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British New York Vice-Admiralty Court. Captured ship: General Harkiman [formerly...

Catalogue reference: HCA 32/339/13

What’s it about?

This record is about the British New York Vice-Admiralty Court. Captured ship: General Harkiman [formerly... dating from 1778 May 31 in the series High Court of Admiralty: Prize Court: Prize Papers. It is held at The National Archives, Kew.

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Full description and record details

Reference
HCA 32/339/13
Date
1778 May 31
Description

British New York Vice-Admiralty Court.

Captured ship: General Harkiman [formerly Eli ?] (master Samuel Perkins).

Capture history: an American merchant ship with a letter of marque (brigantine, 140 tons, 4 guns, 12 men) bound from New Haven, Connecticut to St Croix, Danish West Indies, Danish West Indies, laden with lumber, horses; taken on 31 May 1778 in latitude 37°16'N, longitude 68°57'W by HMS Roebuck (Andrew Snape Hamond commanding), and brought into New York.

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

Court papers numbered CP 1-3:-

  • [CP 1]: affidavit of papers brought in by the prize master Richard Whitworth, lieutenant, 10 June 1778;
  • [CP 2]: libel in Advocate General at the relation of The privateer brigantine General Harkiman and her cargo, 10 June 1778;
  • [CP 3]: deposition of Samuel Perkins, 11 June 1778.

Ship's Papers numbered SP 1-3:-

  • SP 1: printed instructions of Congress, 3 April 1776;
  • SP 2: privateer commission, [owners Michael Todd & Co], 15 May 1778;
  • SP 3: clearance for the brigantine Eli (master Samuel Perkins) from New Haven to St Croix, 19 February 1778, with pencil note on the back about cashmere, broad cloth, stockings etc.

[Papers previously wrongly identified as Court papers: 1-3; Ship's papers: 4-6 (large pencil numbers): sorted and renumbered in 2025].

Held by
The National Archives, Kew
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
Weapons
Navy
Crime
Americas
Armed Forces (General Administration)
Operations, battles and campaigns
Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C13505941/

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Series information

HCA 32

High Court of Admiralty: Prize Court: Prize Papers

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

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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

15 records

Within the piece: HCA 32/339

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

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British New York Vice-Admiralty Court. Captured ship: General Harkiman [formerly...

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