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

Lib. J. R.
& U. S.

At a Council held at the City of Annapolis Monday the 22^d
Day of April in the 3^d year of his Lordships Dominion
Annoq Domini 1754.

Present

His Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esq^r Governor in Council
Read the following Petition

To His Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esq^r Governor & Com-
mander in Chief in and Over the Province of Maryland

The humble Petition of the Choptank & Locust Neck In-
dians Most humbly Sheweth

That Whereas we the said Indians being Intitled to and
Possesst of a Parcell of Land lying on Choptank River in
Dorchester County by Virtue of a Treaty Subsisting &c. and
afterwards confirmed by Act of Assembly of this Province
to us and our Indians so long as we or any of our Indians
shall Peaceably and Quietly Occupy Possess and dwell on the
same without being Lett hindered disturbed or Incroached
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 bearing off and
Selling Large Quantitys of Timber of our Lands. Others who
have got in Possession of our Lands Refused to give up the
same or pay the yearly Rents thereof continually disturbing
those Peaceable People who live on our Land and of whom
we received the yearly Rents thereof. We therefore Most
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 9th 1754.

his his his
Hopping — Sam Abraham A Bishop Thomas T Bishop
marke mark mark
James Chonk William Chonk William Ashquish

Ordered that Col Henry Hooper Major John Eccleston
and Doctor William Murray of Dorchester County and Will-
iam Thomas of Talbot County Gent, or any three or two of
them enquire into the said Complaints and also that they
inquire 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 and that they examine them on
Oath, And having reduced into Writing the said Examina-
tions so taken by them, They make Report thereof to this
Board with all convenient speed.