To the Honble The Council of Massachusts Bay ー
The Petition of Phillip Moore & Archibald Blair
Humbly Sheweth ー That your Petitioners have at great Expence fixed out & equiped the Schooner Freedom, Burthen Seventy Tons, Mounting, Ten Carriage Guns & fourteen Swivels, Navigated by Seventy Men Commanded by James Colven, the Officers On Board are Joseph Aikens 1st Lieutenant Thos Wood-2d Lieutenant & Willm Welch Master, with Forty Bbls Beef, Thirty Bbls Pork & One Thousand wt Bread, as Provisions ー Two Ton Powder & a Sufficient Quantity of Other Military Stores, Said Schooner is designed to Cruise Against the Enemies of the United States of AmericaWould therefore Pray your Honors to Commission Said Schooner & Officers, (they giving Bond) in Order that She may Join the Fleet under the Command of Commodore Manly, and as in duty bound Will ever pray ー
Boston May 5th 1777 ー
[Endorsed] In Council May 5th 1777 Read & Ordered that the Prayer thereof be granted and that a Commission be issued out to the Above mentioned James Colven as Commander of the Schooner Freedom ー he complying with the Resolves of Congress ー
Jno Avery Dpy Secy
