416 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1681-85/6.

Lib. R. R. R.
p. 261

she goeth in feare, He the said Simmons haveing sev-
erall times before his late troubles soe behaved himself
towards your Pet^r and her poore Orphans, & since forbidden
severall persons to pay unto or for your said Pet^r and orphans
towards their maintenance any tobacco due to the Estate left
your Pet^r by her former husband for that end, and converting
the same to his owne use, to satisfie his owne extravagant
expences before & since his said late troubles.
All w^ch your Pet^r humbly prayes your Hono^rs to think
worthy of your consideration, and to take some effectuall
course, not onely for the maintenance of your s^d Pet^r and her
Orphans, without the charity of other persons (haveing where-
withall sufficient soe to doe of their owne if it might be secured)
but also to defend and protect them from any bodily mischiefe
that may be Offered to them by the s^d Simmons when he shall
be Inlarged. And shall pray &c^a

Ordered that the Commissaryes take this petition into
their consideration &c^a

The hon^ble the Commissaryes are desired to take into their
consideration the foregoeing petition, soe as to afford the Pet^r
what releife they legally may, by secureing both her & her
Orphans in their persons Estates, soe farr forth as by Law
they may, it being referred wholly to them as haveing the
proper charge of all matters of this nature.

John Scott's pet.

To the hon^ble Coll Henry Darnall, Coll W^m Digges Maj^r
Nicholas Sewall and the rest of the hon^ble Councill

The humble Petition of John Scott late Owner of the shipp
Abenome and Cargoe. Sheweth
That whereas your poor Pet^r of meere necessity putting
unto this Province of Maryland, by reason of Sickness of his
Company, and the distress of his shipp, and not being
acquainted with the Custom and Lawes of this Province, hath
fforfeited the said Shipp and Cargoe, which is all the Estate
your humble Pet^r hath in the world, and thereby is totally
stripp't and uncapable to shift for his Liveing, as alsoe severall
of his apprentices whom he is obteined to provide for, afflicted
with sickness and want of reasonable sustentation, onely the
Charity of well disposed people, and unless your Hono^rs are
pleased to deale favourably w^th your pet^r he must conclude
himself for Ever ruined, as also those whom it hath pleased
God to afflict with sickness One whereof is already dead, partly
for want of necessary assistance: