Folios 95-96: William Charleton, Regulating Captain, North Shields. Response to a...

Folios 95-96: William Charleton, Regulating Captain, North Shields. Response to a request to state the case of two men who were impressed. Helms Aritt, was impressed on Jarrow Key, his discharge was applied for by Mr Galloway. He was not on ships duty when pressed and tried to escape from another ship when it was being examined by the Gang. William Legg was impressed also and produced outdated Articles for a completed voyage and quoted an outdated Act of Parliament in support of his request for discharge.

Folios 97-98: enclosure with folios 95-96. Letter dated 25 April 1804 by John Knight. William Legg, Chief Mate on the ship Arethusa was impressed at South Shields and the request for his discharge was rejected by Captain William Charleton because his wages were not set against his name on the Ships Articles. Requests reconsideration of his discharge quoting an Act of Parliament in the reign of Queen Ann specific to the coal trade. This stated that the Ship's Mate and Carpenters should always be protected and argues that it is improper for the Mate to sign for any particular sum until the men are engaged.

Folio 99-100: enclosure with folios 95-96. Petition dated 4 April 1804 by Wilson Davidson, Master of Arethusa. Request for discharge of William Legg, Chief Mate who was impressed at South Shields. Argues that as the ship he was on was only in harbour a few hours and it had not been determined whether the ship would be going to the Baltic or continue in the coal trade, the articles had not been signed. Also because he was in harbour no breach of an Act of Parliament occurred.

Folios 101-102: enclosure with folios 95-96. Letter dated 10 April 1804 by William Charleton, Regulating Captain, North Shields. Outlines his reasons for impressing William Legg on 19 March for not having signed any Articles of Agreement. Challenges John Knight's use of the Custom of the Port of Shields, quoting a legal statute that supercedes it.