[Watertown] Tuesday August 13th 1776
Petition of John Lee in behalf of himself & [in] behalf of Messrs Jackson & Tracy & Tracy Merchts in Newbury Portー
Humbly Sheweth, That they have at their Joint and proper Expence fitted out and Manned and Armed a Schooner call'd the Hawke burthen about Seventy Tons Navigated by Thirty Men, armed with Six Carriage Gun's, two & three Pounders, and ten Swivels, Twenty five bbls Pork & Beef, Flour & Rice, & two Hundred wt Powder, for the purpose of Cruising on the Enemies of the United States of America ー And that they have Appointed John Lee to be the Comander of said Schooner, for whose faithfull Conduct in that Capacity your Petitioners are ready to enter into Bonds Therefore, they pray your Honors to grant the said John Lee a Comission or Letters of Marque for the purpose Aforesaid Agreeable to the Resolves and under the Conditions made by the Honble Congress ー And your Petitioner for Himself and the concern'd as in Duty bound shall ever Prayー
John Lee
Read and Ordered That the above Mention'd John Lee be Comissionated as Commander of the Schooner Hawke ー He Complying with the Resolves of Congressー
Bonds being given by John Lee & Jackson Tracey & Tracey a Comission was Issued out to the said John Lee as Comander of said Schooner Hawke fitted out by them for the purpose Aforesaid, and Instructions were delivered to him Accordingly ー
Ordered that Richard Derby Esqr be directed to forward the papers taken in a Vessell sent into Dartmouth, by John Fisk Commander of the Tyrannicide to the Honble Mr Seaver Agent for the Southern Districtー