Charter Party between the Secret Committee and Joseph
Hewes
Copy (microfilm): University of North Carolina Library, Chapel Hill
<February 14, 1776: The agreement is between members of the
committee and Joseph Hewes of North Carolina, merchant, one
of the owners of the brigantine Fanny of approximately 150 tons,
now in the York River, to hire her for a voyage to Europe. She will
be in good condition and well provisioned and manned. The owners
will pay all the expenses except port charges noted below, and
the crew will give the customary assistance in loading and unloading
and diligently perform their duties. The ship will receive from
the committee’s agent a cargo of tobacco and other produce of
Virginia, and will sail to the destination he provides. After the
cargo is delivered she will load a new one, either at the port of
delivery or at any other in the world to which she is directed, and
will return, again as directed, to some American port between
Connecticut and North Carolina. The committee will pay $400
Spanish per month for her hire, from the day loading begins in
Virginia until the day after her unloading (or, if in ballast, her
arrival) at the American port or the day when she is captured or
sunk, and port charges at any port other than those where she
loads and unloads in America and Europe, and her assessed value,
if she is captured, of $4,600 Spanish. Each party binds itself, if it
defaults, to pay the other £3,000 Pennsylvanian.>
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