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Letter of Marque – The Benson Galley (1744)

National Archives ref: HCA 26/4/83

Transcribed by David Carter 2022

[Spelling remains verbatim. All paragraphs and punctuation added by the transcriber.]

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Catalogue Entry:

HCA 26 - High Court of Admiralty: Prize Court: Registers of Declarations for Letters of Marque
Subseries within HCA 26 - Against France
HCA 26/4 - Letters of Marque

Ship: Benson Galley
Commander: Richard Vernam
Burden: 300 tons
Crew: 100
Owners: Thomas Benson of Northam near Bideford, Devon
Lieutenant: Joseph Hancock
Gunner: James Philips
Boatswain: John Harris
Carpenter: Thomas Trimmer
Surgeon: Thomas Cooper
Cook: John Benny
Armament: 26 guns
Folio: 107
Date:    1744 May 19

Reference:    National Archives HCA 26/4/83
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9669175

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Transcript:

19 May 1744

Appeared personally George Gibbs and on behalf of Captain Richard Vernam now at Biddeford in the County of Devon.

And produced a warrant from the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of Great Brittain and Ireland &c, for the granting of a Commission or Letter of Marque to him the said Captain Richard Vernam.

And in pursuance of his Majestys Instructions to Privateers amde the following Declaration to wit:

That his, the said Captain Richard Vernam's Ship, is called the Benson Gally, and is of the Burthen of about three hundred tons.

That he, the said Captain Richard Vernam, goeth Commander of her.

That she can carry Twenty Six Guns, One hundred men, one hundred twenty small arms, one hundred twenty Cutlases, Ten Barrels of Powder, Forty Rounds of Great Shott, and about Five hundred weight of small shott.

That the said ship is Victualed for Twelve Months, has Two Suits of Sails, Four Anchors, Four 
Cables, and about Ten hundred weight of Spare Cordage.

That Joseph Hancock goes Lieutenant, James Philips gunner, John Harris boatswain, Tho[ma]s Trimmer carpenter, John Benny cook, and Thomas Cooper surgeon of the said Ship, and That Thomas Benson Esquire of Northam near Biddeford in the said County of Devon is the Owner and Setter out of the said ship.

[Signed]: Geo[rge] Gibbs
On the same day this declaration was made before me: Rob[er]t Chapman surrogate.

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