Jamaica ss. To His Honor Edward Webley Esquire Chief Justice of his Majesty's Supreme Court of Judicature in the said Island
The Request of Joseph Fitch of the Town of Kingston Merchant on behalf of Robert Sands late Master and Commander of the Sloop called the Cornelia and Nathan Bull late Master and Commander of the Sloop called the Dove both now prisoners in the Custody of Admiral Clarke Gayton Esquire and so detained by him on board his Majesties Ship called the Antelope under his Command in the Harbour of Port Royal.
Humbly sheweth That the said Joseph Fitch on behalf of the said Robert Sands and Nathan Bull did between the Hours of Eleven and Twelve of the Clock in the forenoon of the thirteenth Instant apply personally unto the said Admiral Clarke Gayton Esquire at the Admirals penn in the parish of Kingston and demanded from him a Copy of the Warrant of Committment and Detainer of the said prisoners.
That the said Admiral Clarke Gayton did then acknowledge and declare that the said Robert Sands and Nathan Bull then were prisoners in his Custody and detained by him on Board the said Ship called the Antelope under his Command and that he did so detain them in his Custody by Virtue of his Orders or Instructions or to that Effect but positively refused to deliver to the said Joseph Fitch any Copy of such orders or Instructions or of any Warrant whereby he detained the said Robert Sands and Nathan Bull prisoners as aforesaid as by the Affidavit hereunto annexed more fully appears. ー
The said Joseph Fitch on the Behalf of the said Robert Sands and Nathan Bull doth therefore humbly request of Your Honor to award and Grant his Majesties Writ of Habeas Corpus upon the Statute of the Thirty first Year of King Charles the Second to be directed to the said Admiral Clarke Gayton Esquire returnable immediate before your Honor to have the Bodies of them the said Robert Sands and Nathan Bull before your Honor together with the Cause of their Caption and Detention to the End that Your Honor may examine the Legality thereof and do thereupon what to Justice and Right shall Appertain
Made and delivered in
the prese[n]ce of |
E. Bowman |
| James Davis. |
[Endorsed] Let Writs of Habeas Corpus cum causa issue returnable before me immediate
Edwd Webley January 16, 1776.
