Sheweth

That a Negroe Man slave called Scipio belonging to your petr. on the first day of October in the year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and forty one at Bertie County in the province afd ranaway and deserted and absented himself from the service and Employment of your petr. his Master and continued runaway and absent from your petitioner from the said first day of October one thousand seven hundred and forty one untill the first day of October One thousand seven hundred and forty two:

That Benjamin Hill of Bertie County in the province afd Gentleman during the while time afd harboured assisted and entertaind the said Negro slave Scipio knowing the said Negroe man slave to be the property of your petr. and to have ranaway and ^wilfully^ deserted and absented himself from the Service and Employment of your petr. his said Master; whereby the said Benjamin by force of the Act of Assembly of the said province in that Case made and provided hath not only incurr'd the penalty of forty shillings proclamation money but also five shillings of Like money for every twelve hours of the [time] afd. the said Negroe Man slave was absent from your petr. as afd; Amounting on the whole to One hundred and eighty four pounds ten shillings prolamation money.

Your petr. therefore prays that the said Benjamin Hill may be compelled by the Order, Decree or Judgment of this Court to pay to your petr. the said One hundred & eighty four pounds ten shillings proclamation money according to the form force and effect of the Act of Assembly in that Case made and provided And that your petr. may be otherwise relieved in the premises as to your Honours shall seem meet, and your petr. shall every pray, &c.