To the Honorable Council & House of Representatives of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay assembled at Watertown the 19th Day of July A D 1775.

The Petition of Benjn Foster & Jeremiah Obrian in behalf of the Inhabitants of Machias

Humbly Sheweth. that whereas your Petitioners have been at Great Expence in fixing a Privateer for the Defence of the Place, and its Situation is Such that it may be easily Blocked up by a Small Vessel and Stop all Communication, we intreat with Submission that there may be Commissions for the officers and some men Stationed on Board of her to be Ready on any emergency To Take the Troops on Board, that are stationed there and when thought Proper by our Committee otherways we Humbly Conceive that if said Privateer should engage an armed Vessell and be Taken, (which we are Determined by Divine assistance never to be) we Shall be Deemed & treated as Pirates  we would also inform your Honours that there is an estate belonging to Ichabod Jones formerly of Boston in the Hands of Stephen Jones of Machias. your Petitioners humbly beg that your Honours would Take it into Consideration and order said estate to be Taken care off by the Committee of Safety at Machias or some Proper Person that your Honours shall Point out and that the income of Said estate may defray Some of the Charges that have arrisen by Reason of sd Jones being an enemy to his Country; we would inform your Honours that in taking the first Tender, one of the men that was Killed has Left a poor Helpless widow & Six Small Children intirely Destitute of the Necessarys of Life; and a number of wounded men who have Lost their whole Summer by being wounded and will Stand in great need of some Relief  if your Honours after Consideration would be Pleased to give Directions so that the Profits of said Jones' Estate may be applyd for the benefit of those that have mett with these misfortunes and your Petitioners as in Duty Bound shall ever Pray

[Endorsed] in Council Augt 18,1775

Read and sent down

Sam^l Adams Secry