Know all Men by these Presents That I John Brown of Providence in the County of Providence and Colony of Rhode Island &c. Merchant and John Tillinghast of said Providence Mariner are held and firmly bound unto Joseph Clarke Esquire General Treasurer of the said Colony in the sum of Four Hundred Pounds Lawful Money to be paid to the said Joseph Clarke in his said Capacity or to his Successors in said Office for the Use of the said Colony: To which Payment well and truly to be made We bind ourselves our Heirs Executors and Administrators firmly by these Presents. Sealed with our Seals. Dated this First Day of February in the Year of Our Lord One thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Six.
Whereas the said John Tillinghast Master of the Sloop Polly owned by the above named John Brown is bound by Permission of the Honourable Nicholas Cooke Esquire Governor of the said Colony on a Voyage with his said Sloop to Philadelphia in Ballast only. Now the Condition of the above obligation is such That if the said John Tillinghast shall proceed with his said Sloop to Philadelphia and there take on board the Produce of the Country or other Articles under the Direction of the Committee of Inspection of the City Town or County where he shall lade and take in his said Cargo and also bring back proper Certificates both of Exports and Imports from them and lodge the same in the Office of the Secretary of the said Colony within three Days after the Return of said Sloop and further shall not proceed to any Port or Place not being within the United Colonies (the Danger of the Seas and Seizure by an Enemy always excepted) then this Obligation to be void or else in full force. 2
1. Maritime Papers, Bonds, Masters of Vessels, R. I.. Arch.
2. On the same day, February 1, 1776, bonds were given coverh1g the following vessels and owners:
Sloop Defiance, John Chace, master; John Brown, owner, upon a voyage to Philadelphia in ballast.
Sloop Betsey, Simon Davis, master; Charles De Wolfe, Charles Davis, Stephen Smith and Simon Davis, owners, of Bristol, upon a voyage to Connecticut in ballast
Schooner Charlotte, Thomas Thayer, master; John Brown, John Innis Clarke and Joseph Nightingale, owners, of Providence, upon a voyage to Long Island or Connecticut in ballast.
Sloop Molly, John Wanton, master; John Andrews, owner, of Newport, upon a voyage to New York with provisions.
Sloop Polly, Benjamin Comstock, master; John Brown, owner, of Providence, upon a voyage to St. Eustatius, to purchase military stores. See Nicholas Brown to Comstock, January 31, 1776.
