Peter BRADY, private Soldier in His Majesty’s Provincial Regiment of Foot, called the Queen’s American Rangers was brought before the Court, and accused of having advised Richard QUIN, private Soldier in the 4th or the King’s own Regiment of Foot, to desert His Majesty’s Service, and join the Rebel Army.

Richard QUIN, being duly sworn, deposed that about a month ago, as he was sitting in the Hospital, with the prisoner, he told him that if he would desert with him to the Rebel Army, he would pay his expences to Pensylvania;

that he (the Prisoner) expected to be made a Captain, and he would get the Witness a Lieutenancy;

that on Goodfriday last, as they were walking together in the Street the Prisoner again held the same conversation;

and he mentioned what the Prisoner had said to him in the Hospital to Serjeant READE of the 4th Regiment the same day that it happened;

that the Serjeant told him that perhaps he was drunk, and therefore bid him take no notice of it, unless he mentioned it again;

that upon the Prisoner talking to him upon the Subject a second time, he mentioned it to one Thomas HADDEN, private Soldier of the 23rd Regiment, who is now lame and unable to leave the Hospital;

that upon the Prisoner being ordered into Confinement, he threatened the Witness’s life for discovering what he had said to him.

        Q. Does he know of the prisoners having been in the Rebel Service before?

        A. He told the Witness that he had been a Captain in that Service, and that he was taken prisoner on long Island.

        Q. Was anybody present when the prisoner threatened his life for having discovered what he had said to him?

        A. Yes, Thomas EARLE, private Soldier in the 52nd Regiment was, as also Thomas HADDEN of the 23rd Regiment.

        Q. (by desire of the Prisoner)— When did the Prisoner tell him that he himself intended to go away?

        A. On the monday after Goodfriday.

        Q. Does it come within his knowledge, that the Prisoner had not received any money, since he enlisted in the Queen’s Rangers?

        A. He knows nothing about his Affairs.

Serjeant Samuel READE of the 4th, or King’s own Regiment, being duly sworn, deposed that about a month ago, he met Richard QUIN in the Street, when he told him that some man had been advising him to desert, but he did not mention his name;

that QUIN appeared to be a little in liquor, and the Witness being employed in business, he did not attend to him, but told him that perhaps the man was drunk when he said so, and bid QUIN in case he talked to him again on the Subject, to inform him (the Witness) of it, but he has never heard any thing more on the matter since.

Thomas EARLE, private Soldier, in the 52nd Regiment of Foot, being duly sworn, deposed that he was present when the Prisoner was apprehended for advising QUIN to desert;

that he fell into a violent passion, and ran to a bayonet, swearing that he would stab him, but the Witness prevented him from taking the bayonet; that he denied his having ever advised him to desert.

        Q. Did QUIN ever mention to him that the Prisoner had advised him to desert?

        A. He mentioned it to him the day before the Prisoner was apprehended, and the Witness advised him to make it known.

        Q. Does he know of any quarrel having happened between QUIN and the Prisoner?

        A. He does not.

Henry PRIOR private Soldier of the 4th Regiment of Foot, being duly sworn, deposed that he was ordered by Dr. MALLETT and an officer of the Queen’s Rangers to put the Prisoner in Confinement, for offering money to QUIN to desert and as he was conducting him to the Main guard, under the escort of a file of Hessians, he made his escape from them, but was taken again near the Colledge.

The Prisoner being put upon his defence denied that he ever advised QUIN to desert, as he had deposed;

he said that it was impossible for him to have given QUIN money to carry him to Pensylvania, as he had not received any pay since he inlisted in the Queen’s Rangers;

that some dispute having happened between QUIN and him, he imagined that it was from a grudge he bore him that he invented this story.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert ROGERS of the Queen’s American Rangers, being called upon by the Prisoner, to give testimony of his character and behaviour, and being duly sworn, he deposed that the prisoner was one of a number of rebel prisoners, who inlisted in the Queen's Rangers;

that he and four more had entered into an agreement to desert to the rebel Army, but the prisoner informed the witness of their intention;

that in other respects he behaved well.

The Court having duly considered the evidence for and against the prisoner, together with what he had to offer in his defence, is of opinion that he is guilty of the crime laid to his charge, in breach of the 4th Article of War of the 6th Section, and doth therefore Sentence him the said Peter BRADY to receive one thousand lashes on his bare back with a Cat of nine tails.

Will. MARTIN President

Step: P: ADYE
   Deputy Judge Advocate

                       Approved
                                W HOWE



Great Britain, Public Record Office, War Office, Class 71, Volume 83, Pages 351-354.

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