334 Letters to the Governor and Council

July 2
Red Book
No. 28
Letter 64

[Information of John Anderson a Deserter from one of the british
Barges, taken 2^nd July 1781. Sworn to in Council before
Thos. S. Lee.]

Was in the Resolution 6 weeks and left her at Jone's Island about
3 weeks ago. Joseph Whaland Jun^r William Timmons Jn^o and
Michael Timmons of Hooper's Streights Brothers, and Shadrack
Horseman were in the Barge — and they were there when he came
away — the Barge has been up Wiccomico and all about the E. Shore.
Whaland & W^m Timmons act as Pilots — plundered the Widow Elsey
& a Capt. Evans at the lower Ferry in Wor. believes him to be
Evans — the Barge rendezvous at Courtney's Island — she carries 35
men not more than 8 white Men the rest Negroes — commanded by Jn^o
Robinson. 3 Swivels & 2 wall Peices & 35 Musquets — a small Barge
with 12 men now commanded by Joseph Whaland — a Barge with 14
or 15 men rendezvous at same place & all under the Command of Rob-
inson that Edw^d Fenwick of S^t Marys County was sev^l Times on
S^t George's Island while the Barges were there — he came for a Negro
and bo^t Goods of the Barges — that Josiah Langley of same County
bro^t some Meal for the Barges and went up Potowmack as a Pilot of
the Barges & returned in her and left her at S^t Geo^s Island. Langly
was to carry the Barge to Leonard Town but was fired on by the
Militia on the Shore.

July 2
Red Book
No. 9
Letter 127

[Ben. Stoddert, Annapolis, to Gov. Lee.]

I would by no means wish to be troublesome to your Excellency &
the Hon^ble Council — but I find myself so disagreeably situated in con-
sequence of my claim on the state arising from my purchase of Gen^l
Gates order of August last, that I cannot forbear soliciting that the
circumstances which induced the transaction may be considered, &
if possible, that a part of the debt due me, may be paid.
The balance is between £1400 & £1600 specie. I should be ex-
tremely happy to receive one half, or if that should be deemed too great
a proportion, even one third of it in Tob^o at any price that may be
fixed upon by your hon^ble Board. If the Tob^o is not on hand, orders
on the Collectors of Prince Georges & Calvert Counties for Tob^o to
be rec^d would answer my purpose. I cannot but flatter myself that the
endorsement on the back of my order as follows, " In Council, we
hereby agree on behalf of the State of Maryland to pay the within
order when the State of the Treasury will admit thereof " — together
with the promises to the person from whom I purchased it, that the
money should be paid in April — will induce you to consider it in a
different situation from other public Debts — the Credit of your hon-
ble Board being in some degree pledged for the payment of it — at
any rate, I can truly say that I viewed it in this light when I made
the purchase, or I should not have made it.