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British New York Vice-Admiralty Court. Captured ship: Washington (master George May)....

Catalogue reference: HCA 32/488/13

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This record is about the British New York Vice-Admiralty Court. Captured ship: Washington (master George May).... dating from 1779 Jun 27 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 32/488/13
Date
1779 Jun 27
Description

British New York Vice-Admiralty Court.

Captured ship: Washington (master George May).

Capture history: an American merchant ship (schooner, 40 tons, 3 guns, 12 men) bound from Baltimore, Maryland to St Eustatius, laden with tobacco and flour; taken on 27 June 1779 near Cape Charles, Virginia, by the tender Sylph belonging to HMS Delaware (Christopher Mason commanding), and brought into New York.

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

Court papers numbered CP 1-3:-

  • [CP 1]: libel in Advocate General at the relation of Mason v The Washington and her cargo, 20 June 1779;
  • [CP 2]: affidavit of papers brought in by the prize master Alexander Gordon, master's mate, 30 June 1779;
  • [CP 3]: deposition of Joseph Jackways of Pennsylvania, 1 June1779 [sic: 1 July 1779?].

Ship's Papers numbered SP 1-6 (Virginia papers):-

  • SP 1: ship's register, owners Samuel Sharp and others, South Potomack, Virginia, 9 April 1779;
  • SP 2: clearance bond for master John Peckhan, from South Potomack to Hispaniola, 29 April 1779;
  • SP 3: detailed instructions to George May from James Crawford, Baltimore, 14 June 1779;
  • SP 4: cargo manifest for Messrs Milne & Haynes, St Eustatius, 3 June 1779;
  • SP 5: bill of lading for Messrs Milne & Haynes, 15 June 1779, annotated 'Captain May signing this bill Loading is only a matter of form as he does not know what is on board, George May';
  • SP 6: business letter from James Crawford, Baltimore to Messrs Milne & Haynes, St Eustatius, with instructions, 15 June 1779;

[Papers previously wrongly identified as Court papers: 1-4; Ship's papers: 5-10 (large pencil numbers): sorted and renumbered in 2025].

Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Former department reference
HCA 32/488/13/1-10
Legal status
Public Record(s)
Language
English
Closure status
Open Document, Open Description
Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C13508248/

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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

110,019 records

Within the department: HCA

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

37,272 records

Within the series: HCA 32

High Court of Admiralty: Prize Court: Prize Papers

23 records

Within the piece: HCA 32/488

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

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British New York Vice-Admiralty Court. Captured ship: Washington (master George May)....

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