Captured ship: Elizabeth of Wexford, formerly the Ann or the Success or the St Peter...

Captured ship: Elizabeth of Wexford, formerly the Ann or the Success or the St Peter (master Adam Dowdall alias Patrick White).

History: an Irish merchant vessel (a brigantine, 44 tons, 6 men), allegedly bound from Rotterdam to Dublin, but proved by papers hidden in the forecastle to be bound from Bordeaux to Dublin, laden with brandy, wine, rosin, vinegar, cork, hamps, turpentine, sweetmeats, anchovies and olives; taken on 7 April 1747 off Ushant by the privateer Cumberland (John Mauger commanding), and brought into Guernsey

Documents:-

Court Papers:

• [CP 1-CP 2]: two examinations, commissioners' affidavit;
• [CP 3]: allegation;
• [CP 4-CP 5]: attestation as to papers, and translation of the 6 (of 12) ship's papers in French.

Ship's Papers, numbered SP 1-SP 12, including 6 personal letters in English from men and women to Wexford, London and Glasgow, a French pass in the name of Patrick White, and a 'colourable' ransom bill purportedly to show Dowdall to have ransomed the St Peter. Some of the letters appear to have been written from Rotterdam, but this seems to be a ruse.

[Decision: condemned as prize, 12 May 1747]