Notes on Katherine's Deposition and Related Testimonies (Virginia, 17th Century)

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Katherine's Deposition (Alleged Rape)

• Complainant: Katherine, wife of Henry Watkins.
• Officials: William Byrd and John Farrar, Justices of the County of Henrico, Virginia.
• Location of Complaint: House of Captain Thomas Cocke in Henrico County.

Katherine's Account of the Incident:

• Date: Friday, in August, approximately $5$ weeks prior to the deposition.
• Location: At or near the 'pyney slash' located between Captain Thomas Cocke's house and Henry Watkins' house.
• Perpetrator: John Long, a Mulatto belonging to Captain Thomas Cocke.
• Events:
  • Katherine met John Long.
  • John Long, starting from behind a tree, threw Katherine down.
  • He stopped her mouth with a handkerchief.
  • He took up her "Coates" (petticoats) and "putt his yard into her and ravished her."
  • Katherine cried out.
  • Rescue: She was rescued by another Negro belonging to Captain Cocke, named Jack White.
  • After the incident, Katherine departed home, and John Long returned to his master's residence.

Reasons for Delayed Complaint:

• Katherine's husband was "inclinable to the quakers," and therefore "would not prosecute."
• Katherine was sick, and her children were also sick.
• This prevented her from making her complaint earlier.

Timeline of Complaint Process:

• Yesterday Morning: Katherine went to Lieutenant Colonel Farrar's regarding the incident.
• This Day Morning: Katherine went to William Randolph's house but found him not at home.
• This Day Night: Katherine met with the Justices, William Byrd and John Farrar, at Captain Thomas Cocke's house in Henrico County to make her formal complaint under oath.

John Aust's Deposition (Witness Account)

• Deponent: John Aust, aged $32$ years or thereabouts.

Aust's Account of Events:

• Date: Friday, the $12^{\text{th}}$ of August, or thereabouts.
• Location: Came to the house of Mr. Thomas Cocke and went into his orchard where servants were cutting weeds.
• Interaction with Servants: The servants asked Aust to stay and drink; he stayed and drank cider with them.
• Observation: Jack, a Mulatto belonging to Thomas Cocke, went inside to draw cider and was absent for an extended period.
• Following Jack: Aust followed Jack to the door where the cider was kept.
• Conversation Heard: Aust overheard Katherine, Henry Watkins' wife, speak to Jack:
  • She said, "(Lord) Jacke what makes the[e] refraine our house that you come not oftner, for come when thou wilt thou shalt be as well come as any of My owne Children."
  • She then took Jack about the neck and kissed him.
• Continued Interaction: Jack then went out and drew cider.
  • Katherine asked Jack if he would drink to her, and he agreed if she would come out to where their cup was.
  • Shortly after, Katherine came out to where Thomas Cocke's Negroes were drinking and drank "cupp for cupp" with them, as others present did.
  • As she sat, she was described as setting "Negroe dirke". (The transcript ends here, with SLAVERY {191 appearing to be a page reference rather than part of the narrative).