Folios 159-160. John Nicolson to the King. Petition that he was appointed Water Bailiff...

Folios 159-160. John Nicolson to the King. Petition that he was appointed Water Bailiff of the River Thames between the great bridge at Staines and the head of the River jointly with Layton Smith in April 1749; that as a result of Smith's bankruptcy and close imprisonment in the Fleet for the past three years execution of the office has fallen solely on Nicolson; that there has been illegal fishing of salmon and other fish during the close season, the taking of spawn to feed hogs and taking of undersize fish; that the validity of his Letters Patent and the King's rights in relation to the office have been challenged and therefore praying that he be protected in the execution of his office and paid out of the Treasury or some other way not only the money which he has laid out in defending the King's prerogative against the fishermen and their confederates but for all such future actions.