretted, or made a clamour for the loss of their son, not knowing what was become of him.[5]

1. to testify or declare something under oath

2. The term “custody’ denotes official sanction for the imprisonment

3. The term servant, which denotes to modern ignorant ears a willing supplicant, is not here used.

4. “Consent” indicates the custom of the country of transferring parental rights to a master who would be free to employ the boy for a fixed number of years in a certain trade. This custom of apprenticeship by indenture would serve as an umbrella for all manner of slavery up into modern times. English, and later American, law, on the Roman model, recognized children as the economic property of the father.

5. This statement indicates that it was common knowledge that parents sold their children into slavery, and that any lack of demonstrable regret or searching on the part of the parents would implicate them.