Present His Excellency William Shirley Esq^ Jpsiah Willard Jacob Wendell John Wheelwright Andrew Oliver Joseph Pynchon Thomas Hutchinson John Erving Esqf^ Advised tliat his Excellency write to Col" Williams, Col^ Dwight and Col^ W^orthrington directing that if upon Examination of the Persons lately taken from M^ Livingstons Ironworks so called there shall not appear sufficient grounds for their standing committed as being actually concerned in the Murder of William Race that in such case all such Persons be so far discharged as to be sent with a Proper Guard towards Hudsons River and that they be set at Liberty immediately upon the

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release of Persons of this Province who now stand committed at Albany. And further advised that his Excellency give orders to the Attorney General to enter a noli Prosequi in all actions lor any riotous proceedings of any Persons near the line calling themselves inhabitants of New York relying upon the engagement of the Province of New York that the same Orders shall be given on their Part.

A True Copy Examined

P Thqs Clarke Dp^y Secry.

THE JUSTICES OF SPRINGFIELD TO GOV. SHIRLEY.

Springfield May 21. 1755.

Sir,

Agreeable to Your Excy's direction and order, we have examin'd the persons taken at M"" Livingston Iron Avorks who were committed to the Goal in Springfield by a mittimus from M"" Justice Ashley upon suspicion of their being aiding & consenting to the murder ot William Race and have endeavour'd to get the best light and Evidence we are ca,pable of obtaining in that matter at present, and upon the whole we apprehend tliere is no great probability of their being convicted of being actually concern'd in that murder further than their being in tlie company when the man was kill'd makes tliem so, and therefore are determined to send them under a suitable Guard as far as SheflBeld directly, there to be detain'd till those persons belonging to this province that are now confin'd in the Goal at Albany be released and return'd to Sheffield, and then set at large, and by Express shall inform the Authority in the county of Albany hereof also letting them know that unless our peoj^le be Discharged as proposed their's will be remanded to Goal.