To the Honble the Counce! of the Massachusetts Bay
Hond Sirs —
Your Petitioner Chas Moulton haveing on or about the 6th Inst preferd a petition to the Honble Counsel & House of Representatives, as likewise another of the 19th Inst setting forth his sittuation as a Prisoner and beging leave to purchace a Vessell under one Hundred Tons Burthen, but as your Petitoner has not receivd an Answer thereto, He humbly intreats your Honors to grant the above request, with further leave to transport himself, with others who were taken with him in his Ship call'd the Truelove (Viz James Butcher Chief Mate, Thos Thomlinson Carpenter, Willm Catterall Boatswain, Wm Lawson Steward, & Jno Sinclair Cabbin Boy) to England without hindrance or molestation & your Petitioner will ever pray &c, &c,
Boston Feby 22d 1777 —
[Enclosure] The Subscriber of the within Petition, proposes to the Honble Council that if their Honors shall please to grant him the prayer of said Petition he will use his utmost endeavor that a like number of Persons Prisoners to the King of Great Britain from the United States of Amer[ic]a and under similar Circumstances with himself and those mention'd & [in] said Petition as near as may be, shall be liberated and. returnd, into their States. And the said Petitoner pledges his Honor that he will effect such liberation & return of Prisoners or will himself return with the within mentiond Persons into this State as Prisoners within the time of one Year from the date hereof:
And as a further security to this State, for his performing this Parole of Honor, He will deposite in the Hands of Willm Watson Esqr of Plymouth, or such other Person as your Honors may order One Pipe, one Hhd & one Quarter Cask of genuine fine Madeira Wine, to be sold on his Accot and the Nett proceeds thereof, Paid unto him or order in case he performs this Parole, or otherways to be paid as this State may order.
Chas Moulton 2
