To the Hone the Council & the Hone House of Representatives of the State of Massachusetts Bay
The Petition of Peter Rider Humbly Shews your Petitioner Inlisted himself into the Continental army While they ware at Cambridge & from thence Marched to Ticonderoga where he Continued until the fleet of the united States on the Lake was Ready to Sail when your Petitioner was Draughted from the Company to which he belonged to man Said fleet and on the Eleventh day of October Last in the action with the Enemy on Lake Champlain he had his Right Eye Shot out by which means he has totally lost the Sight of it Greatly to the Damage of your Petitioner he therefore Humbly Prays your Honours would take his Case Into your Wise Consideration and altho money Cannot fully Compensate the Loss yet Such Sum as your Honours in your wisdom Shall think fitt to Grant will be most Greatfully Received by your Petitioner and as in Duty bound will Ever Pray
Peter Rider
March 20th 1777
[Enclosure] Mount Independance 20th Novr 177[6]
This may Certify that the bearer Peter Rider was wounded in the Fleet during the Action with the Enemy the 11th of October in which Action he lost the sight of one Eye & was by me sent agreeable to Genr Gates'es instructions to the Genrl Hospital at Fort George ー
Stephen McCrea 1st Surgn to the Navy of the United Stat's Lake Champlain
1. Mass. Arch., vol. 182, 259, 259a.
