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

British New York Vice-Admiralty Court. Captured ship: Aurora (commander David Porter)....

Catalogue reference: HCA 32/275/2

What’s it about?

This record is about the British New York Vice-Admiralty Court. Captured ship: Aurora (commander David Porter).... dating from 1781 Jul 18 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 32/275/2
Date
1781 Jul 18
Description

British New York Vice-Admiralty Court.

Captured ship: Aurora (commander David Porter).

Capture history: an American privateer (200 tons, 18 guns, 109 men, mainly Americans) bound from Boston on a cruise; taken on 18 July 1781 near Halifax, Nova Scotia by HMS Royal Oak (John Plummer Ardesoif commanding) and HMS Charlestown (Henry Francis Evans commanding), and brought into New York.

Intended voyage: a cruise from the United States.

Court papers numbered CP 1-3:-

  • [CP 1]: affidavit of papers brought in by the prize master Robert Hogg, master's mate, 22 August 1781
  • [CP 2]: libel in Ardesoif v The privateer Aurora, 22 August 1781;
  • [CP 3]: deposition of William Pearson, 22 August 1781.

Ship's Papers numbered SP 1-2, Massachusetts papers:-

  • SP 1: privateer's commission, 2 October 1780;
  • SP 2: certificate of ownership.

[Papers previously wrongly identified as Court papers: 1-3; Ship's papers: 4-5 (large pencil numbers): sorted and renumbered in 2024].

Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Former department reference
HCA 32/275/2/1-5
Legal status
Public Record(s)
Language
English
Closure status
Open Document, Open Description
Subjects
Topics
International
Litigation
Conflict
Piracy and privateering
Weapons
Navy
Crime
Americas
Armed Forces (General Administration)
Operations, battles and campaigns
Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C13504966/

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

8 records

Within the piece: HCA 32/275

Captured ships with names beginning with A. (Described at item level)

You are currently looking at the item: HCA 32/275/2

British New York Vice-Admiralty Court. Captured ship: Aurora (commander David Porter)....

You may be interested in

Related records

Records that share similar topics with this record.