Folios 419-420: Wilson Rathborne, Regulating Officer, North Shields. Responding to...

Folios 419-420: Wilson Rathborne, Regulating Officer, North Shields. Responding to the letter of 4 December and sends a report on the case of Stephen Doeg, 0n board the Namur. He returns the enclosure. Stephen Doeg was pressed by Lieutenant France, Newcastle, on 7 October. He was detained for the Service as being a Ship Carpenter found on shore and having no ship at the time he was pressed. The enclosed Affidavit must be a fraud, as nothing was said when he was pressed, or when interviewed, about him being Master of a ship. Captain Rathborne has no doubt that the document has been back-dated. The man himself is perfectly aware that he was liable to be pressed, and that he has no grounds for claiming a discharge. Stephen Doeg is 23 years old, has been 4 years at sea, and is well suited for service as one of the Carpenters crew.

Folio 421: enclosure with folios 419-420. Application for the Discharge of Impressed Men dated 3 December 1811, for Stephen Doeg, Master of the ship Hope, made by Stephen Doeg, father and part-owner.

Folio 422: enclosure with folios 419-420. Affidavit dated 2 December 1811 sworn before C Walsh, Custom House, Middlesex, by Stephen Doeg of Newcastle upon Tyne, but currently in London. He is joint owner, with Alexander Doeg, of the ship called the Hope, of Newcastle. Stephen Doeg Junior was appointed Master on 2 July 1811, as appears on the Ship's Certificate of Registry held at the Custom House, Sunderland. A copy is enclosed. The ship was due to sail to London, but Stephen Doeg Junior fell ill and was left behind in Newcastle, where he was pressed.

Folio 423: enclosure with folios 419-420. Copy of Certificate of British Registry, dated 22 May 1811 by C Ogle, Collector, and George Curry, Comptroller, Custom House, Newcastle. Alexander Doeg, Ship Builder and Stephen Doeg, Master, both of Newcastle upon Tyne, and Henry Fryer of Sunderland, Agent, swear that they are sole owners of the ship the Hope, of Newcastle. The ship was a Prize of HMS Talbot and was legally condemned by Certificate dated 16 August 1809, as appears by Register number 145 on 14 December 1809. John Bell, Tidesurveyor of Sunderland has certified that the ship is foreign built, and provided its specification, and it has duly been registered at the port of Newcastle. Stephen Doeg Junior is registered as Master by William Robinson, Collector, and J Brough, Comptroller, Custom House, Sunderland, on 22 July 1811.