[5] See [doc. no. 128], [note 12].
179. Petition of Edward Winter. May, 1749.[1]
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Province of the Massachusetts Bay | To his Excellency William Shirley Esqr. Govr: and Commander in chief in and over sd. Province[2] the Hon'ble the Council and House of Rep'ves in General Court Assembled May —— 1749. |
The Petition of Edward Winter of Boston Blacksmith Humbly Sheweth,
That in the Year 1744 there were nine persons committed to the County Goal[3] in Boston, being charged with committing divers acts of Piracy, Hostility etc. on the high Seas and soon after they were put into Goal, they attempted to get off their Irons and make their Escape but being discovered were prevented, and thereupon your Petr: was ordered to Search and Examine their Irons several times in a week, which he accordingly did from the 12th day of January 1744 to the 23d of July 1746, 253 times, and charged the Province for the same the small price of one shilling a time, amounting in the whole to £12. 13. 0 bills of the last tenor,[4] and put in his Bill to the Committee appointed by the special Court of Admiralty who try'd said Prisoners, to Examine the Acco'ts of Charges that had arisen on said Prisoners, but the same was not allowed by them, they apprehending the Pet'rs Bill sho'd be paid by the County (tho' all other charges upon 'em the Province paid) and said Committee accordingly recommended it to the Court of Sessions to pay the same, to whom your Petr. has since appl'd but they absolutely refused paying it, so that your Petr. unless that he is relieved by this Hon: Court is like to suffer greatly.
Your Petr. therefore prays your Excellency and Honours will be pleased to take the premises into Consideration, and as all the other charges were paid by the Province, he prays he mayn't be the only sufferer, but that you'l be pleas'd to order Payment of his Acco't out of the Treasury accordingly.
And as in Duty Bound he shall pray etc.
Edward Winter.