The Memorial of John Sparding, living at Ticonderoga Landing, the north end of Lake George, June 1, 1775 Humbly sheweth:

That your Memorialist has, for upwards of six years past, been at a great expence in providing boats and carriages for the ease and convenience of persons traveling this way with their baggage and effects, over the lake and carrying place, at an easy rate; likewise providing batteaus on Lake Champlain, for the convenience of gentlemen and others traveling to Canada. The unhappy differences now subsisting between the Colonies and the Mother Country, have put a stop to any business your Memorialist was formerly engaged in. Your Memorialist has, ever since the tenth day of May, (the day on which the fort at Ticonderoga was taken,) assisted with his boats, men, &c. in transporting the troops, with their baggage and provisions, over Lake George and the carrying place, upon no other security than a verbal agreement with Colonel [Benedict] Arnold, for twenty shillings currency, per day, for a perryaugre capable of crossing the lake with seventy men, besides a quantity of provision, and a batteau for carrying expresses; and when there was not a sufficient loading for the perryaugre, to have the privilege of conveying such private property as might offer, of which your Memorialist is at present deprived; your Memorialist having likewise carted the greatest part of the baggage and provisions over the carrying place, to whole amount of which, to this day, is near seventeen Pounds. And the gentlemen appointed here have this day intimated to your Memorialist that his teams are not to be any more employed, they having brought teams over the lake for said service; your Memorialist, there, trusting in the known justice and humanity of the gentlemen in New York, who scorn to let any individual suffer, which must inevitably be the case of your Memorialist, unless your goodness prevents it, by confirming the agreement made by Colonel Arnold; your Memorialist therefore humbly hopes, as he had done his utmost endeavour for the good of the common cause, and is disabled at present from providing for his family, you will take the same into consideration. And your Memorialist will ever pray.