Frank Spilman Deposition

The deposition of Frank Spilman of Lawful age taken at the house of Jonathan Carmack in the County of Campbell on the 25th day of July 1823. Transcription done by Margaret Hartman.

Question: Did you not in April in the year 1780 descend the Ohio river from Pittsburgh to its mouth and did you or not on that voyage hear the Little Miami generally spoken of and called by that name and was it not then generally known by the name of the Little Miami? and at all times since?

Answer: Yes, I herd it cauld so then and have ever since.

Question: Were you not acquainted with John Williams Junr. before and after the 22d of May 1780 and was he not about that time a major and generally known and called by the title and style of Major?

Answer: As to nowing him to be called Major I dont recolect til after beginning of the yeare 1782, he then cauld Major Williams...

Question: In a preceding answer of your to a question of the Compts. you Speak of Major Williams.  Was "Major" any part of his Christian name; was not the Man you now speak of named John Williams, and was he not generally stiled John Williams Junr. fromthe circumstance of his father or some other John Williams being older than himself?

Answer: I never herd him cauld John Williams Junr. til now.  Major was no part of his given name to my knoledge.  I have always herd him cald John Williams.

Question: Do you Know that John Williams whom you now Speak of was ever in the army or whether he ever had a Commission as Major?

Answer: I know not....