MS 98.  Literal transcription – misspellings are left intact, xxx denotes illegible word, italicized items are my own comments for clarification.  Please note that in some instances, the letter “s” may have been replaced with the letter “f,” as was the custom at that time – TG.

Title Page:

Stacy Potts’s Petition

1R: 2R: Ord’d that Notice be givon before next fitting

Body:

To the Legislative Council and general Afsembly of the State of New Jersey.

                        The Petition of Stacy Potts respectfully sheweth,

            That with much Expence and Labour, (at a time of Danger and Difficulty,) he has erected a Paper Mill, with the pleasing hope of relieving the State from the great want of that necefsary Article Paper, and advancing his own Interest at the same time, without injuring any individual; and by long Patience, Fateague and Afsiduety has nearly completed that ufeful Manufactory; when an inclination to oppofe so valluable an Improvement, appears in Robert Waln the Proprietor of the Grist Mill in Trenton.

            Wherefore, in order to secure the Benefit of thofe Works, both to himfelf and the Publick in general, Your Petitioner humbly requests that a Law may be pafsed, to enable him to join a small Dam to the Lands of the said Robert Waln, on the oppofite side of Afsanpink Creek below the Grist Mill aforesaid, to turn the Waters of the said Creek as it now runs to the Paper Mill aforesaid, provided the said Dam shall not be raifed so high as to Backwater or do any pofsible damage to the Grist Mill aforesaid

                                                And your Petitioner &c.

Trenton March 8^th 1780                       Signed: Stacy Potts