Folios 181-182: Edward Pelham Brenton, HMS Amaranthe, the Downs. He has been ordered...

Folios 181-182: Edward Pelham Brenton, HMS Amaranthe, the Downs. He has been ordered by Vice Admiral [Bartholomew] Rowley to report whether James Richardson signed the indenture he enclosed with his orders. Reports that when Richardson was first impressed, he was unable to sign his name. He volunteered and received the bounty. On 22 December1806, he escaped from Sheerness Dockyard and has not been seen since. Gives a brief description of Richardson's appearance and returns the enclosed letter.

Folios 182-183: enclosed with folios 181-182. Letter dated 12 November 1806 by John Thompson, west end of South Shields, Durham, to the Admiralty. Asks for the discharge of James Richardson, an apprentice serving aboard his ship the Minerva, who was impressed by boats from HMS Amaranthe, Captain Edward Brenton, at Orfordness on November 7. Richardson has not been more than 16 months at sea, encloses an affadavit from himself and Mary Davidson, cousin of Richardson. Captain Brenton has possession of his indenture.

Folio 183: enclosed with folios 181-182. An affadavit sworn by John Thomson, ship-owner of South Shields, County Durham, and Mary Davidson, wife of William Davidson of Plessey, Northumberland, pit-man, at South Shields dated 11 November 1806. Thompson and Davidson swear that James Richardson of Plessey, pit-man, apprenticed himself to Thomson by signing and indenture of three years on 15 July 1805. They believe Richardson had never served at sea before the date of his indenture. Thompson swears that Richardson was impressed by the boats of HMS Amaranthe, Captain Edward Brenton, at Orfordness on 7 November. Davidson swears that she is Richardson's cousin, that his parents are dead and that, having known him from infancy, he has never served at sea before the date of his indenture.