We His Majestys most loyal and most dutifull Subjects the Brethren residing in Wachovia, humbly beg leave to lay before your Excely. That

Tho' we conscientiously scruple to be engaged in Wars as Soldiers, to follow after our Enemies to take away their Lives &c. adhering to the very same Sentiments we have professed before the British Parliament where we obtained an Act securing us against being forced to bear Arms or to go to War &c.

Yet in this troublesome Time when every body thought himself in Danger of being fallen upon by the murdering Indians, we have Kept strict Watch & have secured our Settlement with Stockades, which has been hitherto so Successfull for us and [our] Neighbours that took Shelter amongst us, as to prevent a Surprize & blood Shedding on both Sides.

And now we think it might be good not only for ourselves but also for the Inhabitants round about us to continue the said watch, and to prevent thereby many Evil Designs of such Unmercifull Creatures tho' they should at present comit no Hostilities in our Province.

But being Sensible, that this can not be regularly done without the Governors Special leave, or rather His orders, we hereby request your Excely. to authorize the said watch under your Hand and Seal and to appoint Mr. Jacob Loesch to be chief overseer of this above mentioned watch. And we further wish Your Excely would be pleased to put one of our Brethren in the Comission of the Peace, for we humbly conceive it would greatly contribute to the Tranquillity of our Settlement & we beg leave to recommend the above mentioned Mr. Jacob Loesch for that Function, who if he should have Your Excely Approbation, would be acknowledged by us with particular Gratefulness towards Your Excely.

And your Petitioners will pray &c.