Affidavit of Benjamin RYAN, Misc. Court Records, Hunterdon County, NJ

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Affidavit 314
State of New Jersey
Hunterdon County	Before me Elnathan Stevenson one of the justices of the peace 
in and fore the said County personally appeared Benjamin Ryan of Bucks County in 
the State of Pennsylvania who being duly sworn according to law did Depose and 
Say that 
Saturday the 24th day of February last Thomas Closson of the Township of Amwell 
in the County of Hunterdon aforsd. came to him as he was chopping wood and told 
this Deponent that he had started from home with an intention to go and see his 
brother and that he was attacked in John Coryell's field by five men which he 
supposed their Inention was to Rob him he run from them a peice and then turned 
around and stoned them and drove them and knocked Wilson Lambert Down and Drove 
the rest into Joseph Lamberts house he then crossed the River to go and see his 
brother he stopped at garrett Mildrums and got to Drinking something he then 
came to this Deponents house and asked his wife where he was she told him he was 
cutting wood on the side of the hill he came to this Deponent and asked him if 
he would not go so far as John Pidcocks with him and said he wanted to get 
something to eat and drink and talk with him they started and went on together 
he (Closson) then told him that himself, Levi Bonham and Israel Stackhouse had 
made up their minds to Destroy Joseph Lambert and his property and wanted him to 
join with them, said that the Stewart had offered his service but there was no 
Dependence upon a --- Negro he then told this Deponent that he and Levi Bonham 
came would come to talk with him that Night after Midnight, this Deponent asked 
him what for, Closson told him that he was so used to the water that they could 
get off with the batteau and never be discovered they then came to shere some 
men was the discourse droped for that time.  That on the night of the 24th of 
February last Closson and Levi Bonham came to this Deponents house he thinks 
after Midnight; he knew of their coming and went out to them, Closson then said, 
Benjamin I have come with an intent to make you join us and fetched Levi along 
to assist me, said Lambert has been the ruin of you and sold you out Entirely, 
and now wont you join us; this Deponent then told him he would not have any 
thing to do with it; Levi then replied and said he was  Damned fool, any man 
that did him
(this Deponent) as Lambert had he could burn the damned old raschel up alive 
This Deponent then asked them what they could convey fire to his buildings 
without being seen; they then told him they could carry it in a warming pan this 
Deponent told them he would not have any thing to do with it at all They then 
asked this Deponent that if they went through with it if he would Ever Divulge 
the secret he told them not and they left him. That on Tuesday the 27th of 
February this Deponent seen Israel Stackhouse and told him he believed he would 
assist them (The Deponent said this in order to make for other discourses) and 
that Closson and Bonham might not come to his house but might communicate with 
him by letter; Stackhouse said he had seen them and that he Expected he could 
convey a ltter from them to him between then and Sunday and said he was getting 
a little afraid of it himself that what he had said about it he had come in a 
passion; but said he wished them to have success in their undertaking, and said 
that the last counnty he had from Bonham and Closson was that if they could 
succeed in burning they would knock down old Lambert or either of his boys if 
they catched them out at night and he hoped they might be lucky and kill the 
damned old raschel and further saith not
                                              Benjamin Ryan
Subscribed and sworn the 1st day of march 1810 before me
                                 Elnan. Stevenson

Recognizance  1990
State of New Jersey
Hunterdon County      Be it remembered that on the Twentieth Day of March in the 
year of Our Lord one Thousand Eight hundred and ten before me Elnathan Stevenson 
one of the justices of the peace in and for said County personally appeared John 
Holcomb, Sr., John Coryell, Emely Holcomb and Richard Holcomb, Sr. and did 
severally acknowledge themselves to be indebted to the State of New Jersey in 
the sum of two thousand dollars each of Lawfull money of the United States to be 
Levied on their respective goods and chattels lands and tenements if Default be 
made in the following Condition viz.
The Condition of the above recognizance is such that if Thomas Closson who is 
now committed to gaol for the want of sureties for the peace and good behavior 
shall personally be an appear before the Next Court of General Quarter Sessions 
of the peace to be holden in and for the said county of Hunterdon to answer such 
matters as shall then and there be objected against him and shall in the mean 
time be of the peace and good behavior toward all the good citizens of this 
state and particularly towards - Joseph Lambert of said County and his family 
and shall not depart the Court without leave, then this recognizance shall be 
void and of none effect unless otherwise to be and remain in full force and 
virtue
Acknowledged before me the day and year aforesaid
                    Elnathan Stevenson