Petition from Two Soldiers Captured by the British
Item
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Title
Petition from Two Soldiers Captured by the British
Description
Petition from two soldiers, William Moore and Thomas Ward, captured by the British in the South Carolina campaign and imprisoned on a prison ship. They speak of their suffering. They were also "compelled" to serve on British ship bound to the West Indies. Petition for their release as "redemtioners" and ask that their pay be applied to the "redemption money."
year created
1784
month created
08
day created
11
author
recipient
sent to location
Philadelphia
note
Signature of William Moore and Thomas Ward
author note
William Moore; Titos Ward.
recipient note
To the Commisioners at the Board of War.
notable person/group
William Moore
Thomas Ward
Commissioners of the Board of War
Captain Alcom
Captain Detreaik
South Carolina artillery
Colonel Beckman
Captain Anderson
7th Maryland Regiment
Colonel John Gunby
commander
mattross
detachment commanded by General Sumpter
British
redemtioners
petitioners
redemtees
commanders
friends
notable location
Philadelphia
Charleston
West Indies
America
South Carolina
Maryland
notable item/thing
the Favourite
company
private
hardships
distress
fellow feeling
miserys [ miseries ] of their fellow subjects
memorials
petition
unfortunate subscribers
prisoner
capitulation of Charleston
10 August 1780
suffering
prison ships
gaols
forcibly compelled
West Indies services
liberty
embarked
cash
pay
passage
money
corps
service
bondage
states
severe and distressing
constitution
independent
liberty's
liberties
country
directions
regimental accounts
company
cash
free
assistance
notable phrase
those who have spilled their blood
document number
1784081155001
page start
1
number of pages
4
transcription
To:
The Honourable
The Commissioners
at the Bord of War Philadelphia
[Editor's note: The above was written sideways (90 degree rotation counter clockwise)]
Augt 11th 1784 --------
Wm Moore & Thom:s Warde
[Ed. note: The above was written sideways rotated 90 degrees clockwise]
On board the "Favourite"
Capt. Alcorn,
Philadelphia, Aug. 11, 1784.
William Moore
Mattross, Capt. Wetreioka(?) Co.,
So. Carolina Arty, Col. Beckman,
and
x Thomas Ward
Private, Capt. Anderson's Co.,
7th Md. Reg't, Col. John Gunby,
Petition for their release as
"Redemtioners", and ask that
their pay be applied to the
"Redemtion Money".
[Editor's note: The above was written sideways (90 degree turn clockwise)]
Honoured Sir-----
Those only who have suffered hardships and distress, are the only few who have a fellow feeling for the Misery's of their fellow Subjects. Numerous we doubt not are the weekly Memorials laid before your Honor, which by an immediate call to more weighty affairs are Generally pass'd by unnoticed, We hope not so, good Sir, will be the fate of this third Petition of yr. unfortunate subscribers
Wm. Moore Mattross in Captn. Detreaiks Compyof the South Carolina Artillery Col: Beckman Commander--- taken prisoner on the Capitulation of Charles Town.
Thos. Ward private in Captn. Anderson's Compy. of the 7th Maryland Regt. Col. Jn Gunby, Commander was taken Prisoner on the 18th day of Augst. 1780, In the Detachmt commanded by Genl. Sumpter-----
Alike Hond. Sir, have been their sufferings & grievious distresses, for several months in Prison Ships & Gaols under the British, and at last forcibly compelled into their West Indies Service, The Instant we regained our Liberty we embark'd for America as redemtioners, having no cash to pay of our passage, but not without reason hopeing, the Money due from our different Corps added to the Zeal & actual Service, we have Served the States in, would redeem us from Bondage, Too severe and distressing for those who have spill'd their Blood and hurt their Constitution
Dated on bord the Favourite, Captn. Alcorn
Philadelphia Augst 11th..1784---
for the Independent Liberty's of this happy Country
Hond. Sir
If you will please to give directions, the the Sates of S. Carolina & Maryland Regimental Accounts be examin'd, yr petitioners in the Compys & Regimts affore Mentioned, will be found having suffic cash due to them, to free them, (by paying the Redemtis Money) from A years Bondage,
Sir
If the States Accounts are not in this City we humbly pray to be Acquainted with the same that we may write to our different Commanders, & friends and request their Interest & Assistance for the recovery of what we have Sersvingly Earn'd at the Immediate hazard of our lives, And
Your Petitoners as in duty bound
Hond. Sir
Shall & will ever Pray for & remain yr. dutiful & Obedt. Servts
William Moore
Thos. Ward---
The Time of our redemtion will be out in Seven days more
The Honourable
The Commissioners
at the Bord of War Philadelphia
[Editor's note: The above was written sideways (90 degree rotation counter clockwise)]
Augt 11th 1784 --------
Wm Moore & Thom:s Warde
[Ed. note: The above was written sideways rotated 90 degrees clockwise]
On board the "Favourite"
Capt. Alcorn,
Philadelphia, Aug. 11, 1784.
William Moore
Mattross, Capt. Wetreioka(?) Co.,
So. Carolina Arty, Col. Beckman,
and
x Thomas Ward
Private, Capt. Anderson's Co.,
7th Md. Reg't, Col. John Gunby,
Petition for their release as
"Redemtioners", and ask that
their pay be applied to the
"Redemtion Money".
[Editor's note: The above was written sideways (90 degree turn clockwise)]
Honoured Sir-----
Those only who have suffered hardships and distress, are the only few who have a fellow feeling for the Misery's of their fellow Subjects. Numerous we doubt not are the weekly Memorials laid before your Honor, which by an immediate call to more weighty affairs are Generally pass'd by unnoticed, We hope not so, good Sir, will be the fate of this third Petition of yr. unfortunate subscribers
Wm. Moore Mattross in Captn. Detreaiks Compyof the South Carolina Artillery Col: Beckman Commander--- taken prisoner on the Capitulation of Charles Town.
Thos. Ward private in Captn. Anderson's Compy. of the 7th Maryland Regt. Col. Jn Gunby, Commander was taken Prisoner on the 18th day of Augst. 1780, In the Detachmt commanded by Genl. Sumpter-----
Alike Hond. Sir, have been their sufferings & grievious distresses, for several months in Prison Ships & Gaols under the British, and at last forcibly compelled into their West Indies Service, The Instant we regained our Liberty we embark'd for America as redemtioners, having no cash to pay of our passage, but not without reason hopeing, the Money due from our different Corps added to the Zeal & actual Service, we have Served the States in, would redeem us from Bondage, Too severe and distressing for those who have spill'd their Blood and hurt their Constitution
Dated on bord the Favourite, Captn. Alcorn
Philadelphia Augst 11th..1784---
for the Independent Liberty's of this happy Country
Hond. Sir
If you will please to give directions, the the Sates of S. Carolina & Maryland Regimental Accounts be examin'd, yr petitioners in the Compys & Regimts affore Mentioned, will be found having suffic cash due to them, to free them, (by paying the Redemtis Money) from A years Bondage,
Sir
If the States Accounts are not in this City we humbly pray to be Acquainted with the same that we may write to our different Commanders, & friends and request their Interest & Assistance for the recovery of what we have Sersvingly Earn'd at the Immediate hazard of our lives, And
Your Petitoners as in duty bound
Hond. Sir
Shall & will ever Pray for & remain yr. dutiful & Obedt. Servts
William Moore
Thos. Ward---
The Time of our redemtion will be out in Seven days more
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (4 pages) | YXT17 (4 pages) | Collection: Claims Files Relating to Service in the Revolutionary War, 1775-1851. (RG217) | Moore, William |
| [view document] (4 pages) | YXT17a (4 pages) | Collection: Claims Files Relating to Service in the Revolutionary War, 1775-1851. (RG217) | Moore, William |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | William Moore | [unknown] | Second author: Thomas Ward. |
| Recipient | Commissioners of the Board of War | Philadelphia | [n/a] |