Samuel & Robert Purviance Lux & Bowley and others of Baltimore Town being desireous to fit out to sea the Brig Sturdy Beggar (Mounted with fourteen Carriage Guns 4 pounders fourteen Swivels and forty Muskets, Navigated with eighty men of the Burthen of one hundred & thirty five Tons haveing on board provisions for four months) applies for a Commission for said Vessel to Cruize as a privateer against the enemies of the Thirteen United States
James Campbell Comr 5th August 1777 —
James Campbell Capt William Coward 1st Lieut James Tibbit 2nd do Benja Chew Master
Know all Men by these presents that We James Campbell Commander of the Brig Sturdy Beggar and Charles Wallace of the City of Annapolis are held and firmly bound to the State of Maryland in the Sum of Ten thousand Dollars to be paid to the said State to which Payment well and truly to be made and done We bind ourselves & each of us owe & each of our Heirs Executors & Administrators in and for the whole firmly by these presents Sealed with Our Seals and Dated this fifth day of August 1777. Whereas a Commission was heretofore obtained for the Private Brig of War called the Sturdy Beggar of which John McKiel was then Captain and the said Brig is again ready fitted for a Cruise and now speedily to sail under the Command of James Campbell as Captain but the said former Commission is mislaid and cannot now be returned on obtaining a new Commission for the said Brig Now the Condition of the above Obligation is such that if the said former Commission shall be well and truly delivered up to the Governor of this State for the time being and shall in no wise be used as a Commission to or for any other Vessel nor any Act Matter or Thing shall hereafter be done under Colour thereof then the above Obligation to be void else of full force —
James Campbell Cha Wallace
1. Papers CC (Ships' Bonds Required for Letters of Marque and Reprisal, 1776-83), 196, XIV, 73, NA.
