Of privateering interest: "Articles of Agreement Between the Owner Commander Officers and Crew of...

Of privateering interest: "Articles of Agreement Between the Owner Commander Officers and Crew of the Private Ship of War Queenborough", being a scarce Georgian privateering agreement comprised of four velum sheets bound together, the first three detailing in twenty articles the agreement between the owner Hannibal Curnow Blewett, and the "Master or Commander" John Davey and his crew, under the terms of which the cutter Queenborough was to sail "as a Ship of War for a Two Month Cruize [sic]"; the fourth bearing the signature or marks of the officers and crew and giving details of the distribution of prize monies; dated 12th July 1806.

This indenture establishes the obligations and entitlements of all parties involved. Principals established include Blewett's right to oversee the disposal of the assets seized by the Queenborough, and the procedure for paying out the prize share of those who were killed or disabled in action. One rather progressive sounding clause states that "if any of the Cutter's Company shall ever use Cruelty to any persons or Indecency to any woman or Girl taken in any Prize such person shall forfeit all his and their share..."

The armed cutter Queenborough was a one the larger of H.C. Blewett's private war ships, being 179 tons burthen by measurement and mounting twelve nine-pounder cannon. Under John Davey's command she took numerous enemy vessels, singly or in cooperation with other privateers, the names of sixteen of which have been discovered by research.

Research: Tony Pawlyn, National Maritime Museum, Plymouth.