THE NEGRO PLOTS

great. . . . Whether, or how far, the hand of popery
has been in this hellish conspiracy, I cannot yet dis-
cover; but there is room to suspect it, by what two of
the Negroes have confessed, viz: that soon after they
were spoke to, and had consented to be parties to it,
they had some checks of conscience, which they said,
would not suflfer them to burn houses and kill the White
people; whereupon those who drew them into the con-
spiracy told them, there was no sin or wickedness in it,
and that if they would go to Huson's [Hughson's] house,
they should find a man who would satisfy them; but
they say they would not, nor did go. Margaret Keny
[Kerry] was supposed to be a papist, and it is suspected
that Huson and his wife were brought over to it. There
was in town some time ago a man who is said to be a
Romish Priest, who used to be at Huson's but has dis-
appeared ever since the discovery of the conspiracy
and is not now to be found.

Later in the summer the Governor recorded his
suspicions as follows:

We then thought it [the] Plot was projected only by
Huson [Hughson] and the Negroes; but it is now ap-
parent that the hand of popery is in it, for a Romish
Priest having been tryed, was upon full and clear evi-
dence convicted of having a deep share in it. ...
Where, by whom, or in what shape this plot was first
projected is yet undiscovered; that which at present
seems most probable is that Huson, an indigent fellow
of a vile character, casting in his thoughts how to mend
his circumstances, inticed some Negroes to rob their
Masters and to bring the stolen [goods] to him on