THOMAS POWNALL'S COMMISSION AS VICE-ADMIRAL OF THE PROVINCE OF THE 28 FEBRUARY, 1757 George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Freland king Defender of the Faith To our beloved THOMAS POWNALL Esquire Our Captain General and Governor in Chief of Our Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England Greeting We confiding very much in your Fidelity care and circumspection in this behalf do by these Presents which are to continue during Our Pleasure only ordain constitute and depute You the said Thomas Pownall Esquire Our Captain General and Governor in Chief aforesaid Our Vice Admiral Commissary and Deputy in the office of Vice Admiralty in Our Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England aforesaid and Territories thereon depending and in the Maritime parts of the same and thereto adjoining whatsoever with power of taking and receiving all and every the Fees Profits Advantages Emoluments Commodities & Appurtenances whatsoever due and belonging to the said Office of Vice Admiral Commissary and deputy in our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England and Territories dependant thereon and Maritime parts of the same and adjoining to them whatsoever according to the Ordinances and Stat utes of Our High Court of Admiralty of England And We do hereby commit and Grant unto You the aforesaid Thomas Pownall Esquire Our Power and authority in and throughout Our Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England aforementioned and Territories thereof and Maritime Parts whatsoever adjacent thereto and also throughout all and every the Sea Shores publick Streams ports fresh Waters, Rivers Creeks and Arms as well of the Sea as of the Rivers and Coasts whatsoever of Our said Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England and Territories dependant thereon and Maritime parts whatsoever of the same and thereto adjacent, as well within Liberties and Franchises as without, to take cognizance of and proceed in all causes Civil and Maritime and in Complaints Contracts Offences or suspected Offences, Crimes Pleas, Debts Exchanges, Accounts Charter Parties, Agreements Suits Trespasses Injuries Extortions and Demands and Businesses Civil and Maritime whatsoever commenced or to be commenced between Merchants or betwee1 Owners and Proprietors of Ships and other Vessels and Merchants or others whomsoever with such Owners and Proprietors of Ships and all other Vessels whatsoever imployed or used within the Maritime Jurisdiction of Our Vice Admiralty of Our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England and Territories depending on the same or between any other Person whomsoever, had made began or contracted for any matter thing cause or business whatsoever done or to be done within Our Maritime Jurisdiction aforesaid together with all and singular their incidents Emergencies dependencies annexed and connexed Causes whatsoever, wheresoever or howsoever and such Causes Complaints Contracts and other the Premises aforesaid or any of them which may happen to arise, be contracted had or done To hear and determine according to the Rights Statutes Laws Ordinances and Customs antiently observed And Moreover in all and singular Complaints Contracts Agreements Causes and Businesses Civil and Maritime to be performed beyond the Sea or contracted there, howsoever arising or happening, and also in all and singular other Causes and Matters which in any manner whatsoever touch or any way concern or antiently have and do or ought to belong unto the Maritime Jurisdiction of Our aforesaid Vice Admiralty in Our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England and Territories thereon depending and maritime parts thereof and to the same adjoining whatsoever and generally in all and singular other Causes, Suits, Crimes, Offences, Excesses, Injuries Complaints, Misdemeanors or suspected misdemeanors, Trespasses, Regratings Forestallings and Maritime Businesses whatsoever throughout the Places aforesaid within the Maritime Jurisdiction of Our Vice Admiralty of Our Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England aforesaid and Territories thereon depending by Sea or Water or the Banks or Shores of the same howsoever done committed perpetrated or happening And also to inquire by the Oath of honest and lawful Men of Our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England and Territories dependant thereon and Maritime parts of the same and adjoining to them whatsoever dwelling both within Liberties and Franchises and without as well of all and singular such matters and things which of right and by the Statutes Laws Ordinances and customs antiently observed were want1 and ought to be inquired after as of Wreck of the Sea and of all and singular the Goods and Chattels of whatsoever Traitors, Pirates, Manslayors, and Felons howsoever offending within the Maritime Jurisdiction of Our Vice Admiralty of our Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England aforementioned and Territories thereunto belonging and of the Goods Chattles and Debts of all and singular their Maintainers Accessaries Councellors Abettors or Assistants whomsoever And also of the Goods Debts & 1 Sic: wont. Chattles of whatsoever Person or Persons Felons of themselves by what means or howsoever coming to their Death within Our aforesaid Maritime Jurisdiction wheresoever any such Goods Debts and Chattles or any parcell thereof by Sea Water or Land in Our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England and Territories thereon dependant and Maritime parts of the same and thereto adjacent whatsoever as well within Liberties and Franchises as without, have been or shall be found forfeited or to be forfeited or in being And Moreover as well of the Goods Debts and Chattles of whatsoever other Traitors Felons and Manslayors wheresoever offending and of the Goods Debts & Chattles of their Maintainers, Accessaries, Councellors Abettors or Assistants as of the Goods Debts and Chattles of all Fugitives Persons convicted attainted condemned outlawed or howsoever put or to be put in Exigent for Treason Felony Manslaughter, Murther, or any other Offence or Crime whatsoever and also concerning Goods waveing Flotzon Jetson Lagon Shares and Treasure found or to be found Deodands and of the Goods of all others whatsoever taken or to be taken as Derelict or by chance found or to be found or howsoever due or to be due and of all other Casualties as well in upon or by the Sea and Shores Creeks or Coasts of the Sea or Maritime parts as in upon or by all fresh Waters, ports publick Streams Rivers or Creeks or Places over flown whatsoever within the Ebbing & Flowing of the Sea or high Water or upon the Shores or Banks of any of the same within Our Maritime Jurisdiction aforesaid howsoever, wheresoever, or by what means soever, arising happening or proceeding or wheresoever such Goods Debts and Chattles or other the premises or any parcel thereof may or shall happen to be met with or found within Our Maritime Jurisdiction aforesaid And also concerning Anchorage Lastage and Ballast of Ships, and of Fishes Royal Namely Sturgeons, Whales, Porpusses, Dolphins, Riggs, and Grampusses and generally of all other Fishes whatsoever |