Research

Scope and Content Note

These are petitions to the Provincial Congress or (during its recesses) the Committee of Safety or Council of Safety, requesting appointments, relief, or other favors. The petitions are from individuals or local committees and make such requests as: for appointments as military officers or regimental surgeons; permission to travel; reimbursements for losses suffered at the hands of soldiers lodged in homes; pardon or release of imprisoned loyalists or suspected loyalists; permission to export goods; election of "deputies" to the Provincial Congress; and payment due to militia troops or for other services or supplies.

These records were severely burned in the State Capitol Fire of 1911, and about one-third of the original series (volume 31), including over half of the 1776 documents, were lost in the fire.