166. Petition of John Jones. December 30, 1741.[1]

To His Excellency William
Shirley Esquire, Captain
General and Governour
in Chief in and Over the
Province aforesaid, And
to The Honble. His Majestys
Council of said
Province,

The Petition of John Jones of Boston in the
County of Suffolk Merchant

Humbly Sheweth

That about two Years ago One William Loud now residing in Boston went Out in the Young Eagle Privateer, Phillip Dumarasque Commander, bound on a Privateering Voyage whereof your petitioner with others were Owners. That the said Loud behaved himself on board in Such a manner, that he was put on board One of His Majestys Ships of warr at Giberalter for Mutiny, from whence he afterwards found means to run away, and came to Boston, and applyed himself to your petitioner telling him he could Inform him how the Officers of sd. Privateer had greatly wronged your petitioner, That your petitioner being well Informed of sd. Louds Actions, Mutinying and Ill behaviour on board the said Privateer, thought proper not to Shew him any Countenance or hear any thing he had to Say, whereupon the said William Loud then, and from time to time Since, hath greatly abused and Insulted your petitioner, and has vowed and threatned to take revenge on your petitioner but for what reason he cannot tell.

That your petitioner has been Informed by Several Gentlemen of his Acquaintance, and is well assured, that sd. Loud has twice in the night besett your petitioners house, and there waited Several hours, with others unknown in Order to met your petitioner going in or coming out, and do him Some bodily hurt or take away his life, which your petitioner is actually apprehensive of, from the many threatnings of sd. Loud.

That your petitioner having just reason to fear that his life was in Eminent danger applyed to Justice of the peace, and Swore the peace against sd. Loud, but could not prevail upon any Officer to take said Loud up and carry him before a Justice, and the reason, as your petitioner thinks, is that they are affraid of him, he said Loud always appearing armed with a great broad Sword, and a Number of his Comrades with him, and Seems to bid Defiance to the Government and all Authority; That your petitioner when he has Occasion to go abroad at night, or come home to his house is Obliged to get a number of his friends to be with him for fear of being Insulted, abused or killed by sd. Loud.

That notwithstanding your petitioner obtained Leave from the Government to beat up for Sailers to man the Young Eagle privateer, John Rous Commander, now bound on a privateering Voyage, yet the sd. Wm. Loud in a riotous manner followed the Drum about the Town cursing and abusing the Captain, and Several times Colloured[2] the Lieutenant, tho' he had never Seen him before. That the sd. Loud Still Continues to behave himself in this riotous manner, and to threaten your petitioner with revenge either to kill your petr. or burn his house, or both, whereby your petitioner justly thinks his life and Interest are both in absolute danger from this Loud and his Associates.

Wherefore your petitioner most humbly prays your Excellency and honours to take this affair into Consideration and to look into the two protests herewith presented wch. plainly Shew that sd. Loud was Ordered on board a Man of warr for his mutinying and Ill behaviour on board the sd. privateer, And that your Excellency and Honours would please to Order that sd. Loud may be taken up and put on board one of his Majestys Ships now in this Port, or otherwise to Order in the premises, for the relief and Safety of your petitioners person and Interest, as your Excellency and honours Shall think most proper.

And your Petitioner as in duty bound Shall ever pray, etc.

John Jones.