Manuscript: Text Transcription
Page: Front

Petition from Sarah McCulloch on Behalf of Henry McCulloch

Page: Front | Back
return to artifact page icon zoom icon

His excellency James Bowdoin Esgr Governor of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts -- The Petition of
Sarah Mc Culloch of Pelham in behalf of Henry McCulloch
her Son, humbly showith ----------
that I am an old Woman and have
an unhappy child, my all, my comfort, my Support, convicted of
Treason against the State, and under sentence of death for it, --
I would beg leave to plead for him, and interest in his behalf
for Mercy, and may the Tears and prayers of a poor widow
whose only support he is, be heard ^ & plead for him, before your excellency
he has been, by the influence of a nimber of Men in town
in several Insurections, by hearing gross misrepresentations,
his passions have been in many instances raisd unduly, ^ & by
going in company with others, and truly using strong liquor,
has been guilty of rash expressions, which upon cool reflection,
he heartily lamented, altho' he has been rash; yet he has not been
Malicious, he is extremely kind and benevolent, Capt. Shays,.
Capt Daniel Gray, Capt Thompson, Capt. Cowden & Capt. Cushing
who all belong to Pelham and have been confidend by him &
other as Men of Judgement and Prudence, have been the means
of his unhappy fall, these persons he has been taught to
believe, and obey, as officers in the Town, & who have ever
had the management of Town affairs, your Excellency will
easily learn by this th[?] way, by which he came to his unhappy
Situation, after they fled to the State of Vermont, he found he
had been deceived, and was on his way to resign himself to the
Authority of this Commonwealth, when he was apprehended
and committed, and has remained in confinement, till the
fatal day, on which he was convicted of Treason against the State;
he has been a tender child, the Support & comfort of my old
Age; since the loss of my husband, which brought ^ me into the
hands of my Son, he has ever been dutiful and oblidging to me,
he