January 1-December 31. 1781 295

Your Petitioner further begs Leave to shew that he was Draughted
in the month of June 1778 but being then subject to the same Com-
plaint was discharged by the Court of Appeals appointed by Law to
enquire into and Determine such Cases — shall therefore submit it
to your Great Judgment whether a person who has been In a declin-
ing State for several years and Weakening every day can be fit for
the service of his Country. And therefore Prays you would take the
matter into Consideration and Grant such relief as in your Great
wisdom shall seem meet — and your Petitioner as in duty Bound will
Ever Pray.
June 12^th 1781

Thomas Pickerel hath been subject to a complaint in the Breast
for two years, which very often terminates in Consumption, and
I am of opinion that the fatigues incident to a military life are such
as he will never be able to bear, but at the extreme hazzard of Life
I am Sir
Y^r very ob^t Serv^t
G. R. Brown

June 16
Blue Book
No. 4
Letter 15

To Col^l Francis Ware.

We the Subscribers all of Charles County in the State of Mary-
land being well acquainted with a certain Thomas Pickerel of said
County do certify that the said Thomas Pickerel hath Complain'd
of having a very great pain in his Breast for a very long time, that
the said Pickerel is of a weak Constitution, not able to go thro' hard
Labour, much more the fatigues of Marching witness our hands this
16^th day of June 1781.

Blue Book
No. 4
Letter 16

Jacob Ware

Fra^s Sewall

Raphael Tear

Tho^s Hopewell

Smith Hawkins

Francis Tiar

Jn^o Hopewell

Joseph Dixson

Joseph Tiar

Notly Lucket

Isaac Lattimore

W^m B. Smoot

Jn^o M. Crismond

William Tear Jur.

John Cox

Fran^s Ware

Isaac Latemore

Walter Hanson S^r

W^m King

Hugh Cox

W^m B. Dodson

F. H. Phillips

John Dodson

[Rich^d Barnes, Leo^d Town to His Excellency Tho^s Sim Lee, Esq^r]

On my return to this County I found that a small Ship under
a Flag was near Blackistons Island (since which she has proceeded
up Potowmack) and a six and thirty gun Frigate, with two schoon-
ers, laying at the mouth of S^t Marys River, where they had been
for several days, and have ever since continued without ever attempt-
ing to land, but on S^t Georges Island, which they have regularly
done every day. On the 13^th a Brig with two Shooners appeared off
the mouth of Clements Bay, and landed two barges loaded with men
at M^r Harbert Blackestons House, which they burned and carryed

June 16