September the 27th 1773.
Sir,
The Bearer of this Letter waits on your Excellency with a Petition in favour of one Reynold McDugal, a boy of about 18 years of age whom Mr DeRosset and I condemned on the 9th instant for Murder. There is no reason to doubt of his having been guilty of the fact, the testimony against him was clear. But, Sir, I think
from his appearance he is too young to be executed, to judge of him from his size and looks, one would not imagine him more than thirteen or fourteen years old.
The Humble Petition of the Magistrates, Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County of Bladen to Governor Martin,
Sheweth,
That whereas Reynold McDugal of the said County hath been legally convicted at a Court of Oyer and Terminer and found guilty of the murder of Joseph Atkinson, but out of mere pity to his youth and inexperience we most humbly beg leave to present him to you (not the least doubting your tenderness and humanity) as a real object of your Excellency's mercy. For tender consideration of his youth being only eighteen years of age, and in his figure so diminutive that he does not wear the least appearance of manhood, this too being the first crime he has been accused of and from the real contrition and unfeigned repentance he expresses of his guilt adding to these that he is the sole dependance of an infirm old widowed mother with four helpless, miserable orphans and in her present circumstances already reduced to indigence and want and having no other person whose labour and industry can save her and her miserable children from absolute wretchedness and beggary. We your Petitioners cannot help viewing him as an object of pity and compassion and as such most humbly present him to your Excellency's clemency. From these considerations, we most humbly petition your Excellency to grant him a Reprieve 'till Royal clemency can be obtained.
And your Petitioners as in Duty bound shall ever pray, etc.