LETTER AND PETITION FROM STEPHEN PARKER TO JAMES BOWDOIN.

Machias, May 13, 1776.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOUR: You may remember I waited on you some time last September with a letter from Mr. Timothy Fitch, craving your interest for permission to send a vessel to the West-Indies; in consequence of which you were pleased to write Colonel Warren on the subject, and recommend the same. On my arrival at Watertown, presenting your letter, and informing the Colonel of my business, he advised me not to mention the matter to the General Court, as thinking it would not be granted. I submitted and returned; and having expended what money I was possessed of in seeking after relief for the inhabitants of Machias, I mentioned to Mr. Fitch my real opinion was, if I could proceed to the bay in Nova-Scotia, and procure a quantity of hay, it would be of eminent service to our people, as a large stock of cattle must die if no bay could be obtained but what was cut in the place, we being supplied with hundreds of tons from Nova-Scotia yearly. Mr. Fitch joined in sentiment with me, and accordingly agreed to allow me a commission for transacting some business; procured three or four hundred bushels of corn, and advised me, as soon as the brig he sent was despatched, to get a schooner and proceed to Machias. The command of this brig was given to Captain Thomas Fossey, who, arriving at East Passage, we immediately proceeded to Cape Forschuc, (alias Yarmouth;) here I agreed for a schooner of one Mr. Tinkham, and seven tons of salt hay, no English being to be had; reserved what my commissions came to in provisions, and expected to proceed directly to Machias on the brig sailing; but finding the hay so damaged as to be unfit for anything, and my being obliged to give fifty dollars for the run, freight or no freight, it being now the 1st of January, I concluded, from the difficulties of weather and disappointment in hay, to seek passage another and cheaper way; and the very first that presented I embraced, at the expense of ten dollars, though only twenty-five leagues distant, bringing with me in provisions (which Mr. Fitch shipped) what my commissions entitled me to.

May it please your Honour, my ignorance of the resolves of the Grand Congress, my necessitous circumstances, and real concern for my family, with my ardent desire of serving the inhabitants of Machias, and not lucrative motives, or the remotest thought of joining myself with the enemies of America, were the cause of my putting foot in the Government of Nova-Scotia. And I here solemnly declare to your Honour that I went to a place (viz: Yarmouth) which is inhabited almost entirely by New-England people, and who appear to be as true friends to the welfare of America and grand cause of liberty as any person whatever; nor have I corresponded with or sold any articles to any other, having strictly avoided furnishing any inhabitant of Halifax, officer, soldier, or seaman, belonging to the Crown, or any transport engaged in the service thereof, with one article, great or small. On my arrival here, as I had been to Nova-Scotia, the inhabitants seem dissatisfied; and to what length it may grow I know not. I therefore presume most earnestly to crave your Honour’s candour and interest with the honourable Court in my behalf; for if I have offended, it is not with any design or the least alienation from the great and glorious cause in which America is engaged; but the effect of ignorance, and pure necessity; for from the first of my leaving Machias for Philadelphia, which was early last July, my principles and declarations, publick and private, have been immoveably fixed in the most steadfast attachment to the liberties and prosperity of this suffering land, America. I beseech, for the sake of my poor distressed ailing wife and helpless children, that I may not be deemed an enemy to the welfare of my native country, the cause of America, or the least cool thereto; or be made to suffer by censure or otherwise; for as I ever have been, I now am, and trust ever shall be, ready to give the most solemn assurances of my fervent regard to the laws, dignity, and interest, of this virtuous, oppressed, and most justly struggling land.

I beg leave to lay these my earnest requests at your Honour’s feet; and subscribe myself, with profound respect, your Honour’s most obedient humble servant,

STEPHEN PARKER.

To the Honourable James Boivdoin, Esq.

P. S. I presume to enclose a copy of my Petition to the Honourable Court.

To the Honourable Council and the Honourable Representatives of the Colony of MASSACHUSETTS-BAY:

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOUR: With the profoundest respect and submission I beg leave to acquaint your Honours that the 5th of July last I took passage from this place for Philadelphia, in hope of obtaining a supply of provision for the inhabitants here. As I had not cash to purchase, the Rev. Mr. James Lyon furnished me with a letter of recommendation to his friend Jonathan Smith, Esq., of Philadelphia; but, after the most earnest application to that gentleman, and others, during a month’s stay in the city, with offers of mortgaging a considerable interest till payment of one hundred barrels of flour, finding no probability of success, and having nearly expended the trifle of money I carried with me, I took passage with Captain Edward Bacon, of Barnstable, in a sloop loaded with flour, belonging to Colonel Doane, of Welfleet, bound for said place. Arriving at Barnstable, I made pressing suit to Colonel Doane, offering him the same, but was here unsuccessful. I then tried Captain Solomon Davis, Meletiah Bourne, Esq., and Colonel Joseph Otis, of Barnstable, for assistance; but these gentlemen not being disposed to risk or credit their interest, and my money being gone, I was obliged to sell two of three barrels of flour, which I brought from Philadelphia for my family. I then met Mr. Shubael Lovell, of Barnstable, who gave me encouragement of sending a small schooner with some provisions to Machias; but failing of obtaining the provisions, or fearing to risk his vessel, this also fell through. My solicitude was now turned to get home with all speed; and going from Highannas to Nantucket with Mr. Lovell, he there mentioned my case to Mr. Timothy Fitch, who told me if I could obtain permission for exporting lumber to the West-Indies he would supply me with provisions. In consequence of which I prosecuted a journey to Watertovm, waiting on Colonel Joseph Otis and the Honourable James Bowdoin, who furnished me with recommendatory letters to the Honourable James Warren; but Colonel Warren presuming the matter would not be acceptable to the honourable House, I returned, full of anxiety and distress, to Nantucket, being reduced so low as to fear I should either suffer or be obliged to solicit the hand of charity. On arrival at Nantucket I let Mr. Fitch know my circumstances, with the situation of Machias, and informed him I thought I could serve that place effectually if I could go to Nova-Scotia, and send or carry hay from thence, which we always supplied ourselves with from said Government, for the support of our cattle. Mr. Fitch coincided in sentiment with me, and we purchased of Captain Dunham, of the Vineyard, three hundred and thirteen bushels of Indian and fifteen bushels of rye corn, which was increased by a trifle of said articles, and some rye flour and bread Mr. Fitch had by him; and we were preparing to sail, when five or six people at Nantucket appeared dissatisfied, on which I was advised by the inhabitants to make application to the Committee at Falmouth. This I did, and informing them what pains I had taken and at what expense I had been to serve Machias, with my earnest desire of getting home with what I could procure, I obtained their consent to sail, on which we left Nantucket in a brigantine commanded by Captain Thomas Fossey; and meeting with one vessel only, which appeared to chase us, arrived at East Passage, from which place we immediately proceeded to Cape Forschue, in the Bay of Fundy, and directly opposite Machias; here I disposed of what was on board, save a small matter sold Mr. William Pitts, at East Passage, (exclusive of what I was entitled to from a commission allowed me, and which I strictly reserved in provision to carry to Machias,) to New-England people only, who appeared real friends to the welfare of America. On arrival, I engaged a schooner of one Mr. Tinkham, and seven loads of salt hay, (no English being to be had,) intending, immediately on the brig’s sailing, to proceed therewith for Machias; but the hay proving very bad, and none else to be got, I failed in this, but embraced the first opportunity I could meet of getting to Machias with my provisions, at the expense of ten dollars.