Psh. January
Petr. Richd. Towerson< no role >
Discharged from his Inden
P ordr. of Cort

To the Honble: his Maties. Justices of the Peace
for ye City of London in Session Assembled

The humble Petition of Richard Towerson< no role > Son of Dr .
Gabriell Towerson< no role > late Rector of St. Andrew Unders [..]
London Deced.

Humbly Sheweth

That yor. Petrs. Father the 7th day of February 1695
bound yor. Petr. Apprentice to Capt John Clarke< no role > then a Comander of one of
the East India Companys Shipps called the East India Merchant for
the Terme of Seaven Yeares and gave with yor. Petrs. to the said
Capt. Threescore Pounds, besides Five and Twenty Pounds that it
cost yor. Petrs, said Father to fitt out yor. Petrs. to Sea, and agreed to
find yor. Petrs. with Cloths all the time, the Said Capt. promiseing
yor. Petrs. said Father to bee very kind to yor. Petrs. and allow him to
Carry Adventures to Sea and bee a meanes of Prferring yor. Petrs.
And yor. Petrs. Shews that he went to Sea with the said Capt Clarke
and on or about the First day of November 1697 his said Master
Dyed and then yor. Petrs. (haveing noe body to take care of him)
was forced to Worke his way home as a Foremast man, tho yor.
Petrs. Fathers intention and his Said Masters promises were not
that yor. Petrs. Should bee made a Slave of but to Learne the Arts
of Merchandizeing and Navigation and his Said Master being
Dead and his Mrs. Amphillis Clarke< no role > being uncapable to Instruct
yor. Petrs. and yor. Petrs, haveing never Can Inrolled

Yor. Petrs. humbly Prays that yor,
Honr. would bee pleased to Consider
the Prmisses and to Discharge yor, Petrs.
from his Said Apprenticeshipp and
thereby prvent his utter Ruin

And Yor. Petr. Shall ever Pray

Richard Towersons< no role > Peticon
to bee Discharged of his
Apprentice shipp

1698
20 January