(Copy)
      Court House, Parramatta
Wednesday, Nov 10th 1813

The Deposition of John Besent, relative to the loss of the Boyd—
Being duly Sworn, Deposes— That he arrived in the King George (a Ship belonging to Port Jackson) at the Bay of Islands in March 1812;— That, in Consequence of the Master treating some of the New Zealanders ill, he, the Deponent was apprehensive the Ship would be cut off, and the Crew murdered; and, judging it safer to go on Shore, and live with the Natives, he left the Ship, and remained on the Island twelve Months. During his residence among the Natives, he received the following account of the loss of the Boyd, from one of the Chief’s Sons, who spoke the English language very well, having been on board the Star, Captain Wilkinson, two voyages. The Star sailed from London for the South Seas. [f] When the Star sailed from Port Jackson for England, Captain Wilkinson got Captain Thompson, Master of the Boyd to take the Chief and his Companions on board the Boyd, under a promise of landing them at New Zealand, as he was bound there for Spars.
	That the Chief informed the Deponent, that Captain Wilkinson, previous to his Sailing for England, had paid him his lay of Oil and Skins that had been procured with which he purchased Cloathing &c and that he also received presents from Gentlemen and others at port Jackson, and a Musket from Captain Wilkinson. He also informed Deponent that Captn Thompson had tied him up in the Rigging and flogged him, and kept’d [sic] all his things.
	After the Boyd had arrived in the Port of New Zealand, the young Chief was flogged in the Harbour, and sent ashore immedly. [sic] [f] The Natives had procured a considerable part of the Cargo of Spars before the Chief was flogged, which Spars this Deponent saw when he was at New Zealand with the Rack [sic] of the Boyd. After Captain Thompson had flogged the Chief and taken his things, the Natives would render no further assistance in procuring the Spars, nor go near the Ship, That Captain Thompson landed the 
Ship’s Company to get the Spars themselves; leaving only two Men on board besides the Passengers. On his landing Peipphoohee, a principal Chief of Wanggohroo, went up to Captain Thompson; told him that he had flogged his  Son, and that he would kill him, and immediately knock’d him on the headwith an Axe, and the rest of the Crew were immediately murdered. He further informed this Deponent, that Tippoohee, the then Chief of the Bay of Islands, and his people, were not [f] concerned in the destruction of the Boyd.
      his
“Signed”  John + Besent
      Mark

Sworn before me
the day and year
above written
Signed
Saml Marsden
J.P.
A true Copy
Jno Obee