To Sr. John Hawkins< no role > Kt
From His humble Petitioner Samuel Stockewell< no role >

Sheweth that about sueweeke ago as your Petitioner
was comeing home I Haponed to See this Peice
of Chain lying in the Conn on field in the Kings
Highway Which I picked up thinking no Harm
as aney Man Elve Might Have Dence I look
upon aney thing foundon the Kings Highway
To Bepee for oney Person Comeing, by to pick up
Had I Known the Chain Had Been the prosecutor
property or aney others Gentlemans I should Have
Carried the Same Home But Not Knowing the
Owner and finding the Same on the Common I Goldfeed
I thought the Chain was Might therefore I should
the same to a Blacksmith in the Town for Nine
pence which J think was the full Value of the some
your petitioner in a poor Men has a wife and small
Children which all mast Starving and have No
friend But your worship and the Gentlemen of
the Jeury which I hope nor Do I Doubt will Do me
Justice From yr. Humble petitioner

Samuel Stockwell< no role >