Folios 125-126: William Charleton, Regulating Captain, North Shields. Reports that...

Folios 125-126: William Charleton, Regulating Captain, North Shields. Reports that John Purvis was impressed at Sunderland on 11 November 1803, and when examined appeared to be a Keelman, being the owner of a keel boat and assisting in navigating it from time to time, as appears from the enclosed documents. Captain Charleton could find no grounds for exempting him from impressment.

Folios 127-128: enclosed with folios 125-126. Petition from John Purvis of Sunderland, cordwainer, to the Admiralty. He served a seven-year apprentice as a cordwainer, and carried on that trade until recently when he purchased a keel boat or lighter on the River Wear and hired a skipper to navigate it. He was impressed on 11 November 1803, and taken aboard a tender at Shields. Encloses affidavits from Joseph Mordey, to whom he was apprenticed, and from the skipper engaged to navigate his lighter. Asks for his discharge.

Folios 129-130: enclosed with folios 127-128. Affidavit sworn by Joseph Mordey, cordwainer of Sunderland, dated 12 November 1803, before Commissioner George Harrison. John Purvis was apprenticed to him for seven years and then carried on that trade for 18 years before purchasing a lighter on the River Wear at Sunderland. Purvis never navigated the lighter himself, as he was not competent, but hired a skipper.

Folios 130-131: enclosed with folios 127-128. Affidavit sworn by William Suddick of Sunderland, Keelman, dated 12 November 1803 before Commissioner George Harrison. John Purvis hired him 12 months ago to navigate his keel boat on the River Wear, and Purvis himself never took charge of the craft and is not competent to do so.