Skip to main content
Service phase: Beta

This is a new way to search our records, which we're still working on. Alternatively you can search our existing catalogue, Discovery.

Item

High Court of Admiralty. Captured ship: Amazone of Nantes (master Jean Baptiste Duffau)....

Catalogue reference: HCA 32/266/18

What’s it about?

This record is about the High Court of Admiralty. Captured ship: Amazone of Nantes (master Jean Baptiste Duffau).... dating from 1781 Feb 1 in the series High Court of Admiralty: Prize Court: Prize Papers. It is held at The National Archives, Kew.

Is it available online?

No, this record is not available online. However, you can order a copy. Other ways to view it.

Can I see it in person?

Yes, this record is held at The National Archives and is available to see in person. How to view it.

Full description and record details

Reference
HCA 32/266/18
Date
1781 Feb 1
Description

High Court of Admiralty.

Captured ship: Amazone of Nantes (master Jean Baptiste Duffau).

Capture history: a French merchant ship with a letter of marque (360 tons, 14 guns, 36 men), previously bound from Brest to Rhode Island, transporting 132 French soldiers, now bound from Rhode Island to Brest in ballast; taken on 1 February 1781, about 2 leagues S of the Isle de Batz, by the privateer Caesar (John Shaw commanding), in sight of the privateer Greyhound (Nelson commanding), and brought into Plymouth.

Intended voyage: from the United States to France.

Court papers numbered CP 1-3:-

  • [CP 1]: attestation as to papers (numbered 1-3), brought in by the prize master John Smerden of the Caesar, 6 February 1781;
  • [CP 2]: standing interrogatories;
  • [CP 3]: three depositions of Jean Baptiste Duffau, Francois Oualle, and Jean Rullier, and commissioners affidavit, 10 February 1781;
  • [CP 4]: translations of the ship papers, 1 March 1781.

Ship's Papers numbered SP 1-3:-

  • SP 1: ship's pass;
  • SP 2: owners' instructions;
  • SP 3: letter of marque.

[Papers previously wrongly identified as Court papers: 1-12; Ship's papers: 13-15 (large pencil numbers): sorted and renumbered in 2024]. 10-12 moved to HCA 32/267/7 in 2024

Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Former department reference
HCA 32/266/18/1-15
Legal status
Public Record(s)
Language
English and French
Closure status
Open Document, Open Description
Subjects
Topics
International
Litigation
Trade and commerce
Europe and Russia
Conflict
Piracy and privateering
Weapons
Navy
Americas
Armed Forces (General Administration)
Operations, battles and campaigns
Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C13504832/

How to order it

  1. View this record page in our current catalogue
  2. Check viewing and downloading options
  3. Select an option and follow instructions

Series information

HCA 32

High Court of Admiralty: Prize Court: Prize Papers

See the series level description for more information about this record.

View series description

Catalogue hierarchy

Over 27 million records

This record is held at The National Archives, Kew

109,109 records

Within the department: HCA

Records of the High Court of Admiralty and colonial Vice-Admiralty courts

37,247 records

Within the series: HCA 32

High Court of Admiralty: Prize Court: Prize Papers

28 records

Within the piece: HCA 32/266

Captured ships with names beginning with A; dated by date of capture. (Described...

You are currently looking at the item: HCA 32/266/18

High Court of Admiralty. Captured ship: Amazone of Nantes (master Jean Baptiste Duffau)....

You may be interested in

Related records

Records that share similar topics with this record.