To the Honorable the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut Convened at Hartford May 1778—

Jonathan Havens, Dan^l Fordham, Nathan Fordham, Benjamin Conklin, Paul Howel, Stephen Howel, Francis Fanneier & Son, & Tho^s. Cumin, all Refugees from Long Island & Residents in this State beg leave now humbly to represent & Shew—That in Febry last they presented to your honors their Mem^l. seting forth that they had then lately brot from s^d. Island some Effects, the Avails of what they were obliged to leave behind, to order for the necessary Subsistence of their Families—² That the same had been wantonly & in a lawless manner taken from them by the Officers of the Continental Frigate, called the Trumbull,³ at or near Saybrook, & by One Combs⁴ commanding a Whale Boat, who witheld & detained s^d. Goods—That your honors were graciously pleased to lend an Ear to our Complaint & to appoint a Com^tee. to examine in the premisses & to make Report there on, & in the meantime to take s^d. Goods into Their own hands &c.—That s^d. Com^tee accordingly having Examined the matters complained off & having found the same in favor of the Memorialists—& the Officers of s^d Frigate haveing Insolently refused to pay any respect to your Honors Resolve & order or to deliver s^d. Goods agreeable thereto, but haveing since presumed to Libel the same before the Maratime Court for the County of New London & put the Mem^lsts. to all possible Costs & Expence in their power, to defend therein, which s^d. Court refused to take any notice of s^d. Libel—and the Memorialists being still without redress or remedy they earnestly entreat your Honors to favor & Accept of the Report of Your Honors Com^tee. & thereupon to Resolve & order—that full, speedy & Compleat Remedy be provided your most unfortunate Memorialists in such way as to your honors shall seem mete & adequate & that your honors will not suffer such a manifest Contempt of the Supreme Authority of this State to pass with Impunity or such a Violation of your Subjects property, while under your protection to goe without Redress—& they as in Duty bound shall pray—⁵