[Cape Fear, April 1, 1776]
No Carolina ss. At a Court of Vice Admiralty held at Cape Fear in the said Province before his Honour James Elletson Bowen Esquire Surrogate of the said Court the first day of April 1776. Francis Parry Esqr. Commander of his Majesty's Sloop Cruizer now lying in Cape Fear River in the said Province on behalf of himself and the officers Seamen and others on board the said Sloop Cruizer Libells against the Ship America being a Vessell of the burthen of One hundred and thirty Tons or thereabouts, and against all the Owners and other parties concerned therein. For that the said Vessell was by the said Fr,:tncis Parry found out and detected in a breach of the Acts of Trade, having on board three Hhds of foreign Rum as well as Sundry other Goods contrary to Law and also for that the said Ship America is become forfeited in Consequence of a late Act of Parliament made in the Second Session of the fourteenth Parliament of Great Britain and was taken since the first day of January last past Whereby the said Vessel or Ship called the America with all her Tackle, furniture, Boats and Apparel together with all her Cargo or Lading and every thing on board of her are become forfeited in Law. Filed upon the Motion of Mr Macknight wmCampbell Register
1. PRO, Admiralty 1/3680.