Folios 449-450: Wilson Rathborne, Regulating Officer, North Shields. Responding to...

Folios 449-450: Wilson Rathborne, Regulating Officer, North Shields. Responding to the letter of 9 December and sends a report on the case of Thomas Fairburn. He returns the enclosure and the protection taken from the man when pressed. Thomas Fairburn was pressed by Lieutenant Liddle, Sunderland on 3 December. He was detained for the Service under the orders of 18 October. He was accused by Philip Morrison, Master of the ship Ford, of behaving improperly and delayed the ship from sailing in order to obtain an advance in his wages, which was refused. He was taken from the vessel when the Master complained. Thomas Fairburn is about 22 is years old. He is an active, healthy man, well suited for service at sea.

Folios 451-452: enclosure with folios 449-450. Letter dated 6 December 1811 from Martin and Scholefield, Hull, to The Admiralty. They are directed by the Committee of Greenland Owners in Hull to request the discharge of Thomas Fairburn, who was pressed at Shields.

Folios 453-454: enclosure with folios 449-450. Statement dated 7 December 1811 from Gardiner and Joseph Egginton, Managing Owners of the Greenland ship Egginton, Hull. Thomas Fairburn signed on 26 August to sail on the Greenland ship Egginton for the following season as Boatsteerer. The enclosed certificate from the Collector and Comptroller confirms that he was exempt from pressing, and he was issued with a Protection. When at Shields, the Master of the ship Ford of Sunderland, being unable to engage him on a lower wage, maliciously requested the Impress Service to press him. Request his discharge so he may return to the ship Egglinton for her voyage for the coming season.

Folio 455: enclosure with folios 449-450. Certificate dated 7 December 1811 from the Custom House, Hull, confirming that Thomas Fairburn gave security on 26 August to proceed as Boatsteerer on the ship Egginton for the following season.