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Province of Georgia North America

We the Masters of the Undermentioned Ships and Vessels do declare and attest that about November last We had permission to load our ships and Vessels with Rice and other Commodities for Great Britain, at the Port of Savanah in Georgia, and having taken our Cargoes on board accordingly, we were stoped on the fifteenth day of December following by orders of the Council of Safety and detained by them at Savanah, and that We were at great loss and a heavy Expence of Seamens Wages and Victuals, in keeping them On board, which if we had not done they would have gone and Joined the Rebels, who offered them three pounds a Month. That upon the Arrival of the King's Ships in Savanah River, several of us applyed to Captain [Andrew] Barkley Commander of His Majesty's Ship Scarborough, and to Major [James] Grant Commanding officer of the Kings Troops, for protection, who assured us,We shoud have every protection in their power and further say that Captain Barkley and Major Grant having got up to the Town of Savanah with several Armed Vessels and a Body of Troops ー We were desired by the above Gentlemen to get our Vessels ready to sail up the Back River under Cover of His Majesty's Armed Vessels, as the Rebels had shut up the other Ship Channel both by Sinking a Hulk in it and erecting a Battery upon the Bluff-and that we were obliged in order to proceed under Cover of the said Armed Vessels to bring our Ships and Vessels to the draught of between Nine and Ten feet which obliged many of us to throw over board a Quantity of Rice, and we are of opinion and firmly believe that our ships and Vessels have been saved by the interpositjon of His Majesty's Ships and Troops under the Command of Captain Barkiey and Major Grant as they must otherwise have been detained or destroyed. by the Rebels then assembled in Arms in Savanah, as they repeatedly ordered us to unreeve our rigging unbend our sails, and unhang our Rothers[rudders].

And when the Kings Troops had got on board our Ships an Officer came from the Shore and declared if we did not immediately begin and Unbend our sails we should be destroyed, which Officer was taken Prisoner.

To the truth of the Above We have hereunto Set our hands on board His Majesty's Ship Scarborough in Savanah River this 22d March 1776.

(Signed) And^w Barkley