The Petition of James Kenneday Inhabitant of St Georges Parish in the County of Middlesex London & late Master of the Ship Peggyー

Humbly Shewethー

That your Petitioner left St Vincents in the Ship Hero of London for Hallifax in March last for Lumber for that Island to which Island & Grenada Your Petitioner has Traded this Eight Years as Master from London, But as your Petitioner was taken very bad With the Rumatizim as that rendered him unable to walk therefore he was oblidged to send away the Ship for St Vincents & remain in Hallifax. Your Petitioner getting better of this Disorder purchased a small Schooner to proceed after his Ship but meeting with Mr Reed who had purchased this Ship Rigged & bound for Antigua by way of New York gave your Petitioner the Command of sd Ship with Promise not to detain her in N. York but directly Dispatch her for the west Indies & there to Load Sugars for London, but your Petitioner was taken by two Armed Schooners in the Service of the united States² was brought in here the 29th of July Last & Committed to Jail, but as your Petitioner was in a very poor state of Health when Committed that he got the Liberty of Goal Keepers House where he has remained since Your Petitioner Prays that your Honors would take his Case into Consideration & grant him the same Liberty as other Masters of Ships brought In here. As your Petitioner had a Man on Board by the Name of [Benjamin] Davis whose Character he did not know till he was brought. into this Place, he beleives is the Occasion of his receiving different punishment from other Masters of Vessells. Your Petitioner likewise Prays that when your Honors shall think it fit for the Masters of other Vessels brought in here to Depart for their own Country that your Petitioner may have leave to accompany them at first for London as your Petitioner has a Wife & Famaly there ー Your Petitioner too is at Present in so bad a state of Health as is unable to put off or on his Cloaths ー Your Petitioner is very happy that his Case is left with your Honors & rests assured that you will do every thing in your Power for him consisting with your Duty & the good of the Publick. If your Petitioner should have the Prayer of his Petition Granted he assures your Honors that he will not abuse the Goodness of those to whom he will be much Indebted & as in, Duty bound will ever Pray &c

Boston August 13th 1776ー

[Endorsed] In Council [Watertown] Augt 15[th] 1776 Read & Ordered ー That the Prayer [of] the Petitioner Jas Kenedy be granted and the Goal Keeper at Boston in the County of Suffolk be and he hereby is directed to releas[e] from his Custody the Sayd Kenedyー³

Jn^o Avery Dpy ー Secy⁴