Province of New York
Court of Vice Admiralty

To the Worshipfull Robert Bayard Esquire Judge of the Court of Vice Admiralty for the Province of New York—

John Tabor Kempe Esquire his Majesty's Advocate General for the Province of New York at and by the relation of Cornthwaite Ommaney Esquire Captain and Commander of his Majesty's Ship of War the Tartar on behalf of himself, Hyde Parker Junior Esquire Captain and Commander of his Majesty's Ship of War the Phoenix, Andrew Snape Hamond Esquire Captain and Commander of his Majesty's Ship of War the Roebuck, and the other Officers and Crews of the said Ships of War, and all others interested therein comes here into this Court of Vice Admiralty this Eighteenth day of March in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and Seventy eight—And by the relation aforesaid give the Court here to understand and be informed that on or about the tenth day of October in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy six in Hudson's River in the Province of New York hereinafter mentioned on the high Seas and within the Jurisdiction of this honorable Court they the said Cornthwaite Ommaney, Hyde Parker, and Andrew Snape Hamond with his Majesty's said Ships then under their respective Commands did pursuant to the Statute in such Case lately made and provided seize and take a certain Gally or Vessel called the Crane¹ of the burthen of about Forty Tons armed with Cannon the Master's Name whereof is unknown² (the Crew having deserted and left her) together with her Apparel and Furniture and have brought the same into this Port of New York in order to have the same legally adjudged—For that the said Galley or Vessel and the Apparel and Furniture thereof and every thing else on board the said Vessel seized and taken as aforesaid at the time of the said Capture and Seizure belongs to some Person or Persons Inhabitants of the Colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusets Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, the three lower Counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia or of some or one of the said Colonies. Whereby and by force of the Statute in such Case lately made and provided the said Galley or Vessel with all her Apparel and Furniture is become forfeited to his Majesty as if the same were the Vessel and Effects of open Enemies—And by reason of the Premises and by Virtue of the said Statute in such Case lately made and provided the sole Interest and Property of and in the said Galley or Vessel with her Apparel and Furniture and every thing else on board the said Vessel liable to Forfeiture as aforesaid (the same being first adjudged lawful Prize pursuant to the Statute aforesaid) is granted to and vested in his Majesty's Flag Officers commanding in his Fleet in North America, the said Cornthwaite Ommaney, Hyde Parker, Andrew Snape Hamond, and in the other commissioned Officers of his Majestys said Ships of War, and the Seamen, Marines, and Soldiers on board the same to be divided among them in such Proportions and after such manner as his Majesty hath been pleased to direct by his royal Proclamation in pursuance of the said Statute in such Case lately made and provided. Wherefore the said Advocate General at and by the relation aforesaid humbly prays that by the Decree and Sentence of this honorable Court the said Galley or Vessel the Crane her Apparel and Furniture and every thing else on board the same liable to Forfeiture may be adjudged and condemned as lawful Prize pursuant to the said Statute in such Case lately made and provided to be divided as aforesaid among the Captors and all others lawfully interested therein by reason of the Premises—