1776 Re: Slaves His Privateers Ships Captured, in Isaac Cox of Phila. Last Will

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Autographs-Colonial-Political-Americana

By Early American History Auctions

Mar 20, 2021

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• Lot Description
  American Revolution
  Extraordinary July 14, 1775 Revolutionary War Sloops of War "Congress" & "Chance" Seize British Ships "Dragon" & "Molly" with Twenty Negro Slaves Noted in a Last Will !
  July 14, 1775-Dated Revolutionary War Period, Contemporary True Copy Manuscript Document Signed, "Johnston Humphreys D: Regst" with Official Embossed Seal, being the "Last Will and Testament" of Patriot Isaac Cox, Merchant of City of Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania, written February 13th, 1776 at Philadelphia, including the disposition of Negro Slaves Captured by American Privateers the "Congress" and "Chance," from the British Ships "Dragon" and "Molly" in a very famous Naval incident, Choice Very Fine.
  This exceptional boldly written Manuscript Document is 8 pages (6 written), measuring 8.5" x 13.25", being the "Last Will and Testament" of Isaac Cox. Cox was a wealthy Merchant, a Patriot, and Part Owner of Two Privateer Sloops of War named the "Congress" and "Chance" that seized two English Ships named the "Dragon" and "Molly" during the early days of the American War of Independence. Among the cargo of these two English ships "Dragon" and "Molly" were Twenty Negro Slaves. The two British ships and their cargo and Twenty Negro Slaves were later awarded to Isaac Cox and his partners as "War Prizes" and the two captured British ships were then turned into American "Privateers."
  This "Last Will" lays out, in great detail, Isaac Cox's estate, and its further distribution among his heirs, including the named Negro Slaves captured from the two British ships. A complete transcript of the subsequent November 18th, 1776 Memorial of the historic event by Isaac Cox was read: "To the honourable the Delegates of the Thirteen UNITED STATES OF NORTH AMERICA, in Congress assembled". It reviewed the story of "the two (British) sloops, called the Dragon and Molly..." (Read the entire text of the Congressional report, provided in our online published auction catalog). Isaac Cox will reads, in part:
  "(I) bequeath into my said daughter Martha my Negro man named Pompey and my Negro woman named Hannah... my Daughter in law assigns my Negroe Wench Chloe... to my grandson assigns my Negroe Girl Lydia... my Negroe Woman named Lucy be set free immediately at the time of my decease."
  Another original copy of Isaac Cox's Will is held by the National Archives in Washington D.C.. This current true contemporary copy is sting bound, boldly penned in rich deep brown and is easily readable on very clean laid period paper, bearing a choice complete Embossed Paper and Wax Official Register General's Seal of Philadelphia. This official Document is of a well known historic American Privateer event that preceded a major Negro Slave controversy of the early Revolutionary War, for which the original will is housed at the National Archives. This Document is accompanied by a Xerox transcript of the Isaac Cox Memorial held before Congress.
  Complete Transcript:
  MEMORIAL FOR ISAAC COX IN BEHALF OF ALEXANDER FRAZER AND OTHER INHABITANTS OF PROVIDENCE. (Read 18th November, 1776.)
  "To the honourable the Delegates of the Thirteen UNITED STATES OF NORTH AMERICA, in Congress assembled:
  The Memorial of Isaac Cox, of the City of PHILADELPHIA, merchant, in behalf of ALEXANDER FRAZER and of JOHN KEMP and ANTHONY KEMP, of the Island of PROVIDENCE, merchants,respectfully showeth:
  That some time in the month of August last two sloops, called the Dragon and Molly, were seized and taken at or near the Island of Providence aforesaid, by Captain Craig and Captain Robeson,commanders of the private sloops of war ca lied the Congress and the Chance, and brought into the port of Philadelphia. That the said Captains Craig and Robeson arso seized and took on board the said two sloops called the Dragon and Molly, twenty negro slaves, and brought them also into the port of Philadelphia.
  That the said two sloops called the Dragon and the Molly, and the said twenty negro slaves taken and found on board them, are, and at the time of t1e seizure and capture aforesaid were, the property of the said Alexander Frazer and of the said John and Anthony Kemp. That the said Alexander Frazer and John and Anthony Kemp now are, and at the time of the seizure and capture aforesaid were, inhabitants of the Island of Providence aforesaid. That the said two private sloops of war belong to and were fitted out by Andrew Caldwell and John Bayard. of the city of Philadelphia aforesaid. merchants, and divers other persons inhabitants of the State of Pennsylvania.
  Your memorialist further showeth, that the said two sloops called the Dragon and the Molly, remained in the port of Philadelphia a considerable time, and that no libel was filed or any proceedings whatever were had against them in order to try the legality of the captures aforesaid. That your memorialist having received a letter from the said Alexander Frazer, one of the owners aforesaid, informing your memorialist of the seizures and captures aforesaid, and of the property of the said sloops and of the said twenty negroes taken and found on board them, applied to the owners of the said two private sloops of war, and requested them to deliver him up the said two sloops called the Dragon and the Molly, and the said twenty negroes, in behalf of their said owners, and to allow and pay reasonable damages for the captures aforesaid and the detention consequent thereto.
  That after some little time the owners of the said two private sloops of war agreed with your memorialist to submit the determination of the justice and propriety of the captures aforesaid and the quantum of damages, to referees indifferently chosen; who, having met and considered the proofs and the allegations of the parties, did award, "That the said sloops Dragon and Molly, together with the twenty negroes, be delivered up to the said Isaac Cox, as factor for the owners, and that the said Andrew Caldwell and John Bayard do pay, &c., as by the award of the said referees hereunto annexed may appear."
  That the said two sloops called Dragon and Molly were delivered to your memorialist in pursuance of the award aforesaid, and are now fitted and ready to depart the port of Philadelphia aforesaid, and to return to their owners; and as your memorial1st apprehends it necessary to obtain some permit or certificate from the honourable the Congress in order to prevent any arrest or molestation from the ships of war in the service of the United States and from private ships of war fitted out by the inhabitants of these States, your memorialist humbly prays your Honours to take this case, into consideration, and to grant to the said sloops letters of safe conduct to the port of Providence aforesaid. or such certificate or permit as to your Honours may seem meet, &c.
  ISAAC COX.
  Philadelphia, November 18th, 1776."
  
  Our Auction Contents:
  
  Black History & Slavery: (Lots 1 - 63)
  Abraham Lincoln Related: (Lots 64 - 74)
  Historic Autographs: (Lots 75 - 235)
  Colonial America: (Lots 236 - 261)
  Revolutionary War: (Lots 262 - 304)
  George Washington Related: (Lots 305 - 306)
  Early American Guns & Weapons: (Lots 307 - 318)
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