Ordered that John Smith, Robert Smith, Jesse Foster, Joshua Hudgins, George Filyoung, William Soaper & Christopher Foster Ship carpenters who are at Present Engaged in the Service of Capt William Smiths Company of Minute Men in Gloucester County be discharged from the said Service provided they are willing to Quit the same and Engage in Working at their Trades on some of the Vessels which are Building or to be Built for the use of the Navyー

Ordered that the keeper of the Public Store deliver unto Capt Isaac Younghusband One thousand Pump Nails for the use of the Brig Musquetoー

Alexander Massenburg, Joseph Willson, Jno. Chick, Thomas Coleman, Thomas Bailey & John Royston Warrant officers on Board the Brig Liberty Commanded by Capt Thomas Lilly lodged a Complaint with this Board against the said Lilly in the following Words, to wit, "That your Petitioners influenced by the most laudable Motives the Love of Liberty freely & Voluntarily entered into the Marine Service of this State on the Board the Brig Liberty fully determined to risque their Lives in defence of the Rights and Liberties of their Country and are still so determined Provided they can be entitled to the Rights and Usage of Freemen themselves but that their daily Labour accomodation serving up their Provisions delay in the payment of their Wages, want of Regularity of Orders and proper Subordination among Men & Officers and the Arbitrary, Tyranical unmanley & illiberal behaviour and Treatment of their Commander Capt Thomas Lilly has made their Condition on Board the said Brig the Condition of the Slavery and of course intolerable inasmuch that they are determined at the risque of their Lives not to submit longer to it without seeking redress and endeavouring to be heard before this honble Board instituted as your petitioners have been taught to believe for the hearing redressing and adjusting all Grievances made to it from persons suffering in the Navy. ー That your Petitioners pray they may not be prejudged seditious and Mutinus from the Freedom in which they express their Greivances, as Freemen they think it the essential Right of Free Marines to Speak openly ー they protest against a Seditious & factious Spirit and beg that their Grrielvances now setforth may be enquired into by the Evidence of the whole Crew of Officers & Seamen of the said Brig. That your Petitioners the Warrant Officers on Board the said Brig are compelled to the Duty of Common Sailors the compliment of Seamen being reduced to four & one Boy occasioned by the Desertion of the Men who could not & would not Submit to the usage and Treatment of their Captain. ー That your Petitioners who are Messmates have their Provisions cooked intolerably bad and when they complain of it and beg to Dress it themselves are refused that small privilege and the Cooks Fire Ordered to be put out. ー That whilst the Brig Liberty lay at Baltimore your Petitioners the Marines and common Sailors were huddled into a Miserable Loft and obliged to Diet & Lodge together without distinction and your Pe- titioner John Royston Steward of the said Brig obliged to Sell his Cloaths to Raise Money to pay his Washing Woman Capt Lilly having never paid him from the Time of his enkring with him one shilling, that whilst she lay at the above place thirteen Sailors and five Marines deserted. In your Petitioners Opinion for want of their Wages with other Cruel Treatment. ー Your Petitioner John Chick Gunner complains alone that whilst very sick he has been called up late at night wantonly to Load & Charge the Guns which he has begged in the day he might be Permitted to do but refused. ー Your Petitioner Thomas Coleman Pilot also Complains that in the discharge of his Duty on Board the said Brig he is so Thwarted and contradicted that it is impossible to do it satisfactory or safely. ー Wherefore your Petitioners pray that right & Justice be done them that their complaints be heard and if made good by proper Testimony they be redressed which redress they beg may be to be-removed from the direction and Authority of Capt. Lilly who has threatened them with severer Treatment when he gets them at Sea. Lastly your Petitioner Alexander Massenburg begs leave further to shew that at the Time of his Signing Articles with Capt Lilly it was Agreed by the said Lilly that he the said Massenburg should be at Liberty to remove from the said Brig at any Time when he was dissatisfied with his Birth and could get one more agreeable to himself and no longer than last Saturday told your Petitioner he might go when and where he pleased from which he thought himself discharged." ー Which being Read It is Ordered that the said Capt Lilly be summoned to appear before the Board at the Capitol in the City of Williamsburg on Tuesday next to Answer the said Complaint.ー