Thomas Powe being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of
Almighty God to give true answers to such Questions as this Court might
demand of him respecting the reputed or apparent Estate of Reuben White deceased
at the time said Reuben lived in the State of South Carolina and at the time
he removed himself & Moveable Estate into the State of North Carolina, also
to make true answers to such Questions as might be demanded of him by this Court
respecting the apparent Estate of William White and respecting the Character of
said William whilst he resided in the State of South Carolina and at the time he
removed from there. It being asked of this deponent what time Reuben White
removed from the State of South Carolina, answered that to the best of this Deponents
knowledge the said Reuben removed in the latter end of the year 1775.
This Deponent being asked what Estate said Reuben appeared to
possess at the time he lived in and removed from the State of South Carolina,
answered that there were ten or twelve negro slaves reputed to be the property
of said Reuben also a tract of 100 acres of land lying in the Fork of Jeffrey's
Creek in Craven County in the State of South Carolina also sundry household
furniture and that said Reuben told this Deponent he the said Reuben had bought
a stallion of one Thomas McCall which he the sd Reuben was then possessed of.
This Deponent being required to inform this Court respecting the Estate of
William White, answers. That he thid Deponent knows that William White was in
Gaol for Debt at the suit of James Gordon, that William White took the Benefit
of the Act of Assembly of the State of South Carolina for the Relief of
Insolvent Debtors, and that the said William told this Deponent that the
Expenses of a Writ of Habeas Corpus for removing said William from the Gaol of
Cheraws District to Charles Town and other Expenses of the Suit of said Gordon
against him the said William, that the said Expense & Costs were paid by Reuben
White, Brother of the said William. This Deponent being required by the Court to
[?] the general Character of the said William in the State of South Carolina;
Answered, that the general Character of said William where he was known was that
of a dishonest Person and that said William was reputed to be worth very little
property, acting as Overseer for his Brother Reuben White and further the Deponent
saith not. Thos Powe
Sworn in open court and this 8th of May 1777
By Order of Court. Test. A.D. Osborn C.C.