To The Honl Council of the State of the Massachusetts Bay the Petition of the Following Persons
Humbly Sheweth

That We your Petitioners can Testify that Walter Perkins have Acted and Serv'd as Second Lieut on Bord the Schooner Dilligent John Lambert Commander since the 16th March last, and to general Satisfaction both to Officers & Seamen as he took a Commission for said Schooner in the Name of Jonathan Knight for Executing the Office as above and did it from the Above Date. the said Commission was sent up for an Endorsement to the Honl Council but by some means or other got lost and as a Commission from your Hons may be of Service to him even in future time, We humbly beg that your Hons wou'd lsshue a New Commission in the Name of the said Walter Perkins, that he may retain the same [un]dr the Honour of the Court and the Service he has been engaged in as we look upon him to be highly Deserving in the Station he has acted in, as we was on Bord with him during the said Service we therefore Request the same to be Executed and as in Duty Bound shall ever pray

[Endorsed] In Council [Watertown] Octr 19t[h] 1776 Read & Ordered that as Jona Knight have not acted in the Capacity of 2d Lieut on Board the Schr Diligent since his Appointment that the Name of Walter Perkins be inserted & the Said Jona Knights Name be erased in his Said Comission

John Avery Dpy Secy