Minuted on a twelve stivers Stamp

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On this 28^th. day of October 1777, Before me Adam Schadee, Notary Publick, Sworn and admitted, residing in the City of Rotterdam, and Witnesses afternamed, personally appeared, Capt^n. William Bray, late master of the sloop Called the Chester, being of Competent age, and did attest in behalf of whom it may Concern, and to Serve and avail as occasion may require; that he the said deponent with the said sloop, in the bay of Honduras being laden with a Cargo of Beefhides, fustick, Logwood, Pimento and sundry small articles, sailed out of said bay to sea on the 26^th. of April of this year 1777, bound to this port of Rotterdam.

That in prosecution of his said intended Voyage on the 28^th. of May following off the Havana, he was brought too by a Letter of Marque ship Called the Union, Commanded by Capt. Hamilton, and belonging to London, from Jamaica bound to NewYork, who having overhawled his the deponents papers, discharged him, and supplied him with a Cask of Water and some Sugar, and that he Deponent kept Company with her through the Gulf of Florida,—and parted with her on the 3^d. day of June in the Latitude of 29 deg^s. 25 min^s. North, and in Longitude 77 deg^s. 43 min^s. West from London.

That on the 13^th. of said month of June he was Obliged to put into the Island of Bermudas, to take on board some provisions and Water, and sailed from thence on the next day on his intended Voyage; That soon after, and even whilst he had the Bermudas Pilot on board, he was brought too on the South West End of the said Island of Bermudas by two American Privateers, lying at an anchor there, being two Brigantines, the one Called the Fair American, mounting twenty Guns and about fifty men, the other the Experiment, mounting twelve Guns and about forty men, Commanded by Charles and Francis Morgans Brothers, both belonging to Charlestown in South Carolina, who took the Pilot out of his said Sloop, and ordered him to bring too between them both, which being done, they kept the Said Sloop betwixt them till the 17^th. when they took him Deponent and his whole Ships Company (except his mate) being Eight in number, out of the said sloop, and placed him deponent and seven of his men on board of the fair American Privateer, and the Eighth man on board of the Experiment, and kept onely the Mate of the said sloop, being a Dutchman, and Called Michiel Steenblank, on board of her; that directly after they put the prizemaster on board of the said sloop, mann'd her; and sent her up to Charlestown aforesaid, notwithstanding he deponent argued very much against it, and showed them a document, by which it was plainly proved, that both the sloop and her Cargo were Dutch property, and belonged and were Consigned to M^r. Anthony Ameloo, merchant at Rotterdam, which document they sent in the sloop to Charlestown aforesaid.

That thereupon the two Privateers with him deponent and the beforementioned Eight men of his Ship’s Company on board, steered for S^t. Eustatia, where they arrived on the fifth or sixth day of the month of July last past, and would not allow him deponent or any one of his Ship’s Company to go on shore, (except ones on the 14^th. or 15^th., when he deponent was allowed to go on shore to take a walk with the first and Second Lieutenant of the Fair American Privateer, by whom he was guarded all the time,) but kept them all on board of the privateers till the 18^th. of said month of July at night, at least one hour after Sunset, when the Privateers weighed Anchor and made Sail, and after making three or four tacks, brought a shoreboat too, which was plying there, and put him deponent and three of his Ship’s Company, viz^t. his Boatswain, a Portuguese and two of his Seamen, one being an Englishman and the other an Irishman, in the boat, and sent them on shore, and kept one of his the deponent's seamen against his inclination on board of the Privateers the fair American, Charles Morgan, the Commander of said Privateer telling him "you are a Dutchman, and too valuable a young Lad to part with you, and you may as well fight for the Americans as for the English” and the remainder of his deponent's ship's Company (being three Irishmen and one Rotterdammer, Called Hermanus Hubregts) having voluntarily Entered on board of the Privateers.

That at about Eight o Clock that night, he deponent and his said three men Came on Shore at S^t. Eustatia, where he deponent staid till the twentieth, when he Sailed from thence in the Passage boat to the Island of S^t. Christopher's, where he arrived the same day, and from whence he took his departure on the first of August last past in an English Ship, Called the Venus, John Smith Commander, of and for London, in a Large fleet of English ships under Convoy of four English men of war, and arrived in London, some time this month of October, and on the twenty seventh in this City. And Lastly he Deponent did attest, that Peter Theodore van Teÿlingen, Esq^r. bought the said sloop Chester upwards of fifteen months ago in Black River on the Musquito Coast, and he deponent sailed in her in his service ever since, till she was taken, and that in the beginning of this year one thousand seven hundred seventy seven, a proper proof of the Said Sloop and her said Cargo, being Dutch property, and belonging to the beforementioned M^r. Anthony Ameloo as aforesaid, hath been made, and Sworn to in the bay of Honduras, before an English Judge in Said bay, and also that the said sloop Chester, from the time of her departure out of said bay, till the time of her being taken as aforesaid, never hoisted any other but Dutch Colours, and had Dutch Colours hoisted, at the time of her being seized by said Privateers. Wherefore he this deponent in name of himself and his ship’s Company, and also in name of the said M^r. Anthony Ameloo, and all others anyways Concerned in the said sloop Chester and her Cargo, did and doth hereby solemnly protest against the said Charles and Francis Morgan, and their Ship’s Companys, and all others Concerned, for all Losses, damages, detriments, Costs, Charges and expenses, allready had, suffered and sustained, and, yet to be had suffered and sustained, on account of the seizure and detention of the said Sloop and her Cargo, to be recovered in time and place Convenient. Proffering to make Solemn Oath to the Contents hereof, if thereto required.¹

Thus done and protested in Rotterdam aforesaid in the presence of Abraham Sevenbergen and Rýnart Frier, Witnesses the minute hereof is duly signed, quod attestor (Signed) LS Adam Schadee 1777. Not^s. Pub^s. & Translator.

Jurat

In Court of the Gentlemen Commissioners of the Maritime Laws of the City of Rotterdam, appeared Capt^n. William Bray late Master of the sloop Called the Chester, deponent herein mentioned, who made Solemn Oath on the Holy Evangelists of Allmighty God, by us to him Lawfully administred, after having said affidavit Clear and distinctly read to him, by Adam Schadee, Notary Publick and Sworn English Translator at this City, that all the Contents of said affidavit, are in all points just and true, and that he deponent did persist therein. So help him God. Done at Rotterdam this 29^th. day of October 1777.

This is a true Copy of the Original Affidavit Protest and Jurat, attested by me Notary Publick and Sworn English Translator at the City of Rotterdam, this 30^th. day of October 1777

Adam Schadee   

1777. Not^s: Pub^s: & Translator