Petition of the Inhabitants of Shelburne

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To His Excellency General GATES, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Forces at TICONDEROGA and CROWN POINT:

The Petition of the Inhabitants of SHELBURNE, on LAKE CHAMPLAIN, humbly showeth:

That we live twenty-six miles from Crown Point, and twelve from Onion River. Being well attached to the American cause, were much alarmed when we heard of the retreat of our Army out of Canada to Crown Point, and thought we must be forced to leave here. But when the Army came down, Colonel Winds not having had the small pox, halted here with fourteen men, and obtained leave of General Sullivan to stay here some time; upon which the inhabitants got together, and, in conjunction with Colonel Winds, built a stockade fort, and have continued here since. We beg leave to inform your Excellency that the place where the fort stands is a very good harbour; and as the Lake is often ruffled with sudden gusts in the summer, the boats that pass are often wind bound here, and sometimes out of provision, as hath been the case with two boats coming from Onion River since Colonel Winds hath been here, and were supplied with provision at this place. We, the inhabitants, being but few in number, and having considerable large crops of wheat and other grain on the ground, besides stocks of cattle, we humbly beseech that his Excellency would be graciously pleased, if he thinks it consistent with the good of the service, to let some of the men who were there go back again, or some others as a small guard. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

MOSES PlERSON, REUBEN ROWLEE, JAS˙ LOGAN, RUFUS COLE, SAMUEL TEILER, LODWICK POTER, JOHN — .

To General Gates.

Shelburne, July 19, 1776.