[Gloucester, December 19]
To the Honble the Council of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay,
The Petition of Ebenezer Parsons of Glocester, humbly shews,
That your Petitioner has fitted out a Schooner called the General Ward as a Privatere, & prays your Honours to grant a Commission to Capt Matthew Kelley to command the same and your Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray &c.
[Endorsed] In Council Decr 19th 1775
Read & ordered, that the said Mathew Kelly be commissionated for the purpose aforesaid, he, or his owner the sd Parsons, giving Bond, agreable to the Act prescribing the same ー
Perez Morton Dpy Secry