Folios 225-226: Wilson Rathbone, Regulating Captain, North Shields. Reports on the...

Folios 225-226: Wilson Rathbone, Regulating Captain, North Shields. Reports on the cases of James Mordue on HMS Hero and of Francis Antonio and William Muckle aboard the tender HMS Eliza. Mordue is a native of Northumberland who entered as a substitute for William Cloustow. Antonio was impressed by Lieutenant Andrew Lapslie as he had no proof that he was a foreigner, and despite what it says in the enclosed afffidavit, Captain Rathbone is convinced he was born in some of His Majesty's plantations, and speaks English as well as most black men do. He felt justified in detaining the man, despite being threatened with a lawsuit by Edward Laggan. Suspects he may be a deserter. Muckle was impressed by Lieutenant Thomas Finn at North Shields and he was described as both a Mate and an apprentice; feels that the affidavit from John Adams, Master, indicates a fraud.

Folios 227-228: enclosed with folios 225-226. Petition signed by Ann Mordue, Rushend, Simonburn, Northumberland, to the Admiralty, 19 November 1810. Her son James Mordue was in Newcastle upon Tyne on 22 March and fell in with the press gang. who took him aboard the tender at Shields and induced him to accept a bounty of $5. He was then sent to HMS Hero, Captain James Newman, at Portsmouth. Asks for his discharge.

Folio 229: enclosed with folios 225-226. Letter from Messrs Bell & Broderick, Bow Lane, to the Admiralty, 27 November 1810. Enclose documents relating to Francais Antonio and ask for his discharge.

Folios 230-231: enclosed with folio 229. Letter from Thomas Carr, N Caith [Caithness ?], to Wilson Rathbone, Regulating Captain, North Shields, 189 November 1810. He has been instructed by Edward Laggan to apply for a writ of habeas corpus for Francis Antonio as an indentured servant, and to commence a suit for damages.

Folios 232-233: enclosed with folios 225-226. Petition signed by Edward Laggan of Newcastle upon Tyne, Master Mariner, to the Admiralty, not dated. Seeks the discharge of Francis Antonio, a native of Bonavista in the Cape de Verd [Cape Verde] Islands and his indentured apprentice, who was impressed and taken aboard the tender HMS Eliza in the River Tyne. The Regulating Officer for the Tyne has refused to release him.

Folios 234-235: enclosed with folios 225-226. Affidavit sworn by Edward Laggan, ship owner, before Richard Parker, Master Extraordinary in Chancery, North Shields, 22 November 1810. Swears that Francis Antonio is a native of Bonavista in the Cape de Verd [Cape Verde] Islands, an African Negro, has been impressed and now is aboard the tender HMS Eliza in the River Tyne. He left Bonavista less than two years ago but had never served at sea before he signed indentures in October as an apprentice to Mr Laggan.

Folios 236-237: enclosed with folios 225-226. Affidavit sworn by John Adams, Ballast Hills, Newcastle upon Tyne, before Joseph Bainbridge, Master Extra in Chancery, 22 November 1810. He is Master of the Cumberland of the port of Sunderland, owned by William Russell of Brancepeth Castle, Co Durham. Swears that on 8 November William Muckle was impressed from the Cumberland at Shields although he is an indentured servant and under the age of 18 and should not be liable to impressment.

Folio 238: enclosed with folios 225-226. Affidavit sworn by Thomas Adams of Newcastle upon Tyne, before Isaac Cookson, Mayor, 29 August, 1810. Swears that he is Master of the Cumberland of the port of Sunderland and that William Muckle is the Mate of that vessel.

Folio 239: enclosed with folios 225-226. Baptismal certificate for William Muckle, the son of William Muckle and Jane Dear, dated 9 April 1793, signed by John Parkin, Minister of St Johns, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Folios 240-241: enclosed with folios 225-226. Admiralty protection certificate issued to William Muckle, 4 May 1808, protecting him from impressment until he reaches the age of 18.