Folios 348-349: Wilson Rathborne, Regulating Officer, North Shields. Responding to...

Folios 348-349: Wilson Rathborne, Regulating Officer, North Shields. Responding to the letter of 13 November and sends a report on the case of George Noble. He returns the enclosure with Noble's affidavit as Mate [not present]. George Noble was pressed by Lieutenant Flinn on 29 October and detained for the service as being an Apprentice illegally appointed Mate to protect him from pressing. An Indenture was shown, wit the seals cut off, which Captain Rathborne considers illegal and therefore detained the man for the Service. George Noble is 22 years old, a healthy active seaman, well suited for service.

Folios 350-351: enclosure with folios 348-349. Letter dated 10 November 1811 from H Goodfellow, Stamfordham, near Newcastle upon Tyne, to The Admiralty. Writing on behalf of his nephew, George Noble, now on board HMS Adamant in Leith Roads. He believes that his pressing was not according to regulations. He has served as an Apprentice to Mr Kettlewell of North Shields on board the brig Garland for 3 years. With 4 or 5 days of his term left, with the consent of the Master, he was appointed Mate on board the John, then in Shields harbour, with a regular Affidavit. Notwithstanding, the Officer of the Impress service went on board the John on 29 October and pressed George Noble. Requests his discharge.

Folio 352: enclosure with folios 348-349. Statement dated 30 October 1811 by Thomas Kettlewell, sworn before Nicholas Fenwick, Master Extraordinary in Chancery, North Shields. Thomas Kettlewell of North Shields, Ship Owner and Master, swears that George Noble was bound as Apprentice to him by an Indenture dated 4 November 1808 for 3 years. On 20 September he was released from that service by consent of both parties, and the Indenture was cancelled. Note dated 30 October 1811 by Wilson Rathborne:"I have seen the Indenture, examined the back of it and it does appear the Indenture has been cancelled - but the signatures are cut off".