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====== Testimonial by John Milner ======
Back to [[orchard_joseph_1749|Joseph Orchard]] | [[orchard_joseph_1749_american_loyalist_claim|American Loyalist Claim]]\\ 
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This will certify the honorable Commissioners appointed by Parliament for Setling the claims of the American Loyalists, that Mr. Joseph Orchard was my very near neighbor, & was known to me from the first of his arrival in America & to the final & disgraceful Loss of it. That both before & after Commencement of the Rebellion his principles of Loyalty were uniform, & unequivocal, exerting <del>him</del> himself with the most forward & zealous, in support of the Constitution & Laws of his Country, by which he exposed himself to dangers & death. For during the late General Tryons residence on board the Duchess of Gordon he supplied him & many others with him, with intelligence & Communications, of such Importance as their safety made necessary, & [-] their Lives at the almost certain Risk of his own with provisions of every kind. Exposed in Several Boats on extended waters, in darkest & most terifying storms of the night and in the most inclement Seasons of the Year his apprehensions were not more excited by these, than the danger that arose from a discovery of his practices by which the rebels redoubled their Vigilance & apprehended him in supplying (going, or returning) their Enemies with that Support they had made criminal for which he would have suffered death, but for p__riv__ate Friendship.\\ 
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In reward for which inportant Services, on the Arrival of the Kings Troops, he had given him the Superintendancy of His Majesties Bakeries during the War - By the Second Fire of New York he was a very great sufferer as well as by the destruction & waste of a great Track of Land civered with the best Timber & woods, in America, which from its situation made it almost equelly in esteem & value to Lands, so in [-] in this Country. His hospitality to those Loyalists who had fled their native provinces & kind services to them at a great expence [-] the Sincerity & Affection of those principles on which he acted, & recommend him powerfully in Return to that Country for which he ventured [-] thing most dear, & to whose Humanity & Generosity he is now a terrible Supplicant.  \\ 
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I am\\ 
Hon'ble Gentleman,\\ 
Your most obliged,\\ 
& most humble Servant,\\ 
John Milner\\ 
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Ightham near Seven Oakes, Kent\\  
11th May 1789
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{{ :10cw.jpg |Attestation by John Milner, page 1}}
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{{ :11cw.jpg |Attestation by John Milner, page 2}}