No 58. Captured ship: St Peter of Friedrichstadt (or Frederiksstad, Holstein), or...

No 58.

Captured ship: St Peter of Friedrichstadt (or Frederiksstad, Holstein), or of Amsterdam (master Mewes Bartholomew Adriansen of Aldmore or Alkmore in Holland [Alkmaar], citizen and resident of Friedrichstadt, otherwise Mievis Aerianson, Mievies Aeriansen, Mewes Adrian).

History: a Duchy of Holstein or Dutch merchant ship (galliot hoy, 60-72 tons/38 lasts, 4 men, built at Rotterdam, bought by the master at Amsterdam about 2 years before), bound from Orotava in the Canary Islands to Amsterdam, laden with Canary wine, 1100 pieces of eight, and several pieces of plate worth 400 pieces of eight; and also silk, velvet plush, and gold and silver lace worth 900 pieces of eight, removed before the ship was brought into Dover; taken on 8/18 April 1672 by HMS Guernsey (Charles Montague, otherwise Mountagu, commanding) and brought into Dover.

4 documents, 1 numbered 58, plus 4 attachments: 3 documents (numbered 1-3) and notebook (total 80 pages) 58/

Allegation and claim (12 June 1672) of George Smith and John Smith (both otherwise Smyth), English merchants, for 100 pipes of Canary wine in ship St Peter of Frederikstad, master Bartholomew Adrians.

George Smith and John Smith, English merchants, were resident for some years in the Canary Islands in Spanish Empire. For many years they traded Spanish wines to their correspondents in England and their factor George Clifford, English merchant resident at Amsterdam. In January-March 1671/2 and March-April 1672 they laded the wine (merchant mark in margin) on ship St Peter at the Canary Islands, consigned to George Clifford at Amsterdam on their own account. One or both of them wrote letters, with news of their lading, to their brother-in-law Richard Holder, English merchant at London, and also to Clifford. Ship was taken en route.

Details exhibits or schedules:

• 1/ letter from John Smith at Tenerife to Richard Holder, 20 February 1671/2.
• 2/ letter from George Smith at Tenerife to Richard Holder at London, 20 March 1671/2.
• 3/ letter George Clifford (Amsterdam) to Richard Holder at London, 12 April 1672.
• 4/ notebook of Tobias Ryane, 1662-1672.

Also present at time of lading, Robert Downing, English merchant, who the Smiths asked to go aboard the St Peter (as supercargo). Downing refused to go aboard 'any Flemish shipp for feare of the Algerines but was willing to goe in an English shipp or another'.

See also HCA 32/1951/16.