Know all Men by these Presents That we Benjamin Cushing John Brown and Nathaniel Jacobs all of Providence in the County of Providence and Colony of Rhode Island, &c. Merchants are held and firmly bound unto Joseph Clarke Esquire General Treasurer of said Colony in the Sum of One Thousand Pounds Lawful Money to be paid to the said Joseph Clarke in his said Capacity or to his Successors in said Office for the Use of the said Colony: To which Payment well and truly to be made we bind Ourselves Our Heirs Executors and Administrators firmly by these Presents. Sealed with our Seals. Dated the Twenty fourth day of February in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Six.

Whereas the said Benjamin Cushing, John Brown and Nathaniel Jacobs have equipped the Brigantine Elizabeth burthened about Ninety five Tons whereof Joseph Lippitt is Master and have Obtained Permission of the Honorable Nicholas Cooke Esquire Governor of the said Colony for him the said Joseph Lippitt to proceed with the said Brigg and her Cargo to any of the Foreign Islands in the West Indies to purchase Powder and other Military Stores &c.

Now therefore the Condition of the above Obligation is such That if the said Joseph Lippitt shall well and truiy lay out the whole Proceeds of the Cargo on board the said Brigg in Gunpowder, Saltpetre Sulphur Duck or Arms and shall import the same into this or any other of the United Colonies in America the Danger of the Sea and of the Enemy only excepted; and also further excepting that in Case the said Joseph Lippitt shall not be able to invest the whole Proceeds of the Spermaceti Candles in the Articles abovementioned that then he shall be permitted to lay out and bring back the Remainder in Papers, Ozenbriggs, Ticklenburgh, German Steel, Lead, Flints, Cotton, Linnen or Woolen Cloths, Jesuits Bark or Rhubarb and shall also lodge a true Account or Manifest of his Cargo in the Office of the Secretary of the said Colony within three Days after the Return of said Brigg and further shall not during the said Voyage proceed or go to any of the English Islands in the West Indies or to any Port or Place contrary to the Continental Association the Danger of the Sea and Seizure by any Enemy always excepted then this Obligation shall be void or else in full Force.
²

Benj Cushing

Nath Jacobs

John Brown

Sealed and Delivered in the Presence of

Henry Gardner  Simon Smith