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: Charming Molly or Charming...

Catalogue reference: HCA 32/292/8

What’s it about?

This record is about the British New York Vice-Admiralty Court. Captured ship: Charming Molly or Charming... dating from 1782 Mar 12 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 32/292/8
Date
1782 Mar 12
Description

British New York Vice-Admiralty Court.

Captured ship: Charming Molly or Charming Polly (master Thomas Clifton).

Capture history: an American merchant ship with a letter of marque (brigantine, 60-100 tons, 27 men) bound from St Thomas, Danish West Indies to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, laden with rum, salt and dry goods; taken on 12 March 1782 at the entrance of the Delaware River by the loyalist privateers Spitfire (George Younghusband commanding) and Fox (Joseph Hews Burton commanding), and brought into New York.

Intended voyage: from the Caribbean Islands to the United States.

Court papers numbered CP 1-5:-

  • [CP 1]: libel in Younghusband and Burton v The Charming Polly and her cargo, 16 March 1782;
  • [CP 2]: affidavit of papers (left on the Spitfire) by the prize master Benjamin Clark, 16 March 1782;
  • [CP 3]: affidavit of papers by William Milby, part owner of the Fox, that Burton had delivered the papers to him (as Charming Molly), 3 April 1782;
  • [CP 4]: deposition of Andrew Doran, of the Charming Molly, 21 March 1782;
  • [CP 5]: wrapper for papers of the Charming Polly.

Ship's Papers numbered SP 1-2:-

  • SP 1: ship's register;
  • SP 2: printed privateer commission, 15 December 1781;

Mail in Transit numbered MT 1:

  • MT 1: informal personal letter from J Haydon on the ship Fortune, at Reedy Island [Delaware River] to Mrs Fling, Front Street, Philadelphia, about playing cards, drinking grog, etc, 9 March 1782. Although consigned to a Captain Learmoth, it is feasible it was on this ship.

[Papers previously wrongly identified as Court papers: 1-4; Ship's papers: 5-7 (large pencil numbers): sorted and renumbered in 2025].

Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Former department reference
HCA 32/292/8/1-7
Legal status
Public Record(s)
Language
English
Closure status
Open Document, Open Description
Subjects
Topics
Shipping
International
Litigation
Trade and commerce
Caribbean
Conflict
Piracy and privateering
Food and drink
Navy
Crime
Americas
Armed Forces (General Administration)
Operations, battles and campaigns
Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C13505242/

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

110,017 records

Within the department: HCA

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

37,270 records

Within the series: HCA 32

High Court of Admiralty: Prize Court: Prize Papers

23 records

Within the piece: HCA 32/292

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

You are currently looking at the item: HCA 32/292/8

British New York Vice-Admiralty Court. Captured ship: Charming Molly or Charming...

You may be interested in

Read stories that share a catalogue subject with this record.

Related records

Records that share similar topics with this record.