the negroes is an elderly sensible man, calls
himself James, and says he is free, which we have no reason
to doubt the truth of. He also says that he with the rest of
the Negroes were taken from a place called Georgetown."[598]

Pending the action of the _lawful_ owners of these captives, the
council instructed the commandant of Castle Island, Col. Paul Revere,
to place out to service, in different towns, some of the Negroes, with
the understanding that they should be delivered up to the authorities
on their order. Some were delivered to gentlemen who desired them as
servants. But in the fall of 1779 quite a number were still on the
island, as may be seen by the following touching letter:--

"BOSTON, Oct'r. 12. 1779. A Return of y'e Negroes at Castle
Island, Viz.:

"NEGRO MEN.

"1. ANTHONY. 6. BOBB. 11. JUNE.
2. PARTRICK. 7. ANTHONEY. 12. RHODICK.
3. PADDE. 8. ADAM. 13. JACK.
4. ISAAC. 9. JACK. 14. FULLER.
5. QUASH. 10. GYE. 15. LEWIS.

"_The above men are stout fellows_.

"NEGRO BOYS.

"No. 1. SMART.
2. RICHARD.
"_Boys very small_.

"NEGRO WOOMEN. NEGRO GIRLS.
"No. 1. KITTEY. No. 1. LYSETT.
2. LUCY. 2. SALLY
3. MILLEY. 3. MERCY.
4. LANDER.
"_Pretty large_. _Rather stout_.

"_Gentlemen.

"The Scituation of these Negroes is pitiable with respect to
Cloathing.

"I am, Gen't.
"Your very hum. Serv't.
"John Hancock._"[599]

"OCT. 12, 1779."

In the mean time some of the reputed owners of the Negroes at Castle
Island had come from Charleston, S.C., to secure their property. When
they arrived in Boston they secured the services of John Codman, Isaac
Smith, and William Smith, who on the 15th of November, 1779,
petitioned the Council for the "restitution" of slaves taken by a
British privateer, and retaken by two armed vessels of Massachusetts.
A committee was appointed to consider the petitions, and report what
action should be taken in the matter. Two days later another petition
was presented to the Council by one John Winthrop, "praying that
certain negroes, who wer