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I Eleazer Goodwin of Jackson Plantation in the County of Penobscot Yeoman do hereby testify & say that on or about the first of November 1777. I shipped on board the Annexed Schooner called the Hawk (Hawk is underscored), Capt. (name forgotten) Commander in the Capacity of a [?] [?] : on the Banks of NewFoundland we captured a British Brigg, with two small guns; I was put on board as the [?] = Master with nearly three Irishmen, [?]; Who rose upon me & overtook the Brigg: in a day or two after this, we fell in with the Continental ships, then Independence, Sineon Sampson Commander; He took charge of the S [?]; and took me with my crew on board his ship: Soon after this we fell in with one English armed ship & Brigg; We engaged them both they having fourteen guns each; and after a long & very severe action, we surrendered to them; possessions to this my crew had [?] [?] with Capt,, Sampson; and I did the same so far as to do the duty of a Second Lieut. , on board the [?] Ship; and did my duty as such in the said actions; I was carried to Hallifax and then confined upwards of nine months on board a Prison ship: from which I made my escape: My confinement, as a Prisoner, was in consequence of my said service on board the SS Continental Ship; This being a plain Statement of facts, I pray that now in the decline of life (aged 79) I may be considered as a Pensioner; Agreeably to an Act of Congress passed on the 18th of March 1818. - I am now under reduced circumstances and need the assitance of my Country for support. ~ Eleazer Goodwin (entire letter and signature are hand-written)