John Griswold confession, 1770

Day I this ^ stand before god & his People Justly condemned in my own conscience for that I have through covetiousness & a greedy Disposition of giting unlawfull gains did in Parde nership with Mr Tilton go into the Practice of killing Deer in a time of the year when they they was worth but Little & wasted & Destroyed the good creture conterary to the Laws of god & men. & did ^afterwards in Some measure afterward wards Persuade Mr Holden & his son in the Scheem of having part of what we killed for fetching of it in upon conditi on they would keep Secrecy & afterwards when I was complained of I did agree & confest to this & suffered it upon my Brother holden & his Sons to say under oath he knew nothing about it when I knew they did & have since been to the Sacrament with him when I knew he was in that transgression & I wicked ly Stood by & See him & his Sons Perjure one another vices & Destroy their own Souls & Said nothing for the sake of Little gain to my Self & I was yet more handered in my Sin for when I was called upon oath & examined If I knew any thing of Pelto ns killing or having any of the meat or skins I th usly swore by the great god I knew th nothing I called upon him as my Judge & as one that knew th all the secrets of my heart to be my witness of what I said was true when I knew it was false I there Lifted up my hand to heaven appeling to him as one that was able & was swift to avenge him Self on him that swares falsely to do it as we if I deceived the court or spoke false when I knew I did both deceive & speak false & ^ I did Ignorantly & I wickedly Endeavoured to Deceive my ?? self & Persuade my Self that ^ I did not take the oath by saying in my heart I would not take the oath which was given to use by the Clerk of the Court all= though I hild up my hand ^ at the same time to take it & did wickedly Persuade my Self that I might do it & save my money since for I thought th?? them unjust in making such Laws & ablig ing men to Sware against one an other thus I have Perjured my Self Sinned against god his Laws Dishonour my Brethren & the holy religion I Profess & have given occation to the Enemies of god to Blaspheam & brought Lasting Dra Shame & Disgrace upon my Self & family I do therefore ask forgiveness of god of Brother Holden & his Sons whom I have greatly abused & I would ask the forgiveness of the honourable Court & fling my Self up[on]