Shipped by the Grace of God, in good Order and well Condition'd, by John Hawksworth in and upon the good Brig called the John whereof is Master, under God, for this present Voyage, John Ashmead2 and now riding at Anchor in the Carlisle Bay and by God's Grace bound for Philadelphia to say One hhd Rum on Accot & Risque of Stephen Collins Mercht there being mark'd and number'd as in the Margin, and are to be delivered in the like good Order and well Condition'd,at the aforesaid Port of Philadelphia (the Danger of the Seas only excepted) unto Sd Stephen Collins or to his Assigns, he or they paying Freight for the said Rum twenty Shillings with Primage and Average accustom'd. In Witness whereof the Master or Purser of the said Ship hath affirm'd to 2 Bills of Lading, all of this Tenor and Date; the one of which 2 Bills being accomplish'd, the other1 to stand void. And so God send the good Ship to her desir'd Port in Safety. Amen. Dated in Barbados April 24. 1775
John Ashmead
1. Stephen Collins Accounts, vol. 12, LC. Printed form with handwritten insertions in italics.
2. Extract from the Voyages of Captain John Ashmead, typescript in HSP: "Made several voiages [in the brig John] when the American Revolution war came on, and I was at Barbadoes at the time of the Battle of Lexington. That voiage I was almost too late, but fortunately got into our bay and in a fog passing the men of war without being seen, and the Brig was laid up when I got home. I had stopped at Antigua in my way home to collect money for the owner, but the Merchant would not or could not pay."
