30 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1753-1761.

Lib. J. R.

& U. S.

Indians shall Peaceably and Quietly Occupy Possess and
dwell on the same without being Lett hindered disturbed or
Incroacht upon by any Person or Persons whatsoever
Your Humble Petitioners most humbly Sheweth that Con-
tinual frauds Trespasses and incroachments have been and
are yet Committed on Our Land by Cutting Carrying off and
Selling large Quantities of Timber of our Lands Others who
have got in possession of our Lands refuse to give up the
same or pay the yearly Rents thereof Continually disturbing
those Peaceable People who Live on our Lands and of whom
we Receive the yearly Rents thereof
We therefore humbly beg that your Excellency would by
some Proper means redress our Injuries, And Your humble
Petitioners as in Duty bound shall Ever Pray April 9^th 1754.
his
James Coponk Hopping Sam
mark
William Coponk
his
William Ashquash Abram A Bishop
mark
his
Thomas T Bishop
mark

Ordered that Col Henry Hooper Major John Eccleston &
Doct^r William Murray of Dorchester County and William
Thomas of Talbot County Gentlemen or any three or two of
them enquire into the said Complaints and also that they
enquire into the Grounds of any other Complaints made by
the said Indians and that they send for such Persons as shall
be named to them on behalf of the said Indians and also on
behalf of the Persons accused & that they Examine them on
Oath & having Reduced into writing the said Examination
so taken by them they make Report thereof to this Board
with all convenient Speed.

p. 26

At a Council held at the Governors on Wednesday the 24th
Day of April in the fourth year of his Lordships Dominion
Annoque Domini 1754.
Present
His Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esq^r Governor

The
Honourable

Benjamin Tasker Esq^r
Col George Plater
Col Charles Hammond

Col Benjamin Tasker
Benedict Calvert Esq^r