To the honol James Otis Esqr to Be Com[m]unicated

These are to in form your honr that about five oClock In the morning of the Sixth of march Instant the Sloop francis william furnell Prisemaster was Shipracked on the South Side of the Island of Marthers Vinyard. Sd Sloop was taken By the Ship Phenex of the British Navy about the 13th of December Last as Sd Prisemaster Sath, and was the Property of william Lowther Esqr Merchant in New York & Bound for Boston By the way of Newport; the Salors Being taken in to Custody and also the Vessel and Cargo the Captors forthwith made Information to me I went to the Rack and appointed major Doggett to take An Invent[o]ry of her Cargo which is as followeth about 50 hog[sheads] tobaco 190 Barrels terpentine 3 M & ½ Staves 24 half hides &C and the men ordered under gard of the Sea Co[a]st Men.

the Next morning there was Information in town that there was a transport Ship at Anchor Near Nantucket Sholes I Not Being in town my Self till the afternoon when I found there was about 37 men gone of[f] to Ingage the Ship, with a Small Sloop, about 23 of our men ware those of the Sea Co[a]st under Capt Benjn Smith the [rest] ware of the militia thay Ingaged hur and after a Smart Scurmey the Capt of the Ship Being Shot thru the [torn] thie Struck to our Yanke Sloop and are Brought in the old town harbour, the Capt is in a fare way of recovery hur Cargo is about 100 Charldren of Coll, 100 Butts of Porter, 30 hoges Sower Crout Puttators and Sundry outher Artacals, the officers and Sea men are ordered to had Quarters By the Sea Co[a]st Capt under the Care of Second Lieutenant James Shaw I shall Not Inlarg Any farther on the Subject as I Expect to Be at Court within 15 Days I would Jest Remind your honor that the Resolve for Removeing the restraint of our trade hath Not Been Published to My Knowledge, And as we have Sufered By it alredy I Must humbly Beg your honor to have it Published as Soon as Posable Several Persons haveing Been abliged to unlode there Vessels Alredy that was Bound here On that Acct I have only to Say that the two Gentlemen the Prise Master abovesaid and Mr James Christie Passeng[e]r on Bord the Ship have Behaved them Selves with honor while in this Town ー from your honos [&c.]

N.B. these Certifie your honor that Capt Richerd Wellen a worthy gentleman Lately appointed Capt of the first Company of Militia in this Regiment had the Command in takeing the Ship as Master - Benjn Smith within Named As Capt But I Expect to Be Down Soon. Yours [&c.]

Beriah Norton

The Honol James Otis Esqr President of the Honol Council At Watertown