New York Court of Vice Admiralty 19 February 1779

The St Andrew vs the Ranger

In a bundle of nine unnumbered documents, four court papers, five ship papers, relating to the sloop "Ranger", John Ingham, master a vessel of 20 tons and carrying a cargo of salt, and her capture by the privateer "St Andrew", Simon Donnell commander on 19 Feb 1779.
NY Court of Vice Admiralty: Simon Donnel v the Ranger
Court papers:
These documents set out an interesting story. The "Ranger" was taken off Cape Charles because she was found voyaging from Bermuda to Virginia, her master, John Ingham being a Bermudan and a British subject. She sailed from Bermuda and picked up her cargo of salt at Turks Island. Her owners were Bermudans and british subjects and entered an answer and claim agianst libel of Simon Donnell alleging that owing to the dread threat of famine int he Bermudas, the Gov James Bruere issued a license to the Ranger to proceed to Virginiaa to beg for provisions to save the population from starvation and to take a cargo of salt from Turks Island in payment. The final court document is an appeal against the condemnation of the Ranger.
Ships papers:
These include the register for the Ranger dated 8 Jul 1778 (very delapidated and needing repair) and a clearance dated 4 Jan 1778 for Turks Island, as well as a document issued by the Governor and Commander of the Bermudas, James Bruere, to all flag officers and others telling them of the grave threat of famine in the islands and licensing John Ingham to proceed in the Ranger to Virginia to beg the benevolence of the North Americans, who are asked to set aside on this occasion their animosity to the Mother Country. This is dated 25 Jan 1779. (6pp.) (Virginia Colonial records, SR 5992, pg 3)