Captured ship: San Joachin (commander Don Luis de Cordova). History: a Spanish frigate...

HCA 32/122/8

1743

Captured ship: San Joachin (commander Don Luis de Cordova).

History: a Spanish frigate (200 tons, 18 guns, 110 men including passengers, soldiers and crew), bound from Cadiz to Vera Cruz, Mexico, laden with quicksilver, iron, brandy, oil and bale goods; taken on 7/18 August 1743 [having thrown overboard 15 packets of royal and official papers and letters to the Viceroy and officials in New Spain] off Tenerife by HMS Monmouth (Charles Wyndham commanding), and brought into the River Thames.

Documents:-

Court Papers:

• [Examinations taken in London, see: HCA 13/89, fos 387-388, 393];
• [CP 1]: allegation;
• [CP 2-CP 3]: attestation as to papers, and abstracts and translations of the 19 ship's papers (being volumes, bundles and individual documents).

Ship's Papers numbered SP 1-SP 19, with subnumbers:

• SP 1-SP 1A/6: a volume bound in parchment containing the names of Spanish, French, Italian, Irish and Basque merchants, both men and women, who had cargo abord the ship, as well as a declaration relating to customs duties. Six additional loose documents found within the volume: receipts and invoices, instructions issued to Manuel Diaz de Saravia by the Casa de la Contratación;
• SP 2-SP 2A/5: a volume bound in parchment that details cargo laden abord the ship, kept by the ship's mate Gregorio Garcia. A second smaller volume bound in paper containing similar information. Five documents found loose within the second volume: four papers relating to the lading of the vessel at Cadiz, ship's pass;
• SP 3: a volume containing a full list of the ship's cargo (with merchant marks) approved by the Casa de la Contratación. Also contains a log of the loading of the ship between April and July 1743;
• SP 4-SP 4A/5: a printed inventory of armaments, furniture, tackle, sails, etc., five loose receipts stating that the items have been received aboard the ship;
• SP 5- SP 5A/63: a bundle containing a docket, 62 invoices for the receipt of goods, one letter of attorney granted by Antonia Monge of Cadiz to Saravia;
• SP 6-SP 7: muster roll of soldiers, muster roll of sailors;
• [SP 8: printed inventory, duplicate of SP 4, not found];
• SP 9a-SP 11: docket, three papers relating to crown property laden on the ship;
• SP 12-SP 13: two commissions issued to the captain and the lieutenant;
• SP 14a-SP15d: four letters addressed to Vera Cruz, with envelopes;
• SP 16-SP 17: account of the past promotions and employments of the captain, account of clothing sent on board the ship;
• SP 18/a1-a20b: a bundle containing 20 papers found in a silk letter case (not here). Includes 16 letters adressed to residents of Vera Cruz sent from Cadiz, list of convoy signals, notes and receipts;
• SP 19: paper relating to the delivery of letters to Vera Cruz.

[Decision: condemned as prize, 6 October 1743]

Extra information from HCA 30/775/2

See also IND 1/9022, f104v

Some material moved here from HCA 30/673 and 680 sometime prior to 2014

Public Record(s)

English and Spanish

Open Document, Open Description