[Wood Yard] octob[er] the 29 1776
Gentell Men/
Mr Gide[o]n odair [Adair] Waits on you for a Comition as Captain of Morreens onboard of the Largest Provence Schooner Which I hope to have Riged and fit for sea In 10 or 12 day as sailers are verey Hard to be got I Shuld think it Would be well for you to Put from 20 to 30 Lands Men on board after being aCruse thay will becom half Sailers Which will be of great use to this State Mr odaier as I have said to you before is as fiting a man for the Servis as any of My aquantance he has the offer of going out In that Station In a Small Privetear In this Nabour Hud but now Coms to you to give you the prefernce If you Shuld think of given him a Commition itis high time he was Recruting as thar is Several Recruting Parti[e]s about this Place and Petoxen I am Gentell Men [&c.]
Stephen Steward
If you shuld give Mr odair a Comition it will be well to tell him to git as Many Young Cuntrey Born Lads as he Can
1. Red Book, XI, Md. Arch.
