This Agreement or Charter party made between Nicholas Cooke Esquire of Providence Owner of the Sloop Diamond burdened Eighty Seven Tons and two thirds of the One Part and John Jenckes of said ProvidenceMerchant who acts in this Matter (together with the said Nicholas Cooke) for and in Behalf of the State of Rhode Island &c of the other Part Witnesseth That the said Nicholas Cooke hath letter unto Freight to the said John Jenckes for the Use of said State the aforesaid Sloop for a Voyage from said Providence to the West-Indies and back and that the said Nicholas Cooke shall be at the Expence of keeping her in good and customary Repair during the Voyage.2 In Consideration whereof the said John Jenckes on the Part of said State shall pay unto the said Nicholas Cooke for the Hire ofsaid Sloop at and after the Rate of Seven Shillings and Six Pence lawful Money a Ton by the Month for the whole Time shall be in performingsaid Voyage to be computed from this Day until she shall be returned backand redelivered to the said Nicholas Cooke And the said John Jenckes inBehalf of said State shall wholly risque said Sloop in all Cases and in Caseof Loss shall pay to the said Nicholas Cooke Eighteen Hundred Dollars forher with Interest from this Time but in such Case shall not pay any HireMoney And further in such Case of Loss the said John Jenckes for sdState shall be at the Expence of all Repairs from this Time.Witness the Hands and Seals of the Parties interchangeably
September the Second 1776
Nichs Cooke John Jenks
Witness John Dexter Jona Jenks Junr
1. Maritime Papers, Revolutionary War, 1776-1778, R.I. Arch.
2. The Diamond, William Waterman, master, cleared Providence September 10, 1776, "for the Foreign Islands in the West Indies, " with a cargo of "500 bbls Flour, 40 bbls PickledFish, 5000 Bunches Onions and 100 Boxes Sperma Coeti Candles." Account of Permissions granted by his Honor the Governor, R.I. Arch. The voyage was to Martinique, and a receipt on the back of the agreement shows an undated payment to Nicholas Cooke of £600 by the State Treasurer when the voyage was completed.
