British New York Vice-Admiralty Court. Captured ship: Three Brothers (master Zacheus...

British New York Vice-Admiralty Court.

Captured ship: Three Brothers (master Zacheus Coffin).

Capture history: an American merchant ship (schooner, 75 tons, 2 guns, 14 men), bound from Cadiz to Baltimore, laden with wine, dry goods, salt, lemons, oil, olives, raisins, pipes; taken on 13-15 October 1782 off Cape Henry, Virginia, in latitude 37°7'N, longitude 75°40'W by the armed privateer Surprize (John Hall, commanding), and brought into New York.

Intended voyage: from Spain to the United States.

Court papers numbered CP 1-3:-

• [CP 1]: affidavit of papers brought in by the prize master Isaiah Vallean, 21 October 1782;
• [CP 2]: libel in Hall v The schooner Three Brothers and her cargo, 21 October 1782;
• [CP 3]: deposition of Andreas Galway, mariner, of Pennsylvania, 22 October 1782.

Ship's Papers, numbered SP 1- 6:-

• SP 1: ship's register, Baltimore, owner Samuel Smith [and John Spear], 31 May 1782;
• SP 2: bill of stores, 31 May 1782;
• SP 3: clearance bond, Baltimore, 31 May 1782
• SP 4: bill of health Cadiz, 19 August 1782;
• SP 5: payment for anchorage, Cadiz, 19 August 1782;
• SP 6: notarised agreemnt, Cadiz.

Mail in transit, numbered MT 1-10: business and political letters sent by Richard Harrison from Cadiz to his partners Hooe & Harrison, and to important merchants in Baltimore [Richard Harrison was the Smith's business agent in Cadiz, partner in Harrison & Hooe of Alexandria, Virginia, and effective US Consul in Cadiz, 1778-1786]:-

• MT 1: political and military news to Benjamin Harrison & Robert Hooe of Alexandria, Virginia, 4 June 1782; news of potential peace negotiations in Paris; the planned Spanish attack on Gibraltar under the Duke of Crillon has caused Robinson to suspend sending any goods from Cadiz;
• MT 2: to Robert & Alexander McKimm, Baltimore, 8 August 1782, enclosing MT 2A, bill of lading;
• SP 9:
• SP 11: bill of lading, 8 August 1782;
• MT 3: to Bowly & Steward, Baltimore, 8 August 1782, enclosing MT 3A: bill of lading; 8 August 1782; refers to a previous letter of 28 May enclosing invoice and sale of the schooner Rover (William Waud commanding);
• MT 4-MT 5: copies of the invoice of expenses and sale of the schooner Rover (William Waud); and bill of sale of the cargo of the Rover, arranged by Harrison, Cadiz, 18 May 1782;
• MT 6: to John Smith jun, Baltimore, 12 August 1782; enclosing MT 6A; invoice for John Smith, Baltimore; Cadiz, 18 May 1782;
• MT 7: to Samuel Smith, Baltimore, 12 August 1782; enclosing MT 7A ; invoice for Samuel Smith, Baltimore; Cadiz, 18 May 1782;
• MT 8: political and military news to Benjamin Harrison & Robert Hooe [of Alexandria, Virginia], mentioning that Lord Howe and the English squadron are confined to Torbay by the combined fleets; that the Comte d'Artois is expected any day to assist the siege of Gibraltar; and asks for comments on a plan to keep one or two vessels employed on a circular trade between Holland, Cadiz and Alexandria; 12 August 1782; [no envelope, but once enclosed] MT 8A: bill of lading, 8 August 1782;
• MT 9: to John Speare, Baltimore, 17 August 1782; [no envelope, but once enclosed] MT 9A; bill of lading, 8 August 1782;
• MT 10: to William Patterson & Brothers, Baltimore, 17 August 1782.

[Papers previously wrongly identified as Court papers: 1-5; Ship's papers: 6-33 (large pencil numbers): sorted and renumbered in 2025].