
    
      Prince Frederick vs. St. Fermin, 1744
   At A Court of Vice Admy held at Newport on Wednesday the 12a day of Septemr 1744 in order to take the Preparatory Examinations

Before the HonbIe Leonard Lockman Esqr Judge

John Dennis Corn1, of the Sloop Prince Frederick a Private man of war on oath in Court gave Answers to these Questions

Questn ist When and where did you take the Snow brought in here by you as Prize

Ansr at an Anchor near the florida Keys on the twenty fifth of August last or thereabouts

Quest" How many hands were there on board at the time of Capture and of what Nation were they

Ansr Two One Spaniard and A negro the Others made their escape on Shore in their Boats

Ques* What papers did you find on board her at the time of Capture

Ansr I found none of any kind

Questn What Burthen and how many Guns had she

Ansr About 140 Tons, no Guns

Questn What did her Cargo Consist of

Ansr Chiefly flower, some Copper some Soap and two chests of Mettle the Quality I know not John Dennis

To the truth of the within Evidence Mr John Calder Capts Quar Master on board the Sloop Prince Frederick was sworn John Calder

To the truth of which Mr Philemon Saunders Companys Quar Master was likewise sworn Philemon Sanders

Mr Dan11 Morehead was Sworn Spanish Interpreter Francisco Antonio Santia Del Gauda Captain of the Snow S4 Fermín alias Bretania, A Spanish Snow brought into this Port by Cap4 John Dennis as Prize on Oath in Court gave Answers to the following Questions

Ques* ist When where and by whom was this snow taken which is brought in here as Prize

Ansr the 5th day of Sepr N. S. near the florida Keys by Cap4 John Dennis,

Questn How long have you known her

Ansr About Eight months and a half

Ques* Who did she then belong to

Ansr To the King of Spain

Ques* Who Commanded her then

Ansr Myself

Ques* Who did she belong to at the time of Capture

Ansr To Don Bernardo Olavares on Inhabitant of Lavera Cruz formerly but now gone as an Officer in the King of Spains Service to Cartagena

Questn What Papers had you on board at the time of Capture and what became of them.

Ansr In the Hurry of My Peoples escaping and endeavouring to save what they could, they carried all my Papers away among the Rest my Pasport

Quest. Of what Burthen is this Snow how many men and Guns had she when taken

Ansr About 148 Tons myself and A negro and no Guns Twenty Sailors and Passengers made their Escape all subjects of the king of Spain

Quest. What does your Cargo Consist

Ansr Flower Soap Shoes Copper Sweat meats Mettles and other trifles

Quest. Who did yr Cargo belong to

Ansr It belongs to Don Bernardo Olavares and myself both Subjects of the King of spain

Questn Is the Negroe brought in with you A Slave

Ansr No he is A freeman but comitted some heinous crime for which he was sent away Fran00 Ana0 Sanchez Dilgasds

At a Court of Vice Admy held at Newport in the Colony of Rhode Island on Saturday the 22d day of Septr A D: i743[4] at 3 Ó Clock P: M. Before the Honble Leond Lockman Esqr Judge

The Court being Open’d the Libel Monition and Preparatory Examn being read

The Cap* Frans Antonio Santiaz Delgad Presented A Petition to the Judge Requesting a Speedy determination

The Court was Adjourned without time

Newport Sepr 24th 1744

Colony of Rhode Island etc. It is very plain by the Evidence of Francis Antonio Santia Delgad late Commander of the Snow St. Fermín alias Britania, that the sd Snow Cargo and Negro were the Property of the King of Spain his Vassals and Subjects and therefore I condemn the same as lawfull Prize to the Captors and Owners to be divided as they amongst themselves have agreed and such goods as cannot be divided to be sold by William King Marshall for this Present Court Only The Captors Paying Cost as in that Case the Law Directs

Leonard Lockman  