Articles of Agreement made this First day of March 1776. Between The Honble Thomas Cushing Esqr of Dedham, on the one part, and Jonathn Greenleaf, Stephen Cross, and Ralph Cross of Newbury port shipwrights on the Other part.

Wittneseth, That the Said Jonathan Stephen & Ralph hath agreed with the Said Thomas to build with the utmost dispatch in Newbury port Afforesaid two Ships for the Account of The Thirteen United Colonies. Agreeable to the Draughts & Directions which the Said Thomas hath Deliver'd them, viz. The Length of the keel of the orie Ship, About Ninety Six feet; Bredth of Beam About Thirty three feet Depth in the Hold about Ten feet Sis Inches. Between decks about four feet six Inches the Waist five feet:
² The Length of the keel of the other Ship About one hundred & eleven feet Bredth of Beam about thirty five feet, depth in the Hold about Eleven feet, depth Between Decks about five feet, & five feet waist,
³ the Said Ships to be built as near as possible to the draughts & directions Above mentioned & Referr'd to, And the timber and plank to be of the best white Oak, and free of Rots ahd defects except in the bottom where they have Liberty to put some black Oak timber only, And the decks which are to be Laid with good pine plank the scantlens of timber and thickness of plank to be agreeable to the Directions Above Referr'd to, To find and make a Compleat Set of Masts Yards Bowsprit, Topmasts and top gallant mast the main and fore mast of each ship to be Check'd with Oak in a good and workmanlike manner, to build a head & Galleries to each Ship, to find and make two Capstans to each Ship, to fix & Step two pumps which work by hand in each Ship, to find and fix a Sufficient number of Belaying Bitts, To find and fix Suitable pillars to all the Beams above and Below. To find and fix a Rudder and Tiller to each Ship, to find & fix five Anchor Stocks for each ship. To find Sufficient stuff for the Companions, & All the gangway and other Ladders. To Caulk the ships, To find & fix all the Stocks for the Swivel guns. To find & Fix Seven pair standards between decks, and pointers over the transoms abaft in a word to do and find all the Carpenters work in the finishing them off as a Ship of War Ought to be finished, in a good and Workmanlike manner, And to Launch Said Ships Safely a float the Small ship in May the Large ship in June 1776 And the said Jonathan, Stephen & Ralph Agree Allso to Stop all the Worm holes to Clear the timbers and hold of all the Chips, to pay both Ships with Turpentine to Grave both Ships After Launching, to Water both ships on the Stocks, to find Rum for the Labourers, and to Launch Said Ships at their own Risque and Expence. And the Said Thomas Cushing Esqr on his part doth also Agree with the Said Jonathan Stephen & Ralph, that he will find for building the two Ships aforesaid and in Season, Iron work of every kind, pitch Tar, turpentine, Oackum, Joiners Work, proper tackles to assist them and all such Articles as are Customary for the owners to find and do, And pay to the Said Jonathan, Stephen & Ralph at the Rate of Six pounds ten shills L Money p tun for each & every tun the Large ship shall measure And Six pounds of Like money for each & every tun the smaller Ship may measure the payments to be made in the following manner viz one fourth part when the keel is Laid, one fourth when shut in under the Whale one fourth when the Gun Deck Beams are Carried in one eighth part when Launch'd the Remaining Eight part when finished, To the true and faithfull performance of each and every Article before mentioned, the parties bind and oblige themselves each to the Other in the penal sum of Two Thousand pounds Law money. In Wittness whereof we have hereunto interchangably set our hands and Seals the day & year first above written

Signed Sealed & deliverd in presence of

J onath Greenleaf

Stepn Cross

John Bradford

Ralph Cross^Junr

Gibbins Sharp.

Thomas Cushing