Flowers v. Sloop Dela Clara

1 Rec. V.A. Ct. (R.I.) 175
CourtRhode Island Vice Admiralty Court
DecidedSeptember 10, 1742
StatusPublished

This text of 1 Rec. V.A. Ct. (R.I.) 175 (Flowers v. Sloop Dela Clara) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Rhode Island Vice Admiralty Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Flowers v. Sloop Dela Clara, 1 Rec. V.A. Ct. (R.I.) 175 (R.I. Super. Ct. 1742).

Opinion

Colony of Rhode Island etc. At a Court of Vice Admiralty held at Newport in sa Colony (in order to take the Preparitory Examns) On Friday the 10th of Sepr A. D. 1742.

Before the Honble Samuel Pemberton Esqr D Judge

The Court being Opened

John Rous Commander of the Billinder a Private Man of War called the Young Eagle On Oath gave the following Ansrs to the following Questions Viz4

Qn 1. did you take the Sloop called the Clara as Prize which you brought into this Port, when and where

A.nsr I together with Cap4 Rob4 Flower Comr of the Privateer Sloop called the Boneto and Cap4 Wm Wilkinson commander of the Privateer Sloop the Mary On the twenty ninth day of June last past took the Sloop Clara as Prize at Rio de La Hache on the Coast of New Spain

Questn 2. Are the Papers now Produced in Court all that were found on Board of the sa Sloop called the Ciará Without any fraud Addition Subduction or Embezelment

Ansr Yes. I packt up all the Papers found on Board at the time of Capture and Sealed ’em up with my own Hands, and they have continued so Sealed until they were opened in my presence in Court

Qn 3. Why did you take this Sloop as Prize

Ansr I found her in New Spain w4b out her proper Papers proving her to belong to the Subjects of any Prince or State in Alliance w4h the King of Great Britain and I was inform’d by some of her Crew that she supplied the King of Spain’s Soldiers and Inhabitants at Rio de La Hache the day immediately preceeding the taking of her

Qn 4. Who was Master of the Sloop Clara when taken

Ansr Samuel Dali

Q» 5. Where was the sa Sloop Clara when you first discovered her how did you proceed in taking of her, how did she behave, did she make any and what resistance declare the Circumstances of the Capture

[176]*176Ansr I discovered her and two other Vessels at an Anchor in the Rhode of Rio de la Hache and upon sight of my Vessel and the two privateer Sloops of Cap1 Flowers and Cap1 Wilkinson they all weighed anchor and stood different Ways, the Sloop Clara standing out to Sea Whereupon I followed her, and the two other Privateers stood after the two other Vessels and in about an Hours time I came near to the Sloop Clara and fired One Shot under English Colours in order to bring her too — having a Letter of Marque Jack Flying in its proper place but she not bringing to I haled them and told ’em, I would fire a broad side into em and sink ’em if they did not bring to immediately upon which I perceived they immediately prepared to engage me every Man going to his Quarters some taking up Small Arms and others going to the Great Guns, the Drummer stepping upon the Round House and Slinging his Drum and holding up his Drum Sticks in order to beat (as I understood) whereupon the Cap1 of the Clara Spoke to the Drumer upon wch he laid down his Drum and was going off the Round House and the rest of the Crew left their Quarters Soon after which the Cap1 Spoke again to the Drumer who thereupon Slung his Drum a second time and prepared to beat and the people repaired to their several Quarters, upon woh I told the Cap1 of the Clara I would be on board of him immediately, and came near to him being ready to fire a broadside into him and board him he sayd he would come on board of me and come to an Anchor, he accordingly came to an Anchor hoisted out his small Canoe and sent two Sailors on board me who told me their Sloop was a Dutch Sloop upon woh I told them I wanted to know whether their Sloop was a Dutch Sloop or not and sent them on Board for their Papers Soon after which their Cap1 came on board and delivered me a Dutch Pass for the Sloop Geertruyda and a Muster Roll of his Crew and say’d those were all his Papers Whereupon I particularly asked him for his Bills of Lading Cockquetts and Invoices He Answered he had none nor any other Papers — whereupon I sent my Lieu1 John Davis on Board to search for other Papers upon which he sent me the other Papers now in Court and I told the Cap1 of the Sloop Clara they were not sufficient and told him I believed I shou’d take him for want of proper Papers but would detain him until my Consorts came down and then upon Consulting of them wou’d determine and upon their coming up we proceeded to search the Sloop and examine her Crew, some of whom informed that Cap1 Dali had sold powder at Sundry times while he lay at Rio De La Hache to Spanish Soldiers and Inhabitants there

John Rous

Mr. Joseph Cowley was Sworn Interpreter

Peter Abraham On Oath declares as follows Vizn

Qn 1. Do you know the Sloop Clara lately Commanded by Sam1 Dali Declare when and where you knew her and what you know concerning her

[177]*177Ansr Yes, I have known her upwards of three Years in which time have often seen her at Curacoa once at Rio de Magdalena twice at Rio de la Hache at all which Places during the time afores3 She passed by the Name of the Clara and by no other Name .that I ever heard of And that in June last I went as Land Pilot in a Vessel with Cap* Jacob Barns to Rio de la Hache and at our arrival there we found the Sloop Clara commanded by Cap* Sam1 Dali, who I never knew to Command her before and about eight Days afterwards the Sloop Clara was taken by Cap* Rouse and his Consorts, and I came in her to this Port

Qn 2. Do you know any thing and what concerning the s3 Sloop Clara’s trading with the Spaniards during her lying at Rio déla Hache in June last — Declare all you know

Ansr Francisco Lopis a Spanish Merchant at Rio de la Hache asked me if I had any powder to dispose of I answered him I had none to sell Whereupon s3 Lopis went on board of the Clara and ab* two Hours and a half afterwards I saw him come on Shoar from on board the Clara with a Handerchief full of large Cartridges of Gun Powder about twelve in Number containing in my judgement about two Pounds or a pound and a half each and Lopies gave the Handkerchief full of Cartridges into my hands and sayd here I have now got powder which is all I know of her trading

Petter Abraham

Truly Interpreted in the Spanish Tongue by Joseph Cowley

Sep* ix*h John Venswall on Oath Declares etc.

Qn x Do you know the Sloop Clara lately Commanded by Cap* Samuel Daal. Declare when and where you knew her and what you know concerning her

Ansr I have known her about twelve Months last past, I "first knew her at Curacoa when she was Commanded by Nicholas Holford and was Named the Clara I have since seen her at Portabello Rio déla Hache and many other Places upon the Coast of Caracas at all which Places she went by the Name of the Clara only, and was Commanded by s3 Holford until within Six or Seven Months last past when upon her return from Portabello One Halvis a Jew at Curacoa hired her for a Voyage to the Spanish Main and put his Brother in Super cargo and wou’d have had s3 Holford gone thither Master of her but he refused upon which he appointed the s3 Daal Master and he continued Master of her until she was taken as Prize at Rio de la Hache by Cap* Rouse and his Consorts, and I came with Cap* Rouse in Company with her to this Port

Qn 2. Do you know anything and what concerning the s3 Sloop Clara’s trading with the Spaniards during her lying at Rio déla Hache before she was taken by Cap* PLouse and others Declare all you know

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Bluebook (online)
1 Rec. V.A. Ct. (R.I.) 175, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/flowers-v-sloop-dela-clara-riviceadmct-1742.