The Deposition of James Gregg who being first duly
sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God sayeth.
That Wm White Brother to the Decd Reuben White many years ago purchased a
Negro fellow named Jack from John Gregg Senr father to this deponent and that
the said Wm White gave his Bond of 280 £ for the said Negro & a Mortgage of
three Negroes viz Cassandra a wench, March and Will boys, and that the sd Bond
and Mortgage never was paid nor lifted untill the Seventh day of June 1774 at
which time Wm White was then in Long Bluff Gaol for a Debt due to Mr. James
Gordon, which debt he the sd deponent heard Wm White say that when he gave his
Bond for the money he never intended to pay it, and that Reuben White his
Brother then came and paid off the whole Bond and Mortgage (to this deponent)
which amounted to 490 £ except 82 £ which was the price of a small
stock of hogs and 4 head of cattle sd deponent bought from Wm White, and that
the sd Wm White took the Benefit of the Insolvent Act, and that this deponent
never knew that Wm White had any Est[ate] afterwards whilst he lived in So
Carolina, that sd deponent always understood that the Estate which was in
both their possession was the property of Reuben White, that since the Death of
Reuben White this deponent saw Wm White who told him that he expected to keep
the Estate & that if the Widow did receive it by Law, he would loose his own
life before the Negroes should be taken from him. That the sd Wm White did not
bear the character of an honest man & further this deponent sayeth not.
Sworn to before me this 5th day of January 1778.
Thos Powe