Sheweth

That your memorialist went to reside in Georgia about the year 1760-- Some time afterwards he was appointed Collector of the Customs at the Port of Sunbury in that Province, and was resident and acting in his duty when the Kings Government there was subverted in 1776.

That your memorialist refuseing to take and subscribe the Oath to Congress, his House was broke open and plundered, and in order to save his person from persecution and imprisonment, was compelled in the night of the 1st of August 1776 to make his escape by putting to Sea in a Small open boat with only a negroe boy servant, & was in that disagreable Situation untill nine the next Evening, when he luckily got on board His Majesty’s Ship Raven, Capt. STANHOPE, then lying at Tybee about 10 leagues distant, bringing with him only the Clothes he had on & Suffering the Loss of his Household furniture, two valuable negroe women Servants, his wearing apparel &c to the amount of £ 400 & Upwards.

That Your memorialist after much trouble and expence came to Great Britain, where he remained untill Georgia was taken possession of By His Majestys forces under the Command of Col. CAMPBELL, he was then ordered by the Lords of the Treasury to retun to resume the duties of his Office there.

That your Memorialist on his return to Georgia was appointed by Sir James WRIGHT the Governor, Major in the 2nd Battalion of Loyalists, and performed that duty without pay, or any other Emolument.

And Your Memorialist did his duty in that capacity, as well as an Officer of the Customs, untill the final evacuation of that Province by the Troops under the Comd. Of General CLARK, & That independant of his duty as Major, your memorialist performed several Volunteer Services, particularly that of going with a Party from Savannah to Sunbury, surprizeing and making Prisoner a Major Welch who with about 100 American Dragoons was wantonly putting to death his Majestys Loyal Subjects in the Scotch Settlement of Darien in the Parish of Saint Andrews; about fifty miles from Savannah.

Your Memorialists Office as Collector of the Customs was worth him upon an average about £ 300 P ann. Which he has received little or no benefits from for upwards of seven years past, exclusive of His salary which was £ 55 P an. But now withdrawn; and he has at present only a temporary allowance of £ 10 P Year from the Treasury, a sum very inadequate indeed to his Support.

Your Memorialist therefore prays that his Case may be taken into your consideration, in order That Your memorialist may be enabled, under your Report, to receive such aid and Relief as his losses and Services may be found to deserve.

And Your Memorialist will pray,
     James KITCHING

Haverfordwest
    Pembrokeshire Feby. 7th 1784

Great Britain, Public Record Office, Audit Office, Class 13, Volume 36, folios 319-319A.

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