Whenever I start researching an early ancestor who lived in Essex County, Ma. I check online to see if they were involved in any court cases. My 9x great grandfather Abraham Perkins lived in Hampton, NH which originally was part of Massachusetts, and indeed I found him in the court records. Once case in particular caught my attention.
At one point Abraham owned a ketch, which is a two masted sailing vessel, and Abraham sued another man who sold that ketch without permission! Besides the testimony, there are details of a contract of a trading venture and also the inventory the ship carried on its voyage. This took place in a session at the Salem Quarterly Court of June 1674:
Abraham Perkins v. John Cutt, jr. Verdict for the plaintiff.
*Writ: Abraham Perkins v. John Cutt, jr., of Portsmouth; for, he having been shipped master of the ketch Dove, 29 tons burthen, for a voyage to the Barbadoes and return, not performing the same, but reports he has sold the ketch at Barbadoes for 250li. in silver, without any order; dated June 11, 1674; signed by Robert Lord, f for the court; and served by Obadiah Mors,f constable of Portsmoth, who delivered him to Abraham Perkins to hand over to the prison-keeper at Ipswich.
Letter of attorney, dated June 20, 1674, given by John Cutt f of Portesmouth, Piscataqua, merchant, to Daniel Epps of Ipswich, . gentleman.
Abraham Perkins' bill of cost, 3li. 12s. 9d.
Bond, dated June 19, 1674, given by William Hubbard,f teacher of the Ipswich church, for the appearance of John Cutt, jr.
Bill of sale, dated Nov. 3, 1673, without signature and witnesses, given by John Burnam, jr., of Ipswich, carpenter, to . John Pumery of Salem, mariner, for one-half of the new ketch called the Dove, built at Chebacko in Ipswich, of about 30 tons burthen, also half of the masts, sails, sailyards, anchors, cables, ropes and cords, the long boat, etc.
John Pumroy, aged about thirty-eight years, testified that the foregoing bill of sale was agreed upon but he desired to relinquish the bargain because when he came to measure the ketch, he found she would not carry above thirteen or fourteen ton in Barbados cask and he was afraid he and Abraham could not agree. He judged the whole catch to be worth not over 120li. in money. Sworn in court.
Edmund Marshall,f aged about twenty-six years, deposed that he and his brother Benjamin built the ketch Dove for Abra ham Perkins and John Burnham, for 3li. 5s. per ton, and they stand ready to give a bill of sale of it whenever desired. Sworn, June 29, 1674, before Daniel Denison.f
Jacob and Luke Perkins, aged twenty and twenty-five years, respectively, deposed. Sworn, June 29, 1674, before Daniel Denison.*
Samuel Wilson, aged about twenty-four years, deposed that Abraham Perkins shipped him for the ketch Dove, and he was to live with him one whole year upon the same account. Further that deponent put himself out of the way of any other employment, waiting at least one month or six weeks, and said Perkins told him that he expected the ketch home by the latter end of March, 1674. Sworn before Daniel Denison.* -pp339-340
Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts: Vol V 1672-1674 Massachusetts. County Court (Essex County) Essex Institute, 1916
I'll post the contract for the voyage next.
To be contined
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