Hancock, John, 1737-1793 Instructions to the commanders of private ships or vessels of war, which shall have commissions or letters of marque and reprisal, authorizing them to make captures of British vessels and cargoes.
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00038.01 Author/Creator: Hancock, John, 1737-1793 Place Written: s.l. Type: Document signed Date: April 3, 1776 Pagination: 1 p. ; 34.2 x 22 cm. Order a Copy
Printed as a broadside. Signed by Hancock as President of the Second Continental Congress. Contains eleven articles created by Congress authorizing private American ships to capture British vessels. Instructs American captains to bring captured goods, ships, and persons to court in the colonies following capture. Forbids torture of captured persons, demanding civilized conduct. Requires captains to transmit a written account of capture to Congress. Demands that one third, "at the least, of your whole Company shall be Land-Men." Forbids the ransom of prisoners.
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