Folios 145-146: William Charleton, Regulating Captain, North Shields. Reports on...

Folios 145-146: William Charleton, Regulating Captain, North Shields. Reports on the cases of Matthew Davidson and Robert Robertson whose discharge has been applied for by W Baker in enclosed papers. States both men were impressed at Sunderland on 4 March 1805 as he considered them to be illegal apprentices who did not carry either Protection or Indentures. Questions the validity of a copy of an Indenture and states that whole transaction has the appearance of an attempt to evade the legal stamp duties, as is the usual custom of the Scotch shipowners, in declining to give necessary proofs to the Admiralty [item not enclosed].

Folios 147-148: enclosure with folios 145-146. Letter dated 19 March 1805, from W Baker, 7 Water Lane, Tower Street, London to the Admiralty. Applies for the discharge of Matthew Davidson and Robert Robertson, impressed at Sunderland out of the sloop Nancy of Fraserburgh, John Buchan, Master, and taken on board a tender at South Shields. Encloses copies of Indentures from the Commissary Court of Aberdeen and 2 Affidavits of the owners of the sloop Nancy and one of her Master.

Folio 149: enclosure with folios 147-148. Affidavit dated 10 May 1804, sworn in the presence of William Kelman, Chief Magistrate of Fraserburgh and Justice of the Peace, of William Milne and William Stewart, Master and owners of the sloop Nancy of Fraserburgh. State that Matthew Davidson, son of William Davidson in Lound, Zetland [Shetland] is bound as an apprentice to the owners of the Nancy for 4 years from 9 April 1803 and is serving on board the Nancy.

Folio 150: enclosure with folios 147-148. Affidavit dated 10 May 1804, sworn in the presence of William Kelman, Chief magistrate of Fraserburgh and Justice of the Peace, of William Milne and William Stewart, Master and owners of the sloop Nancy of Fraserburgh. State that Robert Robertson, son of William Robertson in Sevenwick Zetland [Shetland] is bound as an apprentice to the owners of the Nancy for 4 years from 11 April 1803 and is serving on board the Nancy.

Folios 151-152: enclosure with folios 147-148. Affidavit dated 4 March 1805, sworn at Sunderland in the presence of John Hampson, Justice of the Peace for County Durham, of John Buchan of Fraserburgh, Master of the sloop Nancy and residing in Sunderland. States that Matthew Davidson and Robert Robertson were bound for 4 years as mariners by Indentures of Apprenticeship, on 9 April 1804 and 11 April 1803 respectively, to serve William Milne and William Stewart, Master and Owners of the sloop Nancy. Believes that neither men served at sea in any capacity before their apprenticeships.