Folios 612-613: Philip Hue, HMS Actaeon, Liverpool. Responding to Admiralty query...

Folios 612-613: Philip Hue, HMS Actaeon, Liverpool. Responding to Admiralty query of 24 November, regarding William Brown and Abraham Johnson, who claim their protections were taken from them when they were impressed. Hue says the men were impressed by Captain Goldesbrough, who has found the protection for Brown, enclosed [but not now present], but cannot find any evidence of a protection having been produced for Johnson. The men were forwarded from the Actaeon aboard the Chapman on 12 September. Hue adds that if impressed men produce American protections that he believes to have been illegally obtained he always notes this on the back.

Folios 614-615: enclosure with folios 612-613. Letter dated 27 November 1800 by Captain Thomas Goldesborough, Liverpool, confirms the two men were impressed by his officers, Brown on 12 August and Johnson on 19th. On questioning they appeared to him African born, and the protection signed by a public notary - such documents are often found in the possession of British subjects, being easily obtained. He sends the protection for Brown but says he has never seen one for Johnson.

Folios 616-617: enclosure with folios 612-613. Letter from Vice Admiral Thomas Pasley dated 21 November 1800, sending a report on these two men, at that time in the Plymouth Hospital.

Folios 618-619: enclosure with folios 616-617. A report dated 21 November 1800 for Admiral Pasley from R Creyke at the Royal Hospital, Plymouth, saying that the two men supposed to be Americans, Brown and Johnson, have been examined. They are both black and are without any documentation to prove their citizenship. Brown claims to have been born in Charlestown, near Boston, to have a wife and 3 children at Newbury Post, Massachusetts, but his regular protection was taken when he was impressed at Liverpool, and Johnson says he was born at Harlem, New York, and his protection was taken when he was impressed. He is a single man.