LEGAL DOCUMENT

Case: J. Allen vs. S. fortune
Citation: 1 Rec. V.A. Ct. (R.I.) 266
Court: Rhode Island Vice Admiralty Court
Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
Decision Date: 1744
Docket Number: 
Pages: 266–278
Volume: 1
Reporter: Records of the Vice-Admiralty Court of Rhode Island, 1716-1752

Parties: J. Allen vs. S. fortune

J. Allen vs. S. fortune
Before the HonIe Leonard Lockman Esq* Judge.
The Court being Open’d the Libel and Monitions read Mr. Sarvat Sworn Interpreter Mr. Daniel Pichot, Put in his Claim on Oath, to the sa Sloop fortune Cargo etc.
Also Isaac Mendez, Put in his Claim on Oath on the five Books of Moses, to 1620 mill’d Pieces of Eight etc.
The Court was Adjourned till Monday the 14°* day of May 1744 at 3 A Clock P: M
The Court being Open’d according to Adjournm’t
Cap* Henry Bull comes into Court and Enacts and Binds himself to Pay to Cap* James Allen Double Costs in Case the Moneys etc. claimed by M* Isaac Mendez be Adjudged Lawful Prize
Henry Bull
The said money being condemned Received One Hundred and forty Pounds Cury being in full for the afores4 Double Costs.
W. Strengthfield D. Reg*
Mr. Thos Bell on Oath in Court gave Answers to the following Questions
Qnd what knowledge have you of the Claimant Isaac Mendez when did you first know him declare all you know
Anr
Martin Strong On Oath in C* gave Answers to the following Questions
Qn Do you know whether M* Mendez or either of the Other two Jews had any moneys on board the fortune at the time of Capture declare all you know
Ansr Not that I know of
Qn Do you know whether any Person on board sa Sloop at or about the time of Capture delivered sd Mendez or either of the other Jews any Bags of Money Silver, or Gold
Ansr I Saw one deliver’d to Mr. Mendez by A french man who Put it into his Chest and another Bag came and Mr Mendez said he could Put no more in his Chest, whereupon he gave it to Another Jew and he Put it in his Chest, I Also See the french man deliver a Quantity of Gold rings and A Pair of Gold Buttons to the same Jew that took the s4 Money and the sd french-man shifting himself desired him to return the sd Buttons wch he did, but kept the Rings,
Qn What Part of the Vessel was the sd Moneys delivered in Anr Before the Mast in the Hold, Mr Bell being in the Hold at Same time but cant say he saw it
Qn Do you know of any watches that were on board sd Sloop Ansr There were two hung in the frenchmans Cabin which one of the Jews took
Q* Did you see the sd Jew have any rings when he first came on bd Ann Yes One with A High Stone and I see him wtt two this Day that were the french man’s
Qn What mark was there on the bags or w. Colour.
Anr One was White and one was Striped.
his
Martin X Strong mark
Francis Garey on Oath in C* gave Answers to the following Questions
Did you deliver at or About the time of yr béing taken By Cap* Allen any Moneys or Other Goods to either of the Jews on board
Ansr Yes I deliver4 three pr of Silver Buckles 20 Ps of eight and two Lancetts tip4 wth Silver to the Bigest of them who was brought in here
Qn What was yr design in so delivering them
Anr To save them from the Captors
his
Francis X Garey mark
Capn John Beard an Inhabitant of Newport on Oath in Court gave the following Answers to these Questions Viz
Qn What Knowledge have you of Mr Mendez now in Court his father and their Circumstances
Ansr I have not so Personal an Acquaintance with the Gent1 in Court, but I know his father in Jama wth whom I have had A Particular Acquaintance these 30 years Past, and know him to be A Man that Carries on A Considerable trade and has the Carácter of a Very honest man and I believe his Credit would Pass Equal to any trading man in Jama, I know him to trade very largely on the Spanish Main and to the South Keys Jn° Beard
Mr Moses Delyon in the five books of Moses on Oath in Court gave the following Ansrs to these Qnts Vizh
Qn Was you a Prisoner at the Havanah wth Mr. Mendez
Anr Yes
Qn What time
Anr About the Month of January last
Qn How long was you prisoner there
Anr About three Months and A Half
Qn Do you know of Mr Mendez being Supplied with any money by any Gentlemen at the Havanna during yr being there
Anr Yes
Q* Do you know the Persons that Supplied him
Anr Yes Don Bar nado Ladon
Qn Do you know the Quantity of money
Anr No
Qn Did you see Any brought to sa Mendez at any time
Anr Yes.
Qn Did Mr Mendez expend any of sa Moneys at the Havannah
Anr None but for a few trifles except 100 Pss of eight Supply’d an English Gentlemen at the Havannah named Prolo who was taken with us and Partner with Mr Mendez
Qn Do you know or have you any reason to believe that these sa Moneys was Carried on board the Sloop you was taken in by Mr Mendez
Anr Yes
Qn Did you ever see the two Bags now Produced in Court and where
Anr Yes I saw them in Mr Mendez’s Chest in the More Castle full of money Just before We Went on ba the Sloop we were taken in
Qn Did you ever see any more money then w* was contained in these two Bags in Mr Mendez Chest
Anr Yes I see two Bags more
Q* What Size and w* Sort
Ansr One was like A Snake to ware around the Middle and the Other about the size of One Produced in Court made of Ozenbrigs.
Q* were those four baggs full of Money
Ansr Yes two was full the other two Pretty So So
Q* Did you see those four Bags of money on board
Ansr I went with the Chest on board immediately after the Money was put into it
CP In what manner did you go on board and w4h whom
Anr With A Serjeant two Soldiers and two Negroes to row
Qj did you Observe after you was taken that this Chest was broken open
Ansr No
CP How much money And how many times did Mr Mendez receive
Anr I don’t know how much, but he rec4 Money 8 times Once of Barnado Ladon, Once of Christopher Contaro a Spaniard and once of Mr Castelo who was Lieu4 of the More Castle
CP Do you know what was the design of Mr Mendez borrowing so much money at the Havana whilst A Prisoner
Anr Mr Mendez told me it was to buy him a Vessel at Curraco to go down to Jama
CP Was there any Persons Present besides yr Self when Mr Mendez reca said Moneys
Ansr None that are Present but Aaron Touro
How were these Persons respectively to be paid
Anr One by A Bill of Excha drawn by his father at Jama the Other two was to be paid in goods at South Keys and for woh Mr Mendez gave his Notes of hand
CP How did you know Mr Mendez gave A Bill of Excha and two Notes of hand for the Money he Borrowed
Ansr Mr Prateau told me so, and I was Present when the Money was paid, but did not see the Notes Given for it
Q* What knowledge have you Of A Gold Neck Buckle or any rings claim’d by Mr Mendez
Anr The Gold Neck Buckle his father sent to get it made at Port Ohelo as he told me five years Ago and was 5 yrs worn by him
iP Can you describe the Buckle
Anr Yes it is A wrought Buckle wt]1 3 or 4 tongues
CP What do you know of the rings claim’d by Mr Mendez
A Ring was given to him by Mr Polanko a Span4 lived at Trinidado: and two Rings he had in Jama and one was given him in the More Castle and the other two he bought at the More Castle
CP W4 Quantity of Ps Eight do you Suppose was brought by Mr Ladou
Anr I believe Ab4 400 Ps of 8
CP And How many did Mr Chris4 Cantara bring
Anr I believe about 700 Pss of 8
CP When and where was you taken by the Spaniards and w4 became of yr Vessel
Anr We were taken at the South Keys on the 15th Dec1' and the Vessel Was Carr4 to the Havana and there Condem’d as I heard
Q* What Office did you Sustain on board the Sloop you was taken in
Anr I acted as an Assistant in the Sale of the Cargo wcl1 was cons'* to Mr Mendez and Proteau in delivering the same out of the Hold to the purchasers and had a Priviledge of drawing 12J per Cent on £2000 wch was Consigned to me the Whole Cargo being about £25000 Value
Q* Did not Mr Mendez Claim one of the Negroes on board the Sloop taken by C. Allen
Anr Yes
Q* Did he afterwards disclaim him and for what reason.
Anr Mr Mendez told me that he had no Bill of Sale of him Neither had he Paid for him
(P What was the reason of his claiming sa Negro at all
Anr Because the frenchman Lieu* of the Sloop being then on board offered him to Mr Mendez for 150 Psss of Eight, W* he was to pay him in Curraco wch I heard him agree to on board the sa Sloop at the Havanah before we Saild the danger of the seas excepted
Q* Had Mr Mendez any Permiss11 from the Gov* or any other Offcer of the Havana to bring Away Such A large sum of Money.
Ansr Not that I know or heard of
(P Was M1' Mendez his Chest or any of you Searched by the Officers before you were put on board sa Sloop
Ansr No
Moses Deleon
Mr Aaron Touro on the 5 Bs Moses On Oath in C* gave Answers to the following Questions
(P Was you a Prisn at the Havanah with Mr Mendez
Anr Yes
Q* How long was you Prisn there
Anr Ab* three Months and A half
(P What time did you come out of the Havanah when you were re-leas’d from Prison
Anr About the 12th or 13th of last Month
Q* At what Place in the Havana was you Prisoner
Anr at the More Castle
(P Do you know of Mr Mendez being Supplied with any money whilst he was in the more Castle
Anr Yes
(P With How much
Anr I cant tell the Quantity
(P Did you come on ba the Sloop you were taken in w*h Mr Mendez
Anr Yes
Q* Did Mr Mendez bring any Chest from the Havanah
Ansr Yes two in One of woh I Saw four Baggs of money
Q* Do you know or have you any reason to believe that the sa money was carried on board the Sloop you was taken in by Mr Mendez
Ansr Yes.
Qr Did you see the Money Put into Mr Mendez his Chest
Ansr Yes
Qn Did you go on board immediately with the Chest after you saw the Money Put into it
Anr Yes in about 3 Minutes after
<2* Do you beleive that the two Bags Produced in Court, were two of the Bags you saw in the sa Chest
Anr Yes
<2* What Sort was the Other Bags
Ansr They were Square Baggs One Striped I beleive the other Ozenbrigs. not so long but wider than the Oznbs one Produced in Court
<2 Do you know what Persons Supplied Mr Mendez with the Money
Anr I dont know their names, but know them by sight
Q* How many Person and at how many times did you see money brought to Mr Mendez
Anr By three or 4 Persons at Several times
<2f How much do you think was contained in sa four Bags
Ansr I cant tell
<2f Do you know on what Acco* Mr Mendez had this money
Anr On the Carácter of his father and his Own
<2* Did you understand he Borrowed it
Ansr Yes and gave his note of hand for it
<2* Did you see that note
Ansr I Saw Mr Mendez a writing and heard him talk of giving A note for the money
Q* Did you hear of Mr Mendez’s Giving any other notes
Anr I heard of his giving more notes but was not Present
Q* Do you know of Mr Mendez’s having any Gold neck Buckle or rings or Scissors or Sleeve Buttons, while you were Prisoners together at the More Castle
Ansr Yes
<2* How many of each
Anr he had A Gold neck Buckle five Gold rings A Mumpoz’d ring A Pair of Scissors Set with Silver and A Pr of Sleeve Butt3 set in Silver
Q* Did you ever see Mr Mendez have this gold Neck Buckle at Jamaica
Anr Yes I have seen him ware it these 4 Years at Jamaica
<2* Are you well Acquainted wth Mr Mendez’s father
Ansr Yes
Q* Do you know that he trades largely on the Spanish main and at the South Keyes.
Ansr Yes.
Q* Do you know how long Mr Mendez now in Court has traded to the South Keys
Ansr Yes I have been with him myself three Voyages and known him to have made several Other before
Q* Do you know the Leiut of the More Castle and what was his name
Ansr Yes the last that was there his name was Casteleo and they change them every month
Qet Was you present when the moneys was deliv’d to Mr Mendez
Ansr I was Present Six Times when he reca money
Q* Who was Present when you See him receive sa moneys
Ansr Some times Mr Delyon and Sometimes M1' Prolo
(?* How many Persons deliver’d sa Money
Ansr Six Persons at Six times
Q* Do you know there Names
Ansr One was Mr Ladou the Other Mr Castelo the names of the Others I dont know
Q* What sums did each person severally deliver
Ansr Some that were deliverd were in a bag of about 600 and some of about 200 pss of Eight
How much money did Casteleo deliver to Mr Mendez and how was Mr Mendez to pay him
Ansr he Deliverd a Bag larger than an Oznbrigs bag Produced in Court, and Mr Mendez gave him his note for it
Qf Was Mr Delyon always Present when you see the moneys paid to Mr Mendez
Ansr Yes I think he was to the best of my remembrance
Q* Have you any knowledge of Mr Mendez his claiming A Negro on board the Sloop taken by Cap* Allen
A nsr no.
Q* Was you on board the Same Vessel with Mr Mendez from the time of yr being taken till the time you were brought in here
Ansr Yes
Q* that Mr Mendez a Permission from the Govr of the Havanah or any other Officer to bring away such a large sum of Money
Ansr No, not that I know of
Q* Was Mr Mendez’s Chest or any of you Searched By the Officers before you were put on board sa Sloop
Ansr No.
in what Manner were you carried On board
By A Sergeant and two white men to row the Boat and one to Steer
Q* What was the Occasion of Mr Mendez taking up so much money at the Havana
Ansr As he told me it was to Buy a Sloop at Curraco to go down to Jamaica
Q* How came Mr Castelo to let Mr Mendez who was an English Subject bring away so much money.
Ansr Because he gave him money himself. *
Q* In what Station was you when taken by the Spaniards
Ansr I was to Assist Mr Mendez to sell the Cargo
(A What was you to have for yr Pains
Ansr I was to have wages and Comissa5 for Sales of £1000.
Q* Did Mr Mendez Spend any of sa Moneys
Ansr Yes and Supplied one Mr Prolo w*h 100 Ps. of Eight
Q* Where any of you orderd down in the Hold and who before the Engagm* wth Capta Allen
Ansr Mr Mendez, Mr Delyon Mr Bell myself and a Dutch Boy — and did go down Accord7
This Depon* being required to Subscribe to this evidence refused so to do, Upon the Advocate of Mr Mendez the Claimant’s discovering to him that he had Contradicted himself
The Court was adjournd till 10 A Clock in the Morning
The Court being Open’d According to Adjournm*
The Preparatory Exam5 were read in Court and the Claimat Mendez5 Plea with a Dutch Sea Brief and put in Roll An Oznbrig Bag 17 Inch5 long and five Inches wide
A Guinea Bag 1 if In5 long and Six Inch5 The two bags Before
wide as it lay on the Table me were Measa in Court
wch sa Bags were Swore to in Court
A Question Put by the Judge to the Adv° Gen1 to know who should open and close the Argum* the Captors or Claim*
[Newporth Collony of Rhode
Mr: Honnyman May the 15- — 1744
as you are his Majestys advocate of the vice admyralty for this collony j desire you’ll give me your opinion unther your hand uppon the case now in question
Leonard Lockman
Q If the Appellants upon a Prosecution in a Court of Admiralty on a Libel there Exhibited for condemnation of any Prize, hath according to the Rule and Methods of Proceeding there, a right to open and close the Argument in Behalf of the Appellant, where a Claim and Plea is filed and entered
A. I apprehend that it is the universal Rule and practice, for the appellant’s council to open and close the argument in the case above put
J Honyman adm
(The above document was found among the miscellaneous papers, but since the rearrangement of all the admiralty records, it has not been located.)]
The Advoca*8 on both sides Plead to the Merits The Court was Adjourned till 3 A Clock P M
The Court being Opend Accords to Adjournm*
Cap* Allens Commisn was deliv’d into Court and alla by all Parties Cap* Pichot gave the Names w*h an Acc* of the Owners of the 3 Negroes Viz* One Named Buay A Slave One Named Bentura A Slave One Named Jack A Slave Jack and Buay belonged to Mr Charles Cotterel Bentura belonged to Mr Jesonah Henriquez
Capn Tho. Stodard an Inha* of Ra Island being sworn in Court gave the following Ansrs to these Quest118
Q* Was you ever master of any Vessel to the Havana
Anr Yes.
Q* Is it not always necessary to have a Permiss11 from the Gov“ or other Officers for taking any monys on board at the Havana
Ansr I Always had a Permission for the Quantity of moneys I brought Away woh permiss111 always bro* away with me
Q* Had you any Other Papers as Clearances
Ann I Always had An Order from the Govr to the More Castle from whence I had A Pass wch I alway brough* Away, as Also the Permiss11 for the Money
Q* Did you ever bring any money besides what you had A Permission for
A.nn Yes I have but unknown to the Governor.
Qd Has yr Vessel ever been Searched to find more moneys on board than what was menta in yr Permis11
An71' Yes They came on board and Pulled down my cieling in the Cabin and under the Galibin floor to Search for more money than was menta in my Permiss11
Q# Did you know of any Other Persons bringing Away any that was not in yr Permission
Ann Yes Some of my People
Tho. Stoddard
Mr Dan1 Pickot on Oath Ansa to the following Questions
Qj1 When and where did you first know Mr Mendez
Anr About two Months before he came on board my Sloop
Qn In what Manner and with Whom did he come on board and what did he bring wth him
Ansr he came on board wth one of the Govrs officers and brought wth him two Chests and A bed.
Qn What Bigness was the Chests.
Anr About 3 foot long and 2 f* deep Spanish Chests
Qn Do you know w* was Containd in sa Chests
Anr No.
Qn Did you Observe of w* weight were they
Anr I was not on board when they came on b4
Qn How did you know then they had two Chests On Board
Anr because they told me so when I came on board and I saw them when I came on ba
Qn As you knew Mr Mendez in the Havanah for near two Months as Afores4 do you know of any Credit he had there so as to be Supplyed with any money
Anr Not by any Spaniard but three french Gentlemen Offerd him Credit to the Value of 3 or 4 thous4 Ps of Eight
Qn Do you know whether those Gent1 did furnish him wth any Moneys
A^ No
Qn Have you any knowledge of any Money dd to Mr Mendez in the time of Engagem1 by Mr Cottrel
Anr No.
Qn Did you hear any of the People say after you were taken that there was any Moneys Deliv’d to him in s4 Manner
Anr No
Qn Did you come on board the Sloop before the Canoe went from on board woh brought Mr Mendez and the Other Jews on b4 yr s4 Vessel with their Chests
Anr Yes
Qn Did you ever Sign any bill of Lading or did they Ask you to sign any for their Chests etc.
Anr I never saw any neither is it Customary at Curracoa or the Havanah, nor is it my duty
Qn Where Did you know these Jews
Anr I went to see them at the More Castle
Qn Was Mr Mendez and the Other Jews Prisoners there
Anr Yes
Qn What was the Names of s4 french men that Offer’d to Credit s4 Mendez when was it and how come you by yr knowledge thereof
Anr Mr Davison and two Mr Ladoubles Brothers all the time I was there, I heard them at the Havanah at the Merchts Store House say they would Supply him wth what moneys he wanted and I see them go Several nights to see the sa Mendez at the More Castle
Daniel Pichot
The Court Was Adjourned till friday the 18 Morning at 11 A Clock and open’d Accordingly at which time The Judge gave the following Decree
The Advocates for the Captors Mr Honeyman and Mr Ward moved for an Appeal to that Part of the Decree that concerns Mr Mendez’s Interest and Claim Which was Granted they Complying with the Law Provided in that Case,
A Bond was given by the Captors for 3200 Dollars, which bond was cancell’d after the expiration of the time Limited by the Judge
[Admiralty Papers, II,. 75]
May the 18a 1744
Newport Collony of Rhode Island Uppon the libel to me exhibited by Capt: James Allen Commander of the Sloop Revenge a private man of war for himself his owners and company aginst the sloop fortune her Guns stores Riggings Tackle apperrel and furniture and her Cargo, consisting of about seven hundred Hides about Thirteen Thousand Dollars a quantity of wrought and coined gold and sundry other goods and merchandizes and also three negro slaves namely Buoy-Benture and Jack, Proper munition being isiued there appaired tow Claiments.
the first is mr: Daniel Pishout the nominal Capt: of the sloop fortune in behalf of.Mesrs Coterel la fosse Jesonah fleurique and Charles coterel and declares that the sy’d sloop fortune her Tackle guns stores Riggings apperrel furniture and her cargo consisting of hides monneys gold and silver and other goods and merchandizes and three negro slaves are the property and interest of the sy’d coterel la fosse Jesonah fleurique and Charles coterel, the second is mr: Isaac Mendez who Claims as his own property and estate fifteen hundred and twenty milled peices of Eight or Dollars one gold neck buckle one wrought three stoned and tow plain gold rings one pair of sisser overlayd with silver and one pair of stone sleive buttons set in silver
having carefully examined the preparatory examinations and given due attantions to the pleas of the advocates on all sides, it appaires very plainly to me that the gold neck buckle one wrought three stoned and tow plain gold rings one pair of sissers over laid with silver and one pair of stoned sleive buttons sed in silver are the proper estate of the aforesy’d Isaac Mendez, and as the sy’d Mendez is a subject of our sovering Lord the King I order and decree that the above mentioned gold neck buckle one wrought three stoned and tew plain gold rings one pair of sissers overlaid with silver and one pair of stoned sleive buttons set in silver be forth with delivered to the sy’d Isaac Mendez
as to the fifteen hundred and twenty milled peices of Eight or Dollars by him also claimed it is with me very doubtful and in order to come to the truth thereof I order and decree that the before mentioned sixteen hundred and twenty milled peices of Eight or Dollars remain in the hands of the Captors they giving security of the sume of Thirty tow hundred and forty peices of Eight or Dollars to the Claiment mr: Isaac Mendez that if he the sy’d Isaac Mendez shal within the space of one year and a day after the date here of produce the orriginal notes and bills of Exchange by him att the Havanna given for monny to him lent for his own risque and property and produce sufficient proyf thereof and not only sent by him to purchase goods or merchandizes to be sent to the Havanna or any other placé that then the fifteen hundred and twenty peices of Eight or Dollars shal be delivered to the sy’d Isaac Mendez or his assings. but in default thereof to be condemed as good and Lawful prize for the use of the Captors to be divided as they amongst themselfs have agreed
mr: Daniel Pichot the Nominal Capt: of the Sloop in question declaires that the Sloop fortune and her cargo is the property of Coterel de la fosse Jesonah fleurique and Charles Coterel al of curacoa within the dominions of their High and mighty Lord the States Generals of the united provinces to make out his claim he produces a pass sined att curacoa and a muster rol of 14 hands in all but all Spanish and french, when the sloop fortune comes from the Havanna she has thirty hands all Spanish and french and the true Capt or commender appairs namely mr: Coterel an inhabitant of the Havanna as soon as Capt James Allen appaired this last and true Capt: takes uppon him the command and immediately gives orders to get everything in readines in order to fight and engage the sy’d Allen and take him if he could though unther English collours and accordingly as soon as he could make his Guns bear uppon him he gave for that porpues the nessesarie orders he so well succided therein that in the third or fourt shot he actually Killed Capt: James Allens Gunner the aforesy’d Coterel having all this time dutch col-lours but finding at last that Capt: Allen was too strong for him he submitted but flings all the papers over board, by which it would have appaired plain enough that the aforesy’d sloop and cargo was the Sole property of Spanish subjects the rules laid down by the King in council in the year 1664 and 1672 for adjudication of prizes to be observed by the High coart of admiralty that where any Ship met with by any of his Majesty’s Royal Navy or other Ship commissioned by his authority shal fight or make resistance or any of the ships company shal throw away any of the papers there by to clear her or her goods or any of them the sy’d ship and goods shal be condemned as good and Lawful prize, accordingly I decree and condem the Sloop fortune togither with all her appertenances and her Cargo and the before men tioned 3 negro slaves as lawful Prize to the Sloop Revenge to be devided amogst the Captors as they shal thinck fit the Captors paying cost of the Court as in the like casse the law directs
Leonard Lockman
[Admiralty Papers, II, 79]
Colony of Rhode Island. Court of Vice Admiralty Whereas James Allen Commr of the Sloop Revenge A Private man of war hath this day Presented his Petition to this Court thereby requesting that the Pieces of Eight Claimed by one Isaac Mendez of Jamaica on board of A Sloop called the fortune which was condemned as Spanish Property, and for which sa Monies an interlocutory order was given that the sa Monies should remain in the Captors hands and that they should give Bond for the delivery of the same to the sa Isaac Mendez upon his Producing the Original Bills and Notes by him given to Prove his Property to the sa Monies within a twelve month and A Day. Now the said Limitted time being expired and the said Mendez having Produced no such Bills or Notes, I therefore Order the said Bonds given by the Captors to be cancel’d and the sa Money to be divided Amongst the Captors and Owners as they Amongst themselves have agreed. Mr. Henry Bull paying the Double Cost of Court according to Enactment.
Leonard Lockman
[Admiralty Papers, II, 80]