To the Hon'ble the Council of the State of Massachusetts Bay

The Petition of Ephraim Spooner William Watson & others of Plymouth Humbly sheweth,

That your Petitioners hath fitted out the Sloop called the America & ready to proceed on a Cruise burthen about Seventy Tons, mounting twelve Carriage Guns & navigated by Sixty Men has on Board fifty Bls Beef & Pork and three & half Tons Bread — fifteen hundred Wt Powder and Ammunition in Proportion

Officers on Board are as follows Vizt
William Coit Esqr Commander²
Consider Howland 1t Lieut
Copely 2 Lieut

Said Sloop is intended to cruise against the Enemies of these united States —

Your Petitioners therefore humbly Request your Honors would com­mission the Said Commander of Said Sloop for the Purposes above mentioned And as in Duty Bound shall ever pray —

Boston Sept 20t 1777

[Endorsed] In Council Sept 22d 1777 Read & Ordered that the Prayer of the within Petition be granted and that a Commission be issued out to Wm Coit as Commander of Said Sloop he complying with the Resolves of Congress.

Jn^o Avery Dy Secy