To the Honl Govr of the State of Connecticutt and his [illegible] Counsell of Safety Convened at Lebanon in Said State

the Petition of Samuel Stoddard Hezekiah Able and Elijah Spafford all of Windham in said State humbly sheweth that Ever Since the Commencement of the Present Warr With Great Britain they have in their several Departments Exerted themselves in the Defence of there Country by Serving in sundry late Campaigns to the Satisfaction of there officers Ever Induring the same to its Close and were on the last of August 1776 in Windham aforesd & listed into the service of said State as marines on board the Ship Oliver Cromwell by force of Which Inlistment we are yet Holden and the same is to Continue untill the first day of may next wheareupon your Petrs would observe that when they Signd to Enter on board said Ship they had the greatest assurance that sd Ship would then Emadeately Proceed on her Cruise against the Enemies of this State whereby they might have had an opertunity of Exerting themselves and finishing thire Cruze within the then limitted time but by som unforeseen accident the said Ship hath been delayd in Port to this Present time at which Time your Petrs when the[y] Inlisted Expected Said Cruise would have been finished and thereupon on or about the Time when they Engaged as aforesd in Case they Should Survive the Term of sd Cruise they would Enter into Sertain Servises (viz) the Carpenter Plow makeing & Gun Smiths buisnes[s] at which several occupations your Petrs are severally skilled and Laid out and have made great Prep[a]rations the[re]for ー and your Petrs would further observe that they are Now Calld upon to Enter on board said Ship which is said is now about to sail on a Cruise of four months which will Extend the Term of there Engagement aforesd Near three months, which if it should be affected will greatly Damage your Petrs in Perticular as likewise they Conceive the Publick as there labours are seriously wanted in there several Departments wh[ere}fore your Petrs as in duty bound look up to your Honrs for releaf in the pr[e]miss and altho they have been wholly Disapointed in there Expectations of Distressing our Common Enemy which they wished to do yet in Justice to themselves they are at this Time bound to ask of your Honrs a release from said. Ship to Enable them to Enter in there Several Business of Life by which means at this Time they will much better Serve the Publick then to be Confind on board said Ship as they are wholly Ignorent of the Duties there to be Performd Recomending themselves to your Honrs as being True and faithful Subjects of sd State Ever willing and according to the rules of Justice & Humanety to Exert ourselves at this and all future times in the Defence thereof and therefore nothing Doubting but that your Honrs will hear us when wee thus Pray relying on the Justice of our Cause remain your Dutifull Suplicants

Windham 18th March 1777 ー