Articles of Agreement made and concluded on in the Town of Boston State [of] Massachusetts Bay, between the Owners, Captain, Officers and Mariners of the Ship General Hancock. Ishmael Hardy. commander for a Three Months Cruize against the Enemies of the United States of America.—

1. The Owners do covenant forthwith to fit for Sea, the said Ship with Twenty carriage Guns, and all other Stores tting for a three months Cruize. Also a Sufficient Chest of Medicines.—

2. The Owners shall be intituled to One half the neat proceeds of all prizes that shall be taken during the Cruize, and the other half of neat proceeds shall be divided among the Ships Company in the following proportions VIZT—— Captain, eight Shares, first Lieutenant five shares, second Lieutenant, four Shares, Master & Surgeon four each, Captain of Marines & Prize masters three Shares each, Gunner, Boatswain, Carpenter, Masters mates, Master at Arms, Captains Clerk & Steward, Two Shares each, Quarter Masters One & a quarter Shares each; Cooper, Gunner’s, Boatswain’s & Carpenter’s Mates, One & a half Shares each, Cook, One & half Shares each, Each Gentleman Volunteer one Share, and every Boy one half Share. There shall be eight deserving Shares which will be distributed among those that the Captain shall think merit the same. 3. All Officers shall be appointed by the Captain only, who shall have the power to displace such as he finds unfit.

4. The Captain shall have full power to direct the Cruize as he thinks proper.

5. Disobedience to the Commands of the Captain or principal Officers, Cowardice, Mutiny or Embezzelment of Goods, to be punished according to Law.

6. If any man shall get drunk in time of action, [or] in Chace, he shall forfeit the One half of his Prize money, to the rest of the Ships Company.

7. If any man loses a Leg or an Arm in time of Action, he shall receive the sum of Four hundred dollars. If any man loses a Joint or an Eye in time of Action, he shall receive the sum of One hundred dollars Whoever boards a Vessel, before she strikes shall receive the sum of Thirty dollars as a Reward for his Bravery. Whoever sees a sail first, which may after prove a Prize, shall receive Ten dollars, which several rewards shall be paid One half Out of the Ships Company. The other half out of the Owners part.

8. The Officers and Marines that shall be put onboard any Prize, shall exert themselves to carry the same into such Port as the Captain shall direct, and not leave such Prize, until she be moored forty eight hours: Also those that may return with the Privateer shall be under the same restriction; and in case of failure, his or their whole Prize money to be forfeited to the rest of the Ships Company.

9. To prevent lumbering & discommoding the Ship not more than One Chest will be allow’d to every six men.

10. No man shall be allow’d to sell more than One half of his Prize money, before he returns from his Cruize.

11. In Case of the Captain’s Death, then the Command of the Ship shall devolve to the next in command.

12. If any person or persons should attempt to break up the Cruize, before the expiration of the time, above mention’d, without the consent of the three principal Officers, he or they shall forfeit their whole shares or share.

13. If any Officer, Prize master or Private man, shall purchase any article whatever from onboard any prize or prizes, that may be taken during the Cruize, from the Captain, Passengers, or any person onboard said Prize or Prizes, without the express leave of the Captain of the Privateer, or the Owners, he or they shall forfeit what they shall so purchase, or the value thereof to be taken out of his or their Prize money.—

We the subscribers do promise faithfully to discharge our Duties according to our several Stations, and not to leave the Ship at any time during the Cruize without leave had from the Commanding Officer onboard, and in case of failure the sum of Five hundred pounds to be forfeited to the use of the Ships Company, to be recovered by the Captain in any Court of Justice proper to try the same.