| New Engl'd Prov. of the Massa's Bay | Boston, July 23, 1740. |
To the Hono'ble Robt. Auchmuty, Esqr., Jud. of Vice Adm'ty.
The Libel of Philip Dumaresq,[2] Commander of the Private Man of War Sloop Young Eagle of Boston, Sheweth,
Whereas on the 23d of Octob'r last his Majesty Caused Publick Proclamation to be made of an Open War with the King of Spain, requiring all his officers and Soldiers to do all Acts of Hostility in prosecution of this War against the King of Spain, his Vassals and subjects, and afterwards on the 15th of January last the said Philip, Commander of the sloop aforesaid, and her men, being duly Commissioned with Letters of Marque and Reprisals against the King of Spain, his Vassals and Subjects,[3] to attack, Seize, Take and make Prize of their Ships, Vessells and Goods, met with the Sloop the Amsterdam Post about three or four Leagues off of the Grand Canary Island, standing in for Santa Crux in Teneriffe[4] in the King of Spains Dominions, Commanded by AEneas Mackay, a British Subject but made free of Amsterdam, man'd with British Subjects and furnished with various Papers and Evidences to make her seem to be either an English or Dutch Sloop, as might best suit the occasion, and upon Examination finding that she was the Property of certain Subjects of the King of Spain or Inhabitants of the Canaries within his Dominions, and by them during this present War sent from Teneriffe aforesd to Cork in Ireland and there Laden with thirty nine Barrells of Beef, Forty Barr'ls of Pilchards, eighty nine BBlls of Butter, fifty four boxes of Candles, a hundred eighty nine Hides of Leather, five Bar'ls of Hatts, two Boxes of Soap and five Bar'ls of Wax for acco't of the same owners and was then returning directly to Teneriffe for their Supply, He the said Philip therefore Seized and Took the sd Sloop Amsterdam Post and her Cargo as a Lawfull Prize, as he Lawfully might do, Wherefore the said Philip Dumaresq prays the consideration of this Hono'ble Court upon the premises properly and only in their Cognizance, that a Short Day[5] may be assigned to Hear and pass upon this Libel and Matters therein contained and that the said Sloop and Cargo may be Decreed and declared a Lawfull Prize, etc.
Jno. Read.
W. Bollan.[6]
1740, July 23d, filed and allowed, and ordered that Publick Notifications be Posted upon the Sloop Amsterdam Post and at the Town House, for all Persons Claiming Property in the said Sloop to Appear at a Court of Admiralty to be holden at Boston on Friday next at 10 a Clock A.M. To Make out their Property.
Robert Auchmuty, Judge Ad'y.
Accordingly at the time appointed the Court was opened and the Libel Read, at which Time Collonel Wendell[7] appeared and offered some Papers to be Lodged in Court, which he rec'd from the Owners of the Sloop, which the Judge refused to admit of, But told him he might Claim the Vessell and Cargo if he wou'd do it as the Act of Parliament requires, which he refus'd and said he Intended to put the Bonds[8] in Suit when he had proper Powers.
Publick Proclamation was then three Times Solemnly Made for all Persons claiming Property in the Sloop Amsterdam Post and Cargo to make their appearance and they shou'd be heard, but none appeared; The Court was then Adjourn'd to Wednesday the 13th of August next at ten a Clock a.m., and the Judge ordered notifications to be Posted up as before for all persons claiming property to appear if they see cause.
The Court was opened on the 13th of August according to adjournment, and Proclamation Three Times Solemnly made for any Claimer to appear, whereupon Collo. Wendell Appeared in Court and Claim'd the said Sloop in behalf of Mr. Peter Devernet of Amsterdam, Merchant, which the Judge allow'd of upon his giving Security as the Act requires. The Court was then Adjourned to Wednesday morning at Seven a Clock, at which Time it was opened and the Libel Read, and Jacob Wendell, Esqr., in behalf of Peter Devernet of Amsterdam, Merch't, and his son Isaac Devernet of Santa Crux, Merch't, Claimed the said Sloop's Cargo as their Property. The Court was then adjourned to Monday the 18th Curr't at Seven a Clock a.m., at which Time it was Opened, when Jacob Wendell, Esqr., in Open Court made oath that he verily believed that Peter Devernet of Amsterdam, Merch't, in behalf of whom he claims the sd Vessell, was at the time of the Capture sole owner thereof, and also that the Cargo on board said Sloop was owned by the said Peter Devernet and his son Isaac, then Resident at Santa Crux in the Island of Teneriffe, Merch't. At the same time Collo. Wendell gave the following Bail, viz....