The Humble Add[r]ess and petition of Joseph Snowball late Master of the ship Elizabeth most Humbly Sheweth
That on the second day of Febry 1777 in the Lattd 17°° ..12m North and Longd 48°° .. 24m West, your Petitioner in the Said ship Elizabeth was steering for the west India Islands fell in with, and was taken by the private Briganteen of war Calld the Sturdy Beggar Commanded by John McKee] Esqr and on the 23d of March last was in the Said Ship Brought to Balti more, and Since then, your petitioner has been Detained a prisoner on parole, by the Owners of the said Brigt, your Petitioner was Order'd to Board and Lodge at a Certain House at the point by James Nicholson Esqr and the Owners of the Brigt has paid the Charge thereof, your petitioner begs leave to inform Your Excellency that on his Arivell at Baltimore, had Very little money which was Some time Ago all of it Expended in Washing and Other Necessary Expences, that being intirely Unacquainted here, has not, any friend to whom he Can Apply for Assistance in his present Situ ation and in Order to defray to small Unavoidable Expences, has been under the Disagreeable Necessity of Selling a part of his Apparell — Your petitioner most Humbly requests Your Excellency will be Kind enough to prevail upon the Owners of the said Brigt to discharge him, and further begs the favour of a passport from your Excellency. Your petitioner Yett Can (by Selling the Remainder of his Apparel) Raise a small Sum to Carry him off, but if Much longer confind will Soon be Expended here — Your petitioner trusts you will be pleas'd to take his Case into Consideration and Grant him Such Relief as to your Exc llency Shall seem Meet — and will be ever gratefully Remembered by Your most. Obedient Humble Sert
Baltimore June the 26th 1777
