Petition of John Sturdivant (June 18, 1783)

Petition of John Sturdivant, June 18, 1783, Page 1

To the hon’ble the Speaker & Delegates of the Assembly the Petition of John Sturdivant Guardian of Jane Sturdivant an Orphan humbly sheweth, that some time before the Coming of Gen^l. Arnold to this State a Negro Fellow the Property of the above named Orphan was imployed by Capt. James Maxwell Director of the Public Shipyard on Chickahomany to assist at the s^d. yard, that on the Arrival of the Enemy the s^d. Fellow was ordered on Board the Ship tempest to assist in carrying her up the River, that he was on board the said Ship ’till she was carried up as far as Osborne’s where the said Negro was taken by the enemy, as [illegible] the Certificates of Capt. Maxwell & L^t. Steel. Your Petitioner humbly hopes that your House will take the Case into Consideration and grant to the said Orphan such Relief as your Wisdom & Justice shall direct, and your Petitioner will every pray &c.

Petition of John Sturdivant, June 18, 1783, Page 2

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Sturdivants
Petition
June 18^th 1783
Referred to propositions
(rejected)
(rep^d.)
Sturdivants Pet^o.

Petition of John Sturdivant, June 18, 1783, Page 3

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I do Certify that Lewis a Negroe fellow the property of Miss Jame Sturdivant, was taken on board the Ship Tempest by me in order to bring her up James River for his Safety by order of The hon^ble. James Maxwell and was taken prisoner on board said Ship Near Osborns in April 1781 by Gen^l. Arnolds Troops. I believe said fellow was about 25 Years a Good Waterman 5 feet 7 or 8 – Inches High a Likely fellow. Given under my hand This 2d day of April 1783

W. Stuts Lein^t. of the
Ship Tempest

Petition of John Sturdivant, June 18, 1783, Page 4

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I do hereby Certify that Lewis a Negro Fellow the property of Miss Jane Sturdivant was sent from the Shipyard on board The ship Tempest to assist in carrying her up James River. I do also further Certify that he was taken on board the s^d. ship near Ozbrne by Arnolds Troops in April 1781. I believe him to be About 25 years of Age & a very good Waterman, five feet Seven or eight inches high a likely healthy & well Made Fellow.

Given under my hand this 10th Day of June 1783.

Jas. Maxwell

Petition of John Sturdivant, June 18, 1783, Page 5

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I do Certify that Lewis a Negro Fellow property of Miss Jane Sturdivant, was in the Navy of this state as a [illegible] in the year 1778. Given under my hand this 12th day of June 1783

Foster Webb, Jr. late
Pay Master Virga Navy.

Petition of John Sturdivant, June 18, 1783, Page 6

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I do hereby Certify that Lewis a Negro Fellow the Property of Miss Jane Sturdivant belonged to the Navy of this Commonwealth & was at work in the rigging loft in 1781 when the British troops arrived and was sent on board the ship Tempest by order of the Hon^ble. James Maxwell to bring her up James River for her saifty and was taken on board the said ship in April [illegible] by Arnold troops Near Osbornes I do further Certify that I believe him to be about twenty five years of age five feet seven or eight inches high a good water man stout healthy & well made Negro given under my hand this 20th day of Augst. 1783.

[illegible] Robert Witchell
Master Bigger
Shipyard

Petition of John Sturdivant, June 18, 1783, Page 7

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Certificates about
Negro Lewis belong’g.
to Jane Studivant