Middlesex (to Wit)

The Information of John Barnes< no role > taken before me One
of his Majestys Justices of the peace in and for the said County.

John Barnes< no role > of Church Row St. Ann Middlesex On his Oath
says he is an Officer of the Revenue and went last night from Ratcliff
Cross in a Wherry with Two Waterman about the hour of Eight Thomas Sheriff< no role > and Andrew
Borgeson< no role > Spelt in the Wri [..] uctons Borgesson< no role > who are likewise Officers of the Revenue duly authorized
to Deptford to Inspect the East India Ships lying there to see if the officers
were on duty and to prevent any Fraud that he went on board the Laycells
lying near the Lower Watergate Deptford to Speak with Mr Gordon the
Super intendant of the said Ship lately arrived from China in the East Indies
to obtain assistance having been Obstructed in his Duty in Reconnoitering
the several East India Ships lying at or near Deptfordsays as he was
coming out of said Ship to go into his Boat about the Hour of Ten
he ordered Andrew Borgeson to stand on one Side of the Gangway of the
said Ship and one of the Revenue Officers to stand on the other side of
the Gangway this Deponent fearing that some one the Men on board
would cut the Entry Ropes and thereby and anger his life or Limbs
The upper Deck having many Persons thereon who did not belong to the
said Ship there being a great Riot on board occasioned as he beleives on
Account of One Peter Sleath< no role > a preferable Tiderman who had been boarded
at Gravesend on board the said Ship to take care of the Revenue and who had
been Ordered to be replaced by another Revenue Officer Says the Prisoner
Person who says his name is Thomas Gordon< no role > was on board the said
Ship Lascells at the time he was on board her last night having seen him
several times on board the said Ship Larcelly last night Further says
about an hour or more after he lift the said Ship seeing a Boat with four
men [..] in her between the Shipping and the Mill Wall nearer to the Middlesex Spore he Ordered
his said two Waterman to row him along side of her Suspecting she had come
from the Ships at Deptford and had uncustomed Good on board that when they
came along side of the said Boat he wanted to Examine her when the
said Thomas Gordon< no role > and his Companions swore they should [..] not
Rummadge themSays Andrew Borgeson then told this Informant
that the said Thomas Gordon< no role > was the man who attempted to cut one of
the Entry Ropes of the said Ship and let him into the River as he was
coming down the Ship side to get into his boat when the said Thomas
Gordon< no role > Struck the said Andrew Borgeson several Blows with his Fist
when this Informant called to John Gerdiner< no role > and Thomas Walker< no role > two
Watermen belonging to the Customs who were in another Boat near and under
his Direction. who cause immediatly and then they rummaged the said
Four men on whom they did not find any GoodBut thought it their Duty
to apprehend and Secure the said Thomas Gordon< no role > which with great Difficulty
they accomplished

Says on Oath this Thursday of May 1786 That as he was going down the Stips side of the Lascells on the 5th. Instant about Midway Andrew borgasson called
out to him to take care of himself for that they were going to cut the Gang Ropes. says he likewise called cut for help when he
Thomas Sheriff< no role > to his assistance

Sworn
This 6th day of May 1786
Before me John Staples< no role >
John Barnes< no role >