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To the Honourable the Convention of Virginia, now sitting in the City of Williamsburg.
The Petition of sundry Inhabitants of Princess Anne and Norfolk Counties humbly sheweth, that your Petitioners have, from the Commencement of the present unhappy Disputes between the British Parliament and Colonies been uniformly active in promoting those Measures, which have at different times been recommended by the Congress and Convention, for the Preservation and Defence of our native Rights and Liberties. - In consequence of this Conduct many of us have of late been reduced to the cruel necessity of abandoing our aged Parents, our Wives, our Children and Families, and leaving them to the Mercy of insidious Neighbors, the lawless plundering Soldiers and the more savage Slave: Our Plantations have been ravaged, our Wives and Children stripped almost to Nakedness, our very Bed-Chambers invaded at the silent Hour of Midnight, by Ruffians with drawn Daggers and Bayonets; our Houses not only robbed of Plate, Specie, and every Thing valuable, but reduced by Fine to Ashes; our Persons treated with every Indignity that elated Insolence and Cruelty could suggest; some us dragged into Confinement, where many of our Friends and Associates still languish under the Hands of Oppression. - All this, however horrid and shushing to Humanity, your Petitioners can make appear to be no Aggravation, but a just and candid Representation of their Grievances. - We have also to lament, that the tardy, equivocal Conduct of some lukewarm Friends encouraged Lord Dunmore to begin those Depredations, which with the assistance of our concealed as well as open and awoved Enemies, he continued to commit so long with Impunity
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Your Petitioners would farther represent to your honorable Assembly that notwithstanding their present State of Safety whilst our Troops keep possession of Norfolk, the possibilty of their being dislodged present such a dread ful Prospect of the Renewal of former, or Excerise of superior Cruelties, that we cannot help being apprehensive of , and endeavouring to guard against such Calamities in future. - We would likewise humbly beg Leave to inform your Honors that we apprehend the Number of Friends to their Country in much inferior to its Enemies among the Leaders of the People in these two Counties; and that we have every Thing to fear from those who have been busy in spiriting up the People, as well as those who have borne Armsn against us, whenever that shallhave it in their Powers: That the Friends to the Cause being obliged to abandon their Homes, and remove from the Scence of Action,
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according to your superior wisdom, so disposed of, as to prevent them from doing farther mischief; and though your Petitioners would not wish to alter your lenient and merciful Determinations respecting the slaves, who bore arms against us, we by no means think ourselves safe even at present while they are suffered to go at large; we would therefore humbly and earnestly beg that they may be confined until an opportunity offers to transport them to some of the West India Islands or else where, and your Petitioners as in Duty bound shall ever [illegible] [illegible] Thomas Newton sen. Anthony Walke jun. John Ramsay John [illegible] Matthew Godfrey John Wilson James Marsdon Edward [illegible] [illegible] Thorowgood John Thorowgood. Christopher Calwood
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