This Charter party made the 14th day of Feby in the year 1776 ー Between Joseph Hewes Esqr of North Carolina Mercht one of the Owners of the Brigantine Fanny Captain [blank] of the Burthen of 150 Tons or thereabouts now lying in York River Virginia, the said Jos Hewes being now present in the City of Philada of the One part And Saml Ward, B. Franklyn, Thos McKean, Josiah Batlet [Bartlett], Jno Alsop, Francis Lewis, Robt Alexander & Robt Morris Esquires a Secret Committee appointed by the Honble the Contintal Congress, of the other part Witnesseth, That the said Jos. Hewes for the Considerations hereinafter mentioned, hath hired & hereby doth hire & let to Freight the sd Brigantine unto the Secret Committee aforesaid, for a Voyage to be by her performed in the Service of the United American Colonies, from York River in Virginia aforesaid to any Port or Ports, place or Places in Europe & from thence back to some Convenient Port in the United Colonys, and the said Jos. Hewes Esqr doth hereby agree that the said Brigt shall be Tight, stiff, Strong & Staunch, well & sufficiently fitted, found, Victualed & Manned for this Voyage & that the Owners of sd Brigt shall pay all charges & expences accruing or arising on said Brigt during this Voyage except such Port Charges as shall be hereinafter Specified to be paid by Said Freightors, also that the Master, Mate & Mariners shall at every Port & place give the customary assistance in taking in or dicharging Goods & otherways perform the Duties of their respective stations with proper dilligence & dispatch And it is further agreed by the said Jos. Hewes Esqr That the said Brigt shall receive onboard in Virginia aforesaid a full Loading of Tobacco & other Produce of that Colony from the agent or Factor of sd Secret Committee & when loaden therewith the Master shall set sail & proceed with said Brigt & Cargo for such Port or Place in Europe as the said agent or Factor may direct & there deliver the said Cargo to the Consignee mentioned in the bills of Loadg which the Master is to sign for the Cargo, unless sd Consignee shall direct him to proceed to some other port or place to deliver the same, which orders he is bound to obey & fulfill, and further when the said Cargo of Virginia Produce shall be so delivered, the Master of said Brigt shall receive onboard the said Brigt any Goods, Wares, Merchandize arms, & ammunition that the Agent or Factors of the said Secret Committee or any other persons on their behalf, either at the Port where the outward Cargo is Landed or at any other Port or place in the World that may be ordered & the said Master is to Ballast his Vessell If required & Proceed therewith to any Port or Ports, place or places to receive such par[s]ells of Goods as may be ordered onboard even to the full Loadg of sd Brigt the said Master to grant bills of Loadg for all Goods he receives onbd and when dispatched by the Agents or Factors of said Committee he is to set sail & proceed with all Care & dilligence for this Coast of North America, getting as soon as can be into some safe Port or place between Connecticut and North Carolina agreable to such instructions as will be given the sd Master by sd Committee their Agent or Factors. In Consideration whereof the said Saml Ward, B.F., Thos McKean, Josiah Bartlet, Jno Alsop, F.Lewis, R.Alexander & R Morris Esquires do in behalf of the United Colonys Covenant and agree that they will pay or cause to be paid unto the said Jos. Hewes Esqr His Heirs, Exrs or assignees, the Monthly hire or freight of four hundred Spanish Dollars for every Month the said Brigantine shall be employed in this Voyage which said hire shall Commence on the day, when the said Brigt first begins to receive onboard her Loadg in Virginia which shall be ascertained by a Certificate jointly signed by the Master & Agent or Factor employed to Load her & shall Continue untill the day after said Brigt shall have delivered her homeward Cargo in some Port or place of the United Colonys or if she returns in Ballast untill the day after her arrival in such port or place unless the said Brigt shall happen to be lost, sunk, taken Seized or destroyed before such arrival & in that case the Monthly hire shall Cease on the day such loss, sinking, taking Seizure or destroying happens ー and Further the sd Secret Committee do agree to pay all Port Charges that may accrue or arise on said Brigt at any & every Port or place she may be ordered to, except in Virginia the Port of Loading, and her Port of discharge in Europe, likewise is excepted her discharging Port on her return to America ー
It is also mutually agreed that said Brigantine with all her Tackle & apparel Boats &c shall be valued and she is hereby valued at the sum of Four thousand Six hundred Spanish milled dollars which sum the said Committee do hereby insure to the said Owners against any Capture or seizure of the said Brigantine that may be made by the Enemies of the said united Colonies or in any other manner whatsoever, agreeing to pay them the said Owners over and above the said monthly hire the said Amount of Four thousand Six hundred Spanish milled dollars if it shall so happen that, the said Briga is Seized or taken as aforesaid
For the true performance of all and Singular the Covenants & agreements aforesaid, the said parties do mutually bind themselves each to the other in the Penal Sum of three thousand Pounds Pennsylvania currency to be paid by the party defaulting to the party complying.
In Witness
