Petition of William Talman and Others to the Massachusetts Congress

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Dartmouth, June 1, 1775.

To the Honourable Provincial Congress now sitting at WATERTOWN:

The Petition of us the subscribers humbly sheweth:

That your petitioners have, at great expense, fitted out some vessels for whaling voyages, and one or two with lumber for the West Indies, some of which are now ready for the sea, and being advised thereto by the Committee of Correspondence of this Town, and not being restricted therefrom by the Continental or Provincial Congress, the advice or directions of which we determine to abide by in this affair; notwithstanding which some people manifest an uneasiness that we should send our vessels to sea, and will not be satisfied unless we have the advice of the honourable the Provincial Congress, now sitting, thereon, which will quiet the minds of the people, and give them and us satisfaction relative to said matter. Therefore, your petitioners pray your advice and direction thereon; and as in duty bound shall ever pray.

William Talman,
Isaac Howland,
Lemuel Williams,
G˙ Church,
John Alden,
Joseph Russell, Jr˙,
John Williams,
Joseph Russell,
Barnabas Russell,
Leonard Jarvis,
David Shepherd,
Seth Russell,
John Howland,
William Claghorn,
Patrick Maxfield,
Zadock Maxfield,
Abraham Smith,
Daniel Smith,
Uriah Ray, Jr.