To the Honourable the Council of the State of the Massachusetts Bay, the Petition of George Cabot for himself & in behalf of the concerned sheweth —

That your Petitioner in conjunction with Joseph Lee John & Andrew Cabot & William Bartlett have a certain Brigantine Hector, about one hundred & fifty Tons burthen which arrived in January last from Spain with a Cargo of Salt Brandies & many other usefull & valuable Supplies to this State, that your Petitioner with the concern'd were at the Expence of arming said Vessel when abroad with 8 Carriage Guns beside a due proportion of Swivels & Small Arms & brought seventeen Men in her for her Defence, that it frequently occurred in the Course of her Passage homeward that they might have captured some Vessel of the Enemy, but for want of some proper Warrant for that purpose cou'd not use the opportunity of doing what might have been some Compensation for their Expence of Arms & highly beneficial to the State where said Prize might arrive ー that your Petitioners now have it in Contemplation to make a Voyage in the same Vessel thus arm'd, under Contract with the Continental Commissary, ー therefore pray your Honours will furnish Zachariah Burchmore Master of said Brigantine with a Commission, & your Petitioner as in duty bound shall ever pray

Boston March 26th 1777