Folios 131-132: Thomas Flinn, on behalf of Wilson Rathborne, Regulating Office, North...

Folios 131-132: Thomas Flinn, on behalf of Wilson Rathborne, Regulating Office, North Shields. Responds to the letter of 10 September and sends a report on the case of William Lowe, sent to The Nore on 2 September. He returns the enclosure. William Lowe, Ordinary Seaman, was pressed by Lieutenant Flinn on 26 August and detained for the Service as it appeared that he had been at sea before being bound. He went from Leith to America, and was picked up by the Master at Picton. On arrival in London he was bound and a Protection was obtained, though the Master knew nothing about him. The indenture was ante-dated to the time he was found in America, although executed by the parties in London. No proof of being under-age was produced and he claims to be 19. He appears to be that age at least, which persuaded Captain Rathborne to detain him until the necessary proof was produced. He is a tall, stout and healthy young man, well suited for service.

Folios 133-134: enclosure with folios 131-132. Letter dated 7 September 1811 from Jonathon Cockerill, North Shields, to The Admiralty. Sends the enclosed Affidavit and letter on behalf of William Low, apprentice to William Wheatley, Shipowner of North Shields, who was recently pressed at North Shields from the ship Polly, and is now at The Nore. From William Low's Affidavit it appears that the boy is under 18 years old, and from the letter it appears that the Apprentice was never at sea before being bound at Quebec, except when taking the passage to America to join his brother as a Currier. He has 3 years Protection by virtue of the Indenture, which was corrected to reflect that he took the passage to America as a Landsman and was not in service at sea. As he was underage, and had not previously served at sea, requests his discharge. The facts can be confirmed under oath, but William Wheatley was afraid that the boy might be drafted from The Nore before an Affidavit could be received from Scotland.

Folios 135-136: enclosure with folios 133-134. Letter dated 4 September 1811 from William Low, Greahms [?Graham's] Square, Glasgow, to Henry Chater, care of William Wheatley, Percy Street, North Shields. He has received a letter from Mr John Wilson, Brewer, in ?Chinerside, enclosing one from Henry Chater giving an account of his son, William Low, who had been bound as an Apprentice to the ship Polly. On his arrival at North Shields he was pressed, on suspicion of having served at sea. The enclosed demonstrates that he could not have served, because of his age, and that was been bound as a Tanner and Currier for upwards of 3 ½ years before March 1810, and from then until the end of August he was with his father in the gardening business, when he took a passage from Leith to Picton, Quebec, to join his brother. He has not heard from him since. Asks Mr Chater to let his son know that the family is all in good health , and that John and ? are both in Quebec.

Folio 137: enclosure with folios 133-134: Affidavit dated 4 September 1811 by William Low, Graham's Square, Glasgow, sworn before Walter Ferguson, Justice for Lanarkshire. William Low is his youngest son, born 28 January 1794, who was for 3 years prior to September 1810 a Tanner or Currier in Glasgow and Greenock. He then took a passage from Leith to Picton, Nova Scotia, intending to proceed to Quebec. William Low (senior) has not seen or heard of him since, but has been informed that he arrived at North Shields onboard the Polly, owned by Mr Wheatley.

Folio 138: enclosure with folios 133-134. Protection dated 20 August 1811, in the name of William Low, Apprentice to William Wheatley, North Shields, by virtue of an Indenture dated 20 June 1811.