Found 2 collections related to Seamen

The colonial Courts of Vice Admiralty were branches of the High Court of Admiralty in London, upholding British maritime law by power of royal prerogative. Vice-Admiralty courts, acting without juries, dealt with such cases as claims for salvage and seamen’s wages, claims for prize vessels and cargoes taken in wartime, and violations of British trade and navigation statutes. The New York Court of Vice Admiralty had jurisdiction over New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The New York Court of Vice Admiralty records, dating from 1753 to 1770, comprise one volume recording decisions chiefly on prize cases, with memoranda on commissions for privateers, at the Court of Vice Admiralty for the Province of New York. The bulk of the cases date from the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). Cases were heard before Judges Lewis Morris, Jr. (tenure 1738-1762) and Judge Richard Morris (tenure 1762-1775), in New York City or places convenient for Lewis Morris at the end of his life. Records for the years 1755, 1765-1766, and 1768-1769 are not present; those entered 1753-1754 concern a prize case from 1745. less