Folios 301-302: Commander Benjamin Crispin, HMS Leveret, Harwich. Complains that...

Folios 301-302: Commander Benjamin Crispin, HMS Leveret, Harwich. Complains that the Masters of merchant ships frequently practice fraud by producing false indentures for men said to be their apprentices. Cites three examples. On 1 February Lieutenant John Duval impressed a man named as Alexander Phillips from the Adventure of Aberdeen, whose Master, Thomas Humphreys, claimed he was an apprentice. The man has subsequently volunteered and confessed that his real name is George Williams and that the indenture was false. Encloses the indenture of a second man, named as Stanley Bloom, who was impressed by Lt Duval on 8 February from the Jason of Boston, Lincolnshire, Samuel Nessum, Master, but who subsequently volunteered, confessed that his name was Charles Rawson and that he had already served a full indenture and had been at sea for six years. Also encloses the indenture of a third man, named as Alex Scott, impressed from the John of Montrose, John Mearns, Master, who also volunteered and confessed that he had already served a full indenture and been 10 years at sea, and that his real name was Thomas Scott rather than Alex.

Folio 303: enclosed with folios 301-302. Admiralty protection issued to Stanley Bloom as apprentice to George York of Skirbeck dated 9 November 1808.

Folio 304: [Blank].

Folio 304A: Attached to folio 303. Indenture dated 9 Novemnber 1808 binding Stanely Bloom as an apprentice to George York of Skirbeck, Lincolnshire, for a term of three years.

Folio 305: enclosed with folios 301-302. Contract between John Mearns, shipmaster of Montrose, and Alexander Scott, son of William Scott, merchant, with the consent of David Ogilvie, baker, dated 23 December 1807, binding Alexander Scott as an apprentice to John Mearns to serve aboard the John of Montrose or any other vessel for a term of three years. Witnessed by James Bower and Alexander Steven. 10 February 1809. Unsigned letter asking that Thomas Scott be paid £3 3s 6d as the wages due to him from 13 January to 10 February, the date on which he was impressed into HMS Leveret.