In the night following the 30th of instant October, five of the continental prisoners broke out of the goal at Windham, and made their escape, viz. David Wardrop, surgeon, a Scotchman, speaks broad, about 5 feet 10 inches high, between 20 and 30 years old, of a sandy complection, wears his own hair, and walks with his knees wide asunder, had blue cloathes and a new beaver hat cock'd up with hooks & eyes; Richard Tillage, a midshipman between 20 and 30 years old, wears his own hair of a light brown colour and long, wears blue cloth, is an Englishman, he is a well-set man, not tall, has white cloth jacket and breeches; also Samuel Gorge, a marine, a lusty well-set man had a red jacket and metal buttons with ah anchor on each button, about 30 years old; also James Busset, has a bushy head of hair, long fore-top, small legs and thighs, and is a worsted comber; also one Joseph Reed, a short thick-set fellow about 22 years old, walks quick and nimble, wears his own hair of a light brown colour, has a red cloth jacket, pewter buttons, with an anchor on each, he has tow cloth cloths, a wire drawer by trade. Whoever shall take up said prisoners, any one or more of them, and safely commit them to goal in Windham county goal in the State of Connecticut, and give me notice thereof, shall be paid all his necessary expence and Trouble, by me
Nathaniel Hebard, Goal-keeper.
Windham, October 31, 1776.