To the Honble the Council, for the State of the Massachusetts Bay, now setting at Watertown.

The Petition of John Harvey humbly shews.

That your Petitioner was late Master of the Ship called the Easter [Esther], bound from Jamaica to London, and was on the second Day of October last, taken by the Continental Brigt of War called the Cabbot, and sent into the Port of Dartmouth: And that your Petitioner had on board his Ship at the time he was Captured his Wife, & Family, which consists of four Orphan Children, under the care of your Petitioner, the Eldest of which is between Six & Seven years of Age, & five Servants, four whites & one black; all which are now at sd Dartmouth. This being the Situation of your Petitioner & his Family he prays the indulgence of the Honble Court that they in their great Goodness & Humanity would grant leave to their unfortunate Petitioner to Purchase some small Vessel such as he may be able, and also to grant him a Permit to depart with his sd Family in sd Vessel from Dartmouth back again to Jamaica: And if your Petitioner should be so happy as to obtain leave to purchase a Vessel for the purpose aforesd he will want Persons to Man sd Vessel: Therefore would further pray the indulgance of the Honble Court, that they would grant Permits to four [sic five] of the Men who belonged to your Petitioners Ship before she was captured, for the purpose aforesd. viz. Anthony Dickerson, John Taylor, Edwd Harvey Willm Dodge, & John Munro

The Situation of your Petitioners Family, being so peculiarly unhappy, by reason of his having his Wife with him, who is now Pregnant & very near her time, & so many small Children & Servants; Induces him to believe the Honble Court will indulge him in his Requests, or otherwise grant him relief such as they in their great Wisdom shall think proper & best, & their Petitioner as in Duty bound will ever pray &c.

Bristol ss Novr 1st 1776—

Then personally appeared Thomas We[a]ver² who is now prize master of the Ship mentioned in the aforegoing Petition & made Oath that the Facts set forth therein are true & just in every part

Sworn to before me Edwd Pope Just. Pacis—

[Endorsed] In Councill [Watertown] Novr 11. 1776

On Reading the Petition of Capt John Harvey late Commander of the Ship Easter, Ordered that the prayer thereof be Granted & that he have Liberty to purchase a vessell not exceeding twenty Tons in Order to Transport him self and his Family Consisting of his Wife, four Children &five servants, to Jamacia, taking with him Nothing more than Necessary provisions for the Voyage, & in Order to Enable him to navigate his Vessell he is also hereby permitted to take with him Anthony Dickerson, Jno. Taylor Edward Harvey, Wm Dodge & John Munroe, as mariners to Inable him to Navigate his Vessell. And 'tis hereby Recommended to All American Cruisers to suffer the said Capt Harvey to pass with his Vessell Company & passengers unmolested