The Humble Petition of William Straughan late Master of the ship Lord Chatham of Dublin now at Brest who by this unatural warr fell a victim with his property to the Ranger Continental ship of War John Paul Jones Esqr. most Humbly and submissively prays your Honour to deign to Consider Your Petitioner has a large helpless family in Dublin a Wife and Eight Children together with three grand Children the father of them now in the American service and all depending on your petitioners earning and his son in law Thoms Trueman his mate now a prisoner on board the brigg Patience in Brest road which if long continued will expose my Helpless family to all kind of Misseries by becoming a publick charge—

Your Petitioner further sheweth that he had another Vessell Seized lately from him by one of his Majesties Cruizers and Confiscated for no other reason than one of his Seamen having Secreted a few gallons of brandy on board his Vessell—

Your petitioner sheweth he is now man sixty years of Age and Verry Infirm if carryed prisoner to America it certainly will be his end.

Your petitioner flatters himself from your Humanity and the satisfaction it gives you to relieve the distressed that you will relieve his helpless family by ordering your petitioner and his son in law their liberties—

Capt Jones and his officers Humane treatment to us since our confinement give us hopes that he will facilate it by leting your Honour know how willingly I contributed by my Knowledge of the coast to the Rangers safety during her Cruizes in St. Georges Channel—turn—

Your Humble petitioner Expects your Honour will pardon him this forwardness in exposeing to you his and his family distresses and hopes as it regards Liberty to which your Honour has so Stedfastly Adherd, and has so bravely defended hopes his Expectations will not be fruitless and that thorough your Charitable goodness you will order your petitioners their freedom and your Humble petitioners as in Duty bound will for ever Pray—