Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1769-1770. 369

Read also the following Petitions of Eleanor Bryan Elias
.Smith and Thomas Bond in behalf of the aforesaid Negro
Abraham.

To His Excellency Robert Eden Esq^r
May it please your Excellency

Lib. C. B.
No. 20

That at Saint Mary's County June Court last a certain
Negro Abraham the property of a certain Captain Thomas
Bond of said County was indicted and Convicted upon (as I
believe) a Confession extorted from him upon a Whipping
inflicted on him by his said Master as I could not Swear to the
Identity of the Person of an attempt to Ravish me a Copy of
which Indictment and Confession I presume your Excellency
has seen and as I am not willing said Negro should be Exe-
cuted for the Crime aforesaid I now apply to your Excellency
in his behalf entreating you to Pardon him upon his Master's
Transporting him out of the Province As I cannot in such
Case be under any apprehension of any the like attempt from
him.
I am
Your Excellency's most Obed^t & most hble Serv^t
Saint Marys County Eleanor Bryan
June 24^th 1 770.

To His Excellency Robert Eden Esq^r
May it please your Excellency.
That at Saint Marys County June Court last a certain
Negro Abraham the property of Captain Thomas Bond of
said County was upon a Confession of the said Negro extorted
from him by Whipping inflicted on him by his Master indicted
and Convicted of breaking open my Bar and Stealing thereout
Sundry Pieces of Money, the Record of which I presume your
Excellency has seen and as I should be extreme sorry said
Negro should suffer Death on that Account I now apply to
your Excellency entreating you to pardon him for the afore-
said Crime.
I am, Your Excellency's most Obed^t & most hble Serv^t
Saint Marys County Elias Smith.
June 26^th 1770.

To His Excellency Robert Eden Esq^r
May it please your Excellency.
At Saint Marys County June Court last a certain Negro
Abraham my property was upon his own Confession extorted
by Whipping Indicted and Convicted on Two Indictments the
24

p. 111