[Annapolis] Thursday 14th December 1775.
It appearing to this Convention by sundry Depositions that William Bartlet Townsend. of Worcester County had left this Province with inimical Designs against the same, and that the said William Bartlet Townsend [ha]d carried sundry Inhabitants of this Province to [join] Lord Dunmore, who is now carrying on Hostilities against the Colony [of] Virginia, and has committed Depredations upon the Property of some of the Inhabitants of this Province; And this Convention being also informed, that the Committee of Observation for Worcester [co]unty had fixed a Guard upon the Estate of the said William [B]artlet Townsend, as well to save the same from waste, as to [pre]vent the said William Bartlet Townsend carrying the Negroes thereon to join him with Lord Dunmore. And Application having been made [by Bartlett Townsend, son of the sa]id William Bartl[ett Townsend, to take the management of the said estate into his possession, to secure the same against waste, and to prevent the negroes thereon being removed,]
[Resolved, That it be recommended to the committee of observation for Worcester county aforesaid, to commit the said estate to the sa]id Bartlet Townsend, [taking bond with sufficient secur]ity for his taking Care of, managing and secur[ing] the said Estate, and every Part thereof, first having the same inventoried and appraised, and to be accountable for the same, and to take such Measures as shall be necessary to prevent the Negroes on the said Estate being carried out of this Province, or removed to any Place where they m[ay] be liable to be taken out of this Province, and to return [and deliver] up the said Estate and every part thereof, as soon as the said Wi[lliam] Bartlet Townsend shall surrender himself to the Committee of Worcester County, to take his Trial before the Convention, if sitting, or the Council of Safety hereafter to be appointed.