Folios 105-106: William Charleton, Regulating Captain, North Shields. Reports that...

Folios 105-106: William Charleton, Regulating Captain, North Shields. Reports that John Mathewson was impressed at Shields on 9 November 1803, as he fell within the description in the Impress Warrants sent to him on 5 November. Mathewson was a Waterman on the River Tyne.

Folio 107: enclosed with folios 105-106. Lieutenant Colonel William Linskill and Richard Armstrong, Adjutant, the North Shields and Tynemouth Volunteer Infantry, Tynemouth Lodge. A certificate dated 10 November 1803 that John Mathewson was enrolled in the battalion on 23 July 1803 and has served ever since, and that he has never been a mariner.

Folios 108-109: enclosed with folios 105-106. Letter from Lieutenant Colonel William Linskill, Commandant,. the North Shields and Tynemouth Volunteer Infantry, Tynemouth Lodge, to the Admiralty dated 11 November 1803. On 9 November John Mathewson, a Waterman who runs a wherry between Shields and Newcastle, was seized by officers of the Impress Service, even though these officers have previously thought that such Watermen were exempt if they had never served at sea. Mathewson was originally trained as a miller, but took to the wherry to support his family. That should be enough to secure his discharge, but he is already in the King's service. On 23 July, before the Sea Fencibles were organised in Shields, Mathewson enrolled to serve in the North Shields and Tynemouth Volunteer Infantry and as such should be protected from impress as he is from service in the Army. When the Sea Fencibles were being raised, his Adjutant visited Commander James Watson, explained Mathewson's position and offered him to the Fencibles. Commander Watson replied that he had no orders to enroll such men. Asks for Mathewson's discharge. He is currently aboard a Navy tender, and Captain William Charleton, the Regulating Captain, informs him it will be some time before she sails.