Nova Scotia Court of Vice Admiralty

Cause Captn [John] Burr Commander of his Majestys Ship the Milford ー VS John Gray Master of the Sloop Britania and Cargo ー

May 13th [sic 16] Court Open'd by makeing Proclamation as usual ー Decree Pronounc'd as follows ー

In the Name of God Amen

We Richard Bulkeley Esqr Judge and Commissary of his Majestys Court of Vice Admiralty for the Province of Nova Scotia and the Maritime parts thereunto belonging &c &c &c ー

Haveing maturely consider'd the Allegations against a certain Sloop called the Britania and her Cargo seiz'd & taken by Captn Burr Commander of his Majestys Ship the Milford² libell'd in this court by William Nesbitt Esqr his Majestys Advocate General in the said Court for and on the behalf as well of the said Captn Burr as on the behalf of his Majesty who therein alledgd that the said Sloop was own'd by some one of the Inhabitants of his Majestys Colonies now in open Rebellion, & that in open violation of an Act of Parliament made and pass'd in the 16 year of his present Majestys Reign, one John Gray Master of said Sloop Britannia was found trading or on a pretended voyage to one of the said Rebellious Colonies without any Papers on Board laden with wood And the Allegations so set forth in the Libel aforesaid haveing been fully proved to us by Evidence Sworne and examined before the Register of our said Court by our special Order for that purpose & all Persons claiming property in the said Sloop & Cargo haveing been by due Process notified & Cited to appear and assert their Claims to the said Sloop & Cargo haveing failed so to do ー We do Pronounce this our Sentence & decree therein as follows. We adjudge & decree the said Sloop Britania, her Boats, Tackle and furniture as also her Cargo on board to be lawfull prize to the Capters thereof, and we do Condemn the same as such accordingly and do order the same to be delivered to the Agent or Agents for the said Captn. Burr his Officers & Crew to be divided in such Proportions & after such manner as his Majesty has or shall think fit to Order and direct by his Royal Proclamation or Proclamations issued or hereafter to be Issued for that purpose ー

Given under our hand & the Seal of the said Court this 16 Day of May A.D. 1776 and in the 16 year of his Majestys reign ー