From John Landells (unpublished)
[1777-1785] Gen.
To His Excellency Benjamin Franklin Ambassidor from The United States of North America to the Court of Versailes

The Petition of John Landells A Subject of the United States of North America Humbly Sheweth

That Your Petitioner was born as his Mother has informed him in the City of Philidelphia where his Father Resided and followed the Business of a Carpenter, That his Father was a Native of York Town in Virginia, That after the decease of his Father, which his Mother informs him was in the year 1769, Your Petitioner was brought by his Mother to Scotland, of which Country she was a Native; That your Petitioner was then Six Years of age, That when he arrived at his Thirteenth Year, Your Petitioner was put an apprentice to a Sadler at Edinburgh to whom he faithfully and honestly Served his apprenticeship, That as Soon as that was Ended, Your Petitioner took his Passage from Leith to Ostend, in order to Get on Board some Vessel for North America; But being disapointed there, he Came to Paris, being determined if Possible to get to Port L’orion, where he hoped to find a Passage for his Native Country; But your Petitioners money being allmost Expended, at his Arrival at Paris he was under the Necessity of applying to work, hoping in a few months to Lay up as much as would without any Expence to the Goverment of his Country, Convey him Thither; But Your Petitioner finding himself not only disapointed in Laying up Money, But allso in Keeping the Little he had, is Constrained To Implore, But most Humbly Your Excellency, to give Your Petitioner such assistance for Conveying him to his Native Land, as Your Excellency shall in Your Wisdom Think meet, And Your Petitioner will Ever pray.

Addressed: His Excellency Benjamin Franklen Ambassedor From the United States of North America To the Court of Versails
Endorsed: John Landells
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