Petition of John McKinney to New-York Congress

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The Petition of JOHN MCKINNEY most humbly sheweth:

That your petitioner, with his wife and family, are under the greatest distress of mind, at the confinement and misfortunes of Captain John Kendall, who has for some time past been married to your petitioner' s daughter, who is very lately brought to bed, and now lies in so truly deplorable a manner that her life is much despaired of, and that in great part attributed to her husband' s present unhappy situation. That your petitioner is unspeakably concerned at the said John Kendall' s being under the censure and displeasure of this honourable Board, but does not mean to vindicate, in the least, any misconduct he may have been guilty of; only means hereby to hope his own and family' s present unhappiness may be speedily alleviated by your feeling consideration. That your petitioner has been many years an inhabitant of this city, has, with great care and trouble, brought up a large family; is a freeman and freeholder, and would willingly become the said John Kendall' s security that he shall in future behave himself in a becoming manner; that he shall not take up arms, or otherwise behave offensively against the Continental Army, nor shall go on board any of His Majesty' s ships of war, or otherwise your petitioner is willing to be bound as this honourable Board shall see reasonable and requisite. Wherefore, your petitioner earnestly prays that the premises may, in the most convenient time, be taken into consideration by this honourable Board, that his security may be taken for the future good conduct of the said John Kendall, and be thereupon discharged from his present confinement; for which great favour your petitioner, with his family, will ever most sincerely pray, &c.

City of New-York, September 2, 1775.