Printed prize appeal from the Vice-Admiralty Court of New York. Captured ship: Esther...

Printed prize appeal from the Vice-Admiralty Court of New York.

Captured ship: Esther or Esthen (master Alexander Kennedy).

History: an American vessel, bound from James River, Virginia to Boston, Massachusetts, laden with flour, bread, tobacco, staves; taken on 21 June 1778 about 40 miles east of Virginia by the privateer Tryon (George Sibbles commanding) and brought into New York.

Appellant: The captor.

Respondent: Israel Lieben of Philadelphia and George Muir for the ship and cargo, and the master for the tobacco.

Bound printed appeal with manuscript decree of 9 December 1780.

Folios 325-344v, comprising folios 325-327v: case on behalf of the appellant; folios 328-330v: case on behalf of the respondent; folios 331-337v: appendix to the respondents' case; folios 338-338v: attestation of George Muir; folios 339-344v: second respondent's appendix.

Session of Saturday 9 December 1780, in the Council Chamber, Whitehall: sentence recorded in manuscript on folio 330:-

• Present: Henry, Earl Bathurst, Lord President of the Council; Earl of Denbigh; Viscount Stormont; Lord Loughborough Chief Justice of His Majesty's Court of Common Pleas; Sir Thomas Parker.
• Esther or Esthen, Alexander Kennedy master. Grene. Crickitt. For sentence on the second assignation and informations.
• "The Lords having heard the proofs and counsel on both sides by their interlocutory decree affirmed the sentence of the judge below and decreed the cause to be remitted."