Captured ship: Neptune (master Joseph Ladd). History: an English merchant ship (100...

Captured ship: Neptune (master Joseph Ladd).

History: an English merchant ship (100 tons, 8 men), laden with rice and skins; taken on 12/23 May 1745 in latitude 45° 18' by the French privateer Le Conquerant and sent in for Nantes, but retaken in fight on 18/29 May 1745 in latitude 47° by the English privateer Milford (William McAlpine commanding), allegedly in sight of the privateers Hampton (Martin Read commanding), Ann (George Wigg commanding), Scipio (Peter McTaggert commanding), Prince William (Thomas Easton commanding) and Great Britain (James Cruckshanks commanding), and brought into Bristol.

Documents:-

Court Papers:

• [CP 1-CP 4]: three examinations, taken at Bristol 1 June 1745, commissioners' affidavit, 6 June 1745;
• [CP 5]: attestation by John Spry, prizemaster of the Neptune, as to the bad condition of the ship and cargo, 26 May 1754;
• [CP 6]: release of claim by Robert Robertson, William Lindsey and John Tyler, 5 June 1746;
• [CP 7]: attestation and claim of John Owen for cargo on the Neptune, 15 June 1745;
• [CP 8]: attestation and claim on behalf of Abraham Borden, owner of the Newptune, 20 June 1745;
• [CP 9]: attestation and claim on behalf of William and Samuel Baker for goods onbard the Neptune, 26 June 1745;
• [CP 10-CP 11]: two allegations, 9 July 1745
• [CP 12-CP 13]: two allegations against the joint capture, 5 August 1746;
• [CP 14-CP 15]: commission of appraisment and appraisment, August 1745
• [CP 16-CP 19]: four power of attorneys issued to Cheslyn, and Tyndall and Stevens, by Martin Read, McTaggert, Thomas Easton and Robert Calwell on behalf of James Cruckshank, 3 and 6 September 1746;
• [CP 20]: allegation, 5 October 1745
• [CP 21-CP 22]: declarations of Martin Read and George Wigg as to having been issued letters of marque, brought into court 10 October 1746;
• [CP 23]: release of claim by John Woodruff, 16 October 1746;
• [CP 24]: commission for examining the witnesses at Bristol, brought into court 3 November 1746;
• [CP 25-CP 28]: four powers of substitution by Stevens, Tyndall, Cherslyn and Casar delegating the commission to conduct the additional interrogatories at Bristol, 9 December 1746;
• [CP 29-CP 30]: two additional standing interrogatories to be adminstered on behalf of Martin Read, undated;
• [CP 31]: one additional standing interrogatories to be administered on behalf of George Wigg, Peter McTaggert, Thomas Eaton and William and James Cruckshanks, and William McAlpine, undated;
• [CP 32]: one additional standing interrogatory to be administered on behalf of George Wiggt and William McAlpine, undated;
• [CP 33]: one additional standing interrogatory to be adminstered on behalf of William McAlpine, undated;
• [CP 34-CP 35]: two notes on conducting the additional standing interrogatories, undated;
• [CP 36-59]: 24 additional interrogatories of Richard Rawle, John Barnes, Rodger Rendall, 20 December 1746, Samuel Tucker 20-23 December, John Miller and William Smith, taken on 22-23 December 1746;
• [CP 60]: commissioners' affidavit, explaining delay in taking the additional interrogatories due to Philip Crespigny not attending and the process having been adjourned, 8 January 1747;
• [CP 61]: release of claim by Richard Rawle, John Barnes, Roder Rendall and Samuel Tucker, 17 December 1746;
• [CP 62]: release of claim by William Smith, 22 December 1746;
• [CP 63]: allegation, 20 January 1747;
• [CP 64]: release of claim by John Skinner, 13 March 1747;
• [CP 65-CP 66]: release of claim by Thomas Allen, Frederick Erhard and John Skim, with wrapper, 30 May 1747.

[Decision: restored, paying 1/2 salvage to William McAlpine, 24 February 1746]