Beverly Decebr 11th 1775 ー
May it Please Your Exelency. The Petition of us the Subscribers Humbly Sheweth That as the Highhand of minesterael Creuelty hath brought us in to a most unnatural War with our mother Country by which means the Town of Beverly is much Exsposed to their most unnatural Savage Like Creuelty ー the Town Lying more then four miles on the Sea coast and a grate part of that way Conveiniant for Landing, the Inhabitents of this Town with the assistance of Some of the Neighbouring Towns have thrown up Brestworks in Several of the most advantagiouss places within the Same and have no Cannon or Ammunition Or next a kin to none to Support them with, and what renders us more obnoxtious to their unnatural Creualty and Vengence is that the Contenental Privaters and others make this Harbour their Place of randevoze and have of Late Brought into this Harbour a Number of very Valluable Prizes, which we think are very much Exsposed to the Enemy as also the Town in General Therefore your Petitioners Humbly Pray that Your Exelency whould be graciously Pleased to give us Sum releaf under our most Difucalt and Destressed Surcomstances and Let us have if you in your Wisdom think Best Two Nine pounder or one Twelve pounder with a Suitable quanety of Ammunition for the same and those Two Six pounder and ½ barrel of powder and about 20 balls on board of the Ship Janne [Jenny] and those Two Small peaces of Cannon brought in on board the Brig Hannah togather with ½ barrel of Powder Said to be on bord, which Vessels ware Brought into this Harbour by Capt Manly, and also for Sum Shot for the abovesaid Small Cannon which will we think Contrebute much to the Safty of the Interest of the united Colonies as also of this Town in Peticuler and will be Greatfully received by your Most Humbl & Obediant Servents
1. Washington Papers, LC.