Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1761-1769. 271

founded had such uncertainty in it, that it was neither clear
the said Ben was the Felon, (the attempt having been made
in the Night, and in an House without Light, where Objects
could not well be discovered,) nor (if he was the Person) that
his Intention was to Ravish. We take the Liberty to recom-
mend him as a proper Object of Your Excellency's Pardon
J. Goldsborough Jon^a Nicols
R. Goldsborough W^m Martin
Ja^s Dickinson

To His Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esq^r Governor and Com-
mander in Chief in and over the Province of Maryland.
We the Subscribers, being the Jurors that passed upon the
Trial of Negro Ben (slave of Rachel Harrison of Talbot
County) for committing an Assault on the Body of Eve
Shannahan, with design to Commit a Rape upon the Body of
the said Eve, and we being very desirous that your Excellency
would extend Your Mercy to the said Ben, do beg leave to
recommend him to Your Excellency as apprehending that the
Law in that Case is extremely severe, and being satisfied that
the attempt made upon the Woman brings him within the
Description of that Act, yet Notwithstanding, as the Fellow
before bore a good Character, the Attempt but small, and the
Evidence not so clear as we could wish, we hope your Excel-
lency will grant Pardon to the said Ben. And Your Petition-
ers will pray.
March 13^th 1769.
Daniel Sherwood for" John Stevens Henry Banning
Sam^l Dickinson N. Goldsborough G: Dawson
John Thomas Thomas Harrison Isaac Palmer
Edw^d Nidils Joseph Bowley Joseph Harrison.

Ordered by his Excellency the Governor, with the Advice of
this Board, that a Pardon issue for the above mentioned Negro
Ben, which issued accordingly.
Read the Transcripts of the Conviction of Negro George,
the Slave of Thomas Lingam of Baltimore County, and Negro
Sam, the Slave of the Rev^d Hugh Dean of said County, Con-
demned, at the last March Court held in Baltimore County,
for breaking open and Robbing the Meat House of a certain
Jacob Davis of Baltimore County aforesaid.
Ordered by His Excellency the Governor, with the Advice
of this Board, that Pardons Issue for the aforementioned
Negroes George and Sam, which were Issued accordingly.

Lib. C. B.

No. 20