Appendix. 509

II
LANGUISHING PRISONERS FOR DEBT

[SlX SEPARATE PETITIONS, 1758-1760, TO THE GOVER-
NOR AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM PETER ROBINSON,
BASIL BECKWITH, JOHN METCALFE, JOHN TURNBULL,
AND JOSEPH LUCKSINGBURG, PRISONERS FOR DEBT LAN-
GUISHING IN COUNTY JAILS, PRAYING RELIEF.]

PETER ROBINSON

To his Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esquire Governor of Maryland,
[and to the] Honourable the Upper and [Lower Houses] .
The Petition of Peter Robinson a languishing Prisoner in Prince
Georges County
Humbly sheweth —
That your Excellency's & Honours Petitioner hath been confined
for Debt ever since August 1755; and is not able to redeem his Body
with all the effects & Interest he hath, which he is willing to sur-
render to his respective Creditors if they would please to accept of
the same & grant your Petitioner his liberty thereon.
That your Petitioner hath a Wife & three Children that suffer
much by reason of his long Confinement.
That your Petitioner is far advanced in the 45^th year of his Age,
&, being in the 3^d year of his Confinement (where he hath suffered
Heats & Colds & Sickness, w :^ch joyned w :^th the want of Sun, Air &
Exercise) he finds his Consti [tution] .... impaired that he fears
(unless your Excellency & .... Object to Publick Compassi[on]
.... useful either to his Family in He therefore most humbly

begs your Excellency & Honours to grant some Law to pass for his
Relief such as to your Wisdom seem most meet.
And your Petitioner will for your Excellency & Honours pray —
Peter Robinson

BASIL BECKWITH

MSS.
Archives
of Md.
Black Book
No. 3
Letter 207
Hall of
Records

To His Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esq^r Governor of Maryland
And To the Honourable the upper and Lower House of Assembly.
The Petition of Basil Beckwith Humbly Sheweth, That your
Petitioner Is a Languishing Prisoner in Custody of The Sheriff of
Frederick County for Debt, for Divers Sums of Money and Tobacco,
Which by Reason of Great Losses and Misfortunes he is Unable to
pay, Your Petitioner has been a Prisoner in Close Confinement for
the Two Years and four Months last past. Your Petioner has made

MSS.
Archives
of Md.
Black Book
No. 4
Letter 81
Hall of
Records