The Petition of the subscribers, Inhabitants of Northumberland County, Most Respectfully Sheweth:

that your Petitioners and may more now scattered through the interior parts of this State, have lived for a number of years before the Revolution & made considerable improvements at and near the great Island on the west branch of Susquehanna, and by the barbaritys & distresses of a cruel savage enemy, after murdering many of our unhappy Neighbors, We were Oblidght to abandon our houses and Livings and fly to the Interiour parts for Refuge, Where we were Oblidght to part with our stocks to support our familys, and by the long continuance of the unhappy war has greatly Reduced us; and the day and hour we are Bless'd with peace, which we earnestly hope the day is not farr off, When we hope & purpose returning to our respective places.

But notwithstanding all the distresses & Calamities that has Befell us, We are most exceedingly alarmed on being Informed that a Set of men has made application to the proper offices for the very lands we have improved & long Injoy'd, and has made a Tender of hard money for the same. We are sencible of the scarcity of hard money at this time for Publick use, But we most Humbly Conceive the Hon'ble Council will never suffer any man or any set of men to take such undue Advantages to Ruin many for the Advantage of a few.

It must be well known to the Wisdom of Council the evil tendency of Engrossing lands. Many thousands of acres now lies uncultivated in this County, Which we Conceive would have been settled had the land been let at the Proprietor's terms, & would have been a great addition to our strenght in defending the county In these calamitious times, And we humbly Conceive we prevented the Newengland people from settlement on the West Branch, as we understood they intended Extending their Claims & settle as they did on the east branch at Wioming.

We would beg leave further to mention, That it's well known to many the great number of men we have produced to the standing army and militia from time to time, Besides the remainder being long a frontier & Defending against the savages, were oblidght to retreat Inch by Inch, By which we have Distressed Widows and fatherless Children.

Under this Deplorable Situation we beg leave to Address the Hon'ble council, Praying you to take us under your most Serious Consideration, & suffer us not to get the Finishing Stroke of Ruin, Which, we understand, our enemies has decreed against us; & we can with the Greatest propriety assure the Hon'ble council our Desire and Real Intentions is not only to Support Government, but also, as soon as in our power, to Comply with the Terms of the Land Office.

Therefore we Humbly beg leave to request the Hon'ble Council to take us into your most serious Consideration, & grant us Relief in the primises.

and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will pray.