January 1-December 31, 1781 251

would stand his Class for him he would Give me fifteen Hundred
Pounds & a sute of Clothes which if I stood the Draft and Came of
Clear after that they took the Liberty Ether for a thousand pounds
or a hogshead of Bacco to sell me as a Slave But Being a freeman I
think I ought to have the Liberty to Dispose of my self and moreover
they never have paid me the hole of my money within five hundred
pounds & the Cloths this is the real Truth of my Confindment so I
hope your Excillincey will Consider my Case and Befriend me with
the hand of Charity & I shall Be for Ever Bound to pray for your
Excillencey Goodness and remain your most Humble & Duty full
Servant to Command
[P. S.] Haveing a wife & three small Children in Great Distress

May 22

[Ridley & Pringle, Baltimore to His Excellency Thomas Sim
Lee Esq^r]

Should your Hon^ble Board be pleaS^td to comply with the requi-
sition made in the letter we have the honor to inclose, we beg that
your Excellency will order the Permit to be forwarded as soon
as convenient being very desirous to embrace the present favourable
opportunity of transporting the Provision. (See page 243)

May 22
[Indorsed
"Ridley and
Pringle with
a letter of
the 15th from
Mr.
Holker "]

[Henry Gray, Charles County, To his Excellency Thomas Simm
Lee Esquire]

The petition of Henry Gray of Durham Parish and Charles
County now humbly sheweth That a presentment was made against
him by the Grand Jury for the Body of Charles by which he was
charged with having assaulted a certain Benedictor Davis upon
which Presentment at last November term he Submitted to the Court
who imposed a Fine of twenty Pounds State Money upon him. Your
Petitioner conscious of his harmless intentions was astonished to
hear his conduct grossly misrepresented in Testimony which charged
him with having behaved rudely and indecently to the said Benedictor
Davis — And as she received no injury and as your petitioner has
very little to Subsist on other than the profit arising from his rare
industrious Labours Your Petitioner was greived to find that the
Court have imposed a fine which your petitioner most humbly hopes
your Excellency will think immoderate and unreasonable and grant
him such releif as your Excellency in mercy shall think proper and
your petitioner shall ever pray

Charles County May 1781
We the Subscribers Neighbours and acquaintances of the within
Mentioned Henry Gray do certify that he hath allways been esteemed
a modest wellbehaved young man and in every other respect has sus-
tained a reputable honest Character and we never heard of his hav-
ing been Guilty of or Charged with any misdemeanour except the
within mentioned assault and have the greatest reason to beleive

May 23