Tools: Three Silver Ships

The three silver ships

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Editorial history

Created 28/06/2015 by CSG

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Research goals and approach

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Planned outputs

We plan two, possibly three, outputs from our collaborative research on the so-called Three Silver Ships

(1) Briefing notes and characterisations as input to the script of a radio play, being developed by Lorna Bower, an experienced producer and writer for television and radio. This play will form part of a proposed series of radio dramas based on Admiralty Court cases from the 1650s, written by Lorna Bower in collaboration with the MarineLives project team.

(2) An academic article using the case of the silver ships to illustrate interstate legal and diplomatic interaction in the English Admiralty Court. Drawing on Spanish, German and Flemish diplomatic (and possibly legal) correspondence and records from the early 1650s, as well as on records from the English Admiralty Court, the English State Papers, and the Thurloe Papers.

(3) Possible academic article on methodological and practical issues to do with collaborative historical research in an environment of increased used of digital tools for discovery, research sharing, annotation, and publication.

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Our collaborative research team

Eight of our summer transcription and research training programme members and advisors are working on the Three Silver Ships project in England, Wales, Ireland, France, the Netherlands and the United States.

• Dr Richard Blakemore
• Dr John Davies
• Sara Fox
• Colin Greenstreet
• Dr Philip Hnatkovich
• Sara Kerr
• Shavana Musa
• Nga Phan-Bellis

We welcome input from scholars and enthusiasts and are committed to the full acknowledgement of all such input in our planned research outputs.

To date we have received help from

• Professor Steve Murdoch (source suggestions on civil law in Louvain; and on Hamburg connection)
• @_mapnut: Identified Pieter Goos map of Flanders from 1666 showing Ostend and Dunkirk
• José A. Pérez Díez @JoseAPerezDiez: Offer to transcribe Spanish language letter from Don Alonso de Cardenas to Council of State
• Dr Kathrin Zickermann: Help on German aspects of the case, including primary and secondary sources on Hamburg/Iberian, and Hamburg/English trade and commercial diplomatic relations
• Sam Kaislaniemi @samklai: Offer to help on correspondence times Dunkirk to Cadiz
• Dr Sara Barker @DrSKBarker: Input on correspondence times Dunkirk to Cadiz
• Harry Perton @Gelkinghe: Input on correspondence times Dunkirk to Cadiz
• Vincenzo DM @DM_Vincenzo: Suggestions regarding sources for Archduke Leopold Willem and Simanacas archives in Valladodid
• Ruth Selman @Historyscape: Identified correspondence of Don Alonso de Cardenas at TNA
• @LeuvenU: Suggested University of Leuven archival contact

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Case background

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Narrative

Three large ships (The Salvador, the Sampson and the Saint George) were of supposed Lubeck and Hamburg build and ownership. The Saint George and the Salvador were allegedly built in Hamburg in 1642 and 1647 respectively, whereas the Sampson was allegedly built in Lubeck in 1647. Interestingly, a Hamburg born mariner and ship master believed the master shipwright in the building of the Salvador to have been Dutch born, though resident in Hamburg with his wife and family for at least fourteen years, and that many of the servants and workmen employed by the Dutch born master shipwright were Hollanders.

The three silver ships were described by a number of witnesses as of "great burthen", which means they would have been of 400 or 500 tons burthen, possibly more. Christian Cloppenburgh specifically states that the Sampson was "of the burthen of about 500 tonnes." The Mercurius, which was in Cadiz at the same time as the three silver ships, was described as "a broad sterned shipp haveinge three or fower and twenty guns, Hollands built att least in appeareance and about 400 tuns burthen."

The masters of each of the three silver ships were highly experienced mariners. The forty three year old Hamburger, Christian Cloppenburgh, master of the Salvador, attested to having twenty-six years experience of navigation.

The three ships were part of a large number of foreign ships spending the summer of 1652 waiting for the Spanish "plate fleet" to arrive from the West Indies. The fleet, carrying great quantities of bullion, arrived in late summer. According to Joachim Beene, the master of the ship the White Swann, which was in Cadiz that summer, the plate fleet arrived two or three months after the departure in June of the ship the Golden Sunn from Cadiz for Ostend. This places the arrival of the plate fleet from the West Indies in August or September of 1652.

Subsequently a number of foreign ships departed for Northern Europe carrying bullion and other goods from the Spanish West Indies and Spain, including cochineal and wool. Other foreign ships at Cadiz that summer were the Mercurius of Hamburg, the Golden Sunn, the White Swann and the Prophet Elias. The master of the Prophet Elias dying in Cadiz, her voyage was cancelled and her silver and other goods "were taken out and distributed and put into the said other shipps the Sampson, the Salvador, the Saint George and the Mercury".

The three ships were captured by the English in mid/late October 1652 in the English Channel off of Portsmouth with highly valuable cargos of bullion. The ships were on their way from Cadiz with bullion from the Spanish West Indies going northwards. It was disputed in court as to whether the ships were bound legally for the Spanish Netherlands (Ostend or Dunkirk), or illegally for Amsterdam in the United Netherlands, with which England had been at war since July 10th 1652. The ships were brought from their place of seizure to the River Thames, where they were moored near Woolwich, and where they remained from 1652 until late 1654 or early 1655, when they appear to have been sold off by the Prize Office.

The case was endowed with political as well as commercial weight - the Commonwealth and then the Protectorate was keen to have the bullion declared lawfull prize, but the Spanish government contested this. The many and varied court depositions and other English Admiralty (and English State Paper) records give very granular and highly colourful accounts of Seville and Cadiz, Hamburg and Lubeck, the Spanish Netherlands, the by-ways between the Spanish Netherlands and Amsterdam by which bullion could be smuggled overland and by canal, and the River Thames, where the ships and sailors were held following seizure. Thomas Violet, a rather dodgy goldsmith, was involved as an agitator on behalf of the Protectorate, and published a pamphlet pleading for reimbursement of his efforts, which supplements the HCA material on the MarineLives wiki.

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Admiralty Court cases

You will find more than one Admiralty Court case mentioning the three Silver ships. In addition to the three main cases brought by the Commonwealth against each of the three ships and their owners to have them declared lawful prize, you will find cases brought by Spanish, English and Flemmish merchants, demanding restitution of goods they claimed to have onboard on one or more of the three ships.

Our provisional and still incomplete chronology of events shows the main Admiralty Court cases against the three silver ships and their goods to have them declared prize close to resolution in December 1652 in favour of the ships, only to be blocked by intervention of Thomas Violet, and Dr William Walker Judge advocate for the Council of State. Sentences were issued by the Judges of the Admiralty Court in early 1655 to have the ships and their freight set free, but were again blocked by an action of Thomas Violet, as evidenced by petitions from two of the masters of the detained ships. However, at the intervention of the goldsmith Thomas Violet, the ships were further detained.

In the meantime, the Council of State resolved to have the bullion turned into English coinage, with accounts presented to the Mint Committee by Colonel John Berkstead on August 25th 1654 recording the minting of the bullion. Then on December 13th 1654, an order in the Admiralty Committee requested the Protector and Council to dispose of the Sampson, Salvador and Saint George, the ships being "much injured by having lain 2 years in the Thames, and are in a perishable condition, and a great charge, by keeping men on board".

The cause of the silver ships attracted attention from diplomats of countries not directly involved in the dispute. For example, Lorenzo Paulucci, Venetian Secretary in England wrote to Giovanni Sagredo, Venetian Ambassador in France, speculating that the dispute could lead to a rupture between England and Spain. He noted that that a number of ships had been seized and that "among the eight ships was one from Hamburg or Lubeck, carrying the dollars I mentioned. At the instance of a number of merchants here interested in them, the Spanish ambassador has demanded their release of the Council of State, though so far apparently with scant success. The rulers here seem inclined to avail themselves of it in their present need, paying interest to the king of Spain until the capital is restored, considering the money to be his ; a crafty device, by no means to the taste of the merchants. The Spanish ambassador also disapproves emphatically and on this account and some other matters which concern his private affairs he is not too well satisfied. If they persist in this course the detention of the money might cause an open rupture with Spain, as happened in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King Philip II, for a similar provocation."

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Provisional legal and diplomatic chronology

1652

Nov 10th 1652 or earlier: Decree made by the Admiralty Court judges. There appear to have been depositions prior to the decree

Nov. 10th 1652 or earlier: Letter or some form of writing from the Spanish Ambassador (probably to the Council of State) regarding the decree made by the Admiralty Court judges

Nov 10th 1652: Summary of legal procedings prepared in written form, possibly for the Council of State

Nov 12th 1652: "The Affidavit of Otto George, of the 12th of November 1652"

Dec 1st 1652: "Three Acts of the Court of Admiralty, of the First of December 1652"

Post Dec 3rd 1652: Admiralty judges and Dr Walker to attend the Committee for Foreign Affairs to "to attend, and report what has been done in that court about the ships Samson, Salvador, and George".

Dec 6th 1652: Council of State made an Order, on consideration of the proceedings in the Admiralty Court against the Samson, Salvadore, and George, that Council sees no reason to alter their resolutions, but the Admiralty Judges are to proceed against them according to law and justice."

Dec 8th 1652: "An Act of the Court of Admiralty, of the 8th of December 1652"

Dec 9th 1652: Council of State referred "The petition of the officers and mariners of the Samson" referred to the Admiralty Judges.

Dec 10th 1652: Paper prepared for the Spanish ambassador (possibly in response to ambassador's letter of November 10th 1652 or earlier) to be sent to ambassador by Sir Oliver Fleming on December 11th 1652.

Extract from entry for Tuesday December 14th 1652, Journal of House of Commons, vol. VII (London, 1813), p.229

Dec 14th 1652: Lord Ambassador from the King of Spain attended parliament, speaking in Spanish, and presenting copies of his speech in writing in Spanish and English

Dec 15th 1652: Committee for Trade and Foreign Affairs had received several letters from the Senate of Hamburg concerning ships of Hamburg seized by the English

Dec 20th 1652: Debate in parliament resumed "upon the Papers delivered in by the Lord Ambassador from the King of Spaine, upon his last Audience, touching his Appeal from the Admiralty-Court to the Parliament, concerning the Goods aboard the Ships the Sampson, the Salvado, and the St. George", upon "An Order of the Council of State, of the 6th of December 1652; whereby the Council leave it to the Judges of the Admiralty to proceed with the abovesaid Ships, according to Law and Justice", upon "Three Acts of the Court of Admiralty, of the First of December 1652", upon "An Act of the Court of Admiralty, of the 8th of December 1652"; and upon "The Affidavit of Otto George, of the 12th of November 1652". Parliament determined that the matter "be referred to the Court of Admiralty to proceed in the Determination of this Business, according to Law and Justice" and that "these Papers, presented to the Parliament by the Spanish Ambassador, be referred to the Council of State, to prepare an Answer to be given to the Spanish Ambassador; and to report it to the Parliament".

Dec ?XXXX 1652: An unfinished certificate prepared by the Admiralty judges to be submitted to parliament describing events and legal considerations in the case of the silver ships

1653

Jan 21st 1653: Abraham Johnson, sailmaker, told William Astell and William Pembridge "that the Samson, Salvador, and George belonged to Holland, and said he would confess it before the Prize Commissioners."

Jan 27th 1653: Letter to be prepared by John Thurloe following apparent discussion in parliament (presumably of silver ships), which was to be sent to Archduke Leopold via the Spanish ambassador, and was to be signed by the speaker

Feb 1653 Account by the Admiralty judges of their proceedings in the Admiralty Court regarding the Samson, Salvador, and George ordered to be presented to the Order in the Council for Trade and Foreign Affairs

Feb 2nd 1653: Otto George, commander of the Sampson, alleged to have come into the Office for Dutch Prize Goods in Bishopsgate street at half past nine in the morning desiring to speak with the Commissioners for prize goods
- witnessed by John Gover, a twenty one year old London merchant, who subsequently deposed on February 23rd of the same month that he, Gover, informed Mr Richard Hill and Mr Robert Tur[?pin], two of the Commissioners then there, and they willed that Otto George come in. In Gover's account, Otto George "came into the Parlour where the said two Commissioners were sitting", and was asked by Mr Hill whether he had not conveyed some silver ashore out of his ship, which Otto George denyed. Gover describes further questioning by Hill leading to Otto George then at length confessing and acknowledging "that hee had conveyed some bullion and plate out of the said shipp ashore which hee pretended to be his owne, and for his owne private use if necessitie did require, which hee affirmed was to buy provisions for his shipp and to pay off some of her men who wanted money".

Feb 5th 1653: Warrant by Col. John Barkstead, Lieutenant of the Tower, to all constables, officers, &c. of the Thames, and in Middlesex and Surrey, to assist Wm. Astell and Wm. Pembridge in finding out silver conceived to be embezzled from the Dutch prizes between the Tower and Gravesend, and to apprehend those concerned therein, and bring them before him, or a justice of peace near, to be proceeded against according to law. Tower, 5 Feb. 1652-3

Feb 20th 1653: Alleged discovery of two pieces or little piggs of silver hidden in the bed of the gunner of the Saint George in the gun room of the ship. William Turner, one of the Prize Commissioners waiters on the Saint George subsequently deposed to this effect on March 19th 1653.

Date unknown: Paper published "by the advocate of Flanders"

Date unknown: Dr Walker's reply to paper published by the advocate of Flanders (as authorised by Committee of Foreign Affairs, the authorisation being conveyed to Dr Walker by John Thurloe)

Mar 7th 1653: Deposition of Manuell Corea Citizen of Varines in the West Indye Merchant aged about 34 yeares

Mar 11th 1653: Allegation made on behalfe of the State in the Acts of Court
- "The Keepers of the Libertie of England by authoritie of Parliament against the shipp the Saint George John Martinsondorp master"

Mar 11th 1653: "Allegation made in the acts of Court on behalfe of the State the eleaventh of this instant March 1652"
- "The Keepers of the Livebertie of England by authoritie against the shipp Sampson (Otto George commander) and silver and goods in the same"

Mar 17th 1653: Deposition of John Baptista Sabino of Cadiz in Spaine Merchant aged 27 yeares

Jul 4th 1653: Letter from Dr Walter Walker to Secretary John Thurloe requesting that Urian Martesen be examined urgently "about the silver in the Samson" since "the man iis soon going out of England"

Sep 20th 1653: Allegation given in by Mr Budd (Case: Lord Protector against the ship the Sampson etc)

Sep 20th 1653: Allegation given in on the behalf of the State by ? (Case: Keepers of the Liberty of England against the ship the Salvador etc.

Sep 26th 1653: Deposition of Jurian Martinson of Flintsborough in Holstein land Marriner aged 34, yeares

Sep 28th 1653: Deposition of Abraham Johnson of the precinct of Saint Catherines neere the Tower of London Sailemaker, aged 3[?5] yeares

Oct 12th 1653: Deposition of William Astell of the parish of Allhallows Barking London Chirurgeon aged 60 yeares

Oct 31st 1653: Deposition of Antonio Estevan de Balderas of Madrid an Inhabitant of Limma in the Indies merchant aged thirty eight yeares

Nov 4th 1653: Deposition of Antonio da Ponte of Teneriffa in the Canary Islands merchant aged twenty eight yeares
- regarding "The Clayme of Manuel Gomez" [for his wools in the Salvador]

Nov 4th 1653: Deposition of Antonio da Ponte of Tenariffa merchant aged 28 yeares
- regarding "The Clayme of fferdinando Numez for his woolls in the Saint George

Nov 15th 1653: Deposition of Antonio Estevan de Balderas of Limma in the West Indies merchant aged 38 yeares
- regarding the "The Clayme of Blases da La Pyna of Sevill for his goods in the shipp the Salvador whereof Christian Cloppenbergh is Captaine taken by a shipp of the Parliaments fleet under the Command of Capt PomXXX"

Nov 21st 1653: Deposition of Antonio Fernandez Caravashall of London Merchant aged 54 yeares

Dec 5th 1653: Deposition of Gaspar Tam of Hamborough Purser of the shipp the Goulden Sunn of Hamburgh aged 24 yeares
- regarding "The Clayme of Peter Tam for his sylver in the Salvadore

Dec 30th 1653: Deposition of Antonio Estevan de Balderas borne att Madrid in Spaine an Inhabitant of Limma in the West Indies, aged 38 yeares
- regarding "A Clayme of ?Frocato Millenes merchant of Cadiz for one barr of sylver marked in the margent in the shipp the Sampson Otto George Captaine taken by some of the Parliaments shipps

Dec 30th 1653: Deposition of Henrick Martens of Hamburgh Captaine of the shipp the Hope of Hamburgh aged 30 yeares
- regarding "The Clayme of Vincent Van Campen and others Owners of the shipp the Sampson whereof Otto George was Master for the sayd shipp and her tackle and furniture

1654

Jan 2nd 1654: Deposition of ffrancisco Lopez of Sevilia in Spayne aged 21 yeares
- regarding "The Clayme of fferdinando Nunez for his woolls in the Saint George

Jan 3rd 1654: Deposition of ffrancisco Lopez of Sevilia in Spayne merchant aged 21 yeares
- regarding "The Clayme of Manuel [?XXX] de Acosta for his [?XXXX] and [?XXXX] in the Salvador

Jan 3rd 1654: Deposition of ffrancisco Lopez of Sevilia in Spaine merchant aged 21. yeares
- regarding "The Clayme of Bla[?re]/[?ze] de La Pyna for his woolls in the Salvador

Apr 10th 1654: Affidavit of Christian Cloppenbergh of Hamburgh Mariner Master and Commander of the shipp the Salvadore of Hamburgh now lying in this River of Thames aged two and forty yeares

Sep 2nd 1654: Letter from Dr. Walter Walker to John Thurloe informing him of urgency of proceeding to a legal decision

Nov 7th 1654: Deposition of John Bacon of the parish of Saint Giles Criplegate in the Citty of London Mariner Owner and master of the shipp the John of London aged five and forty yeares

Nov 8th 1654: Deposition of Stephen Puckle of Eastsmithfeild neere London merchant aged fifty nine yeares

Nov 9th 1654: Deposition of Magdalena Hendricks the wife of Abraham Johnson living in the Minneries neere London aged thirty two yeares

Nov 15th 1654: Further deposition of Magdalena Hendrickes the wife of Abraham Johnson living in the Minneries nere London wall saylemaker, aged thirtie two yeares

Nov 20th 1654: Deposition of Albert Bechere of the free Citie of Lubeck Mariner at present Master or Commander of the shipp the King David of London aged 47. yeares

Nov 29th 1654: Deposition of Peter Rokes of Lubeck in Germania Mariner Steeresman of the shipp the Goulden Grape of dantsick aged 43. yeares

Nov 29th 1654: Deposition of Henrick Vett of hamborough Mariner aged 36. yeares

Dec 1st 1654: Deposition of Carsten Franck of Lubeck Shipwright aged 32. yeares

Dec 1st 1654: Deposition of John Lowers of Masterland in Norway Mariner aged 26. yeares

Dec 2nd 1654: Deposition of Carsten Franck of Lubeck shipwright aged 32. yeares

Dec 2nd 1654: Deposition of Henry Slucker of hamborough Mariner aged 23 yeares

Dec 5th 1654: Deposition of John Martenson-Dorp of hamborough Mariner aged 53. yeares

Dec 6th 1654: Deposition of Christian Cloppenburgh of hamborough Mariner aged 43 yeares

Dec 9th 1654: Deposition of Giles Vandeputt of the parish of Saint Martins Orgers in the City of London Merchant aged 32 yeares

Dec 13th 1654: Order in the Admiralty Committee requested the Protector and Council to dispose of the Sampson, Salvador and Saint George, the ships being "much injured by having lain 2 years in the Thames, and are in a perishable condition, and a great charge, by keeping men on board".

1655

Feb 14th 1655 : Instrument of transfference exhibited into Admiralty Court on14th of February 1654 in claim of Christopher Boone for silver and cutchineale previously claimed by Adrian Goldamith of Antwerp on the ships the Sampson Salvador Saint George and Morning Starr

Apr 3rd 1655: Item: Petition of Christian Cloppenburgh: Date: April 3rd 1655

Apr 3rd 1655: Item: Petition of John Martindorp: Date: April 3rd 1655

Jul 4th 1655: Deposition of Christian Cloppenburgh of Hamburgh Mariner Master of the said shipp Salvador aged 44 yeares
- regarding The Clayme of Jaspar Lorenzo Merchant of Antwerpe for 3 Cerons of Cuchineale seized in the shipp Salvador (Christian Cloppenburgh Master)

1656

Aug 29th 1656: Deposition of John Willmott of London Merchant aged twenty eight yeares
- regarding "The clayme of Christopher Boone of London Merchant for severall parcells of silver and Cutcheneale hereto fore specially claymed by Adrian Goldsmith of Antwerpe having bin seized} in the Shipps the Sampson Salvador Saint George and Morning Starr and since legally transferred to him the sayd Christopher Boone and perticulerly conteyned in the Instrument of transfference exhibited into this Court the 14th of ffebruary 1654 and remayning in the Registry thereof"

Oct 27th 1656: Deposition of ffrancis Thoris of London Merchant aged forty eight
- regarding "The clayme of Christopher Boone of London Merchant for severall parcells of silver and Cutcheneale hereto fore specially claymed by Adrian Goldsmith of Antwerpe having bin seized} in the Shipps the Sampson Salvador Saint George and Morning Starr and since legally transferred to him the sayd Christopher Boone and perticulerly conteyned in the Instrument of transfference exhibited into this Court the 14th of ffebruary 1654 and remayning in the Registry thereof"

Oc 27th 1656: Deposition of Beniamin Bathurst of London Merchant aged 19 yeares
- regarding "The clayme of Christopher Boone of London Merchant for severall parcells of silver and Cutcheneale hereto fore specially claymed by Adrian Goldsmith of Antwerpe having bin seized} in the Shipps the Sampson Salvador Saint George and Morning Starr and since legally transferred to him the sayd Christopher Boone and perticulerly conteyned in the Instrument of transfference exhibited into this Court the 14th of ffebruary 1654 and remayning in the Registry thereof"

1656

Feb 19th 1657: Deposition of John Hanschen of Antwerp Marchant aged 21 yeeres
- regarding "Boone pred in three silver ships

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Evidence from Admiralty Court depositions

Young Spanish merchants

A number of young Spanish merchants gave evidence of goods laded on board the three silver ships, having themselves travelled as passengers on the ships. They described the transshipment via Cadiz of goods such as tobacco, cochineal, and mother of pearl from the Spanish West Indies, and the shipment of sherry from mainland Spain.

The thirty-four year old merchant Manuell Corea gave evidence in multiple claims. He had been a passenger on the Salvadore and gave his residence and birth place as "Verina in the West Indies". John Baptista Sabino also gave evidence in support of multiple claims, and is described as "of Cadiz in Spaine merchant aged 27 yeares." In answer to an interrogatory he clarified that he was Genoese by birth, though now living in Cadiz as a subiect of the King of Spain.

The thirty-eight year old merchant Thomas Swan, despite his English sounding name, was born and resident in Cadiz, and had been a passenger on the Salvadore. Swan had been at the island of Margarita when one of the claimants, ffrancisco Pellays, loaded mother of pearl on board his own ship for transport to Cadiz (and then later onto the Sampson and the Salvadore, assigned to his agent Cranbeene [CHECK NAME] in Ostend. The twenty-five year old merchant Guillermo Crombeen was well travelled. Giving Cadiz in Spain as his usual residence, he had been "borne at Courtrey in fflannders" and had lived "Marachais [CHECK NAME] Var[?inas] Gibraltar and other places in the West Indies for the space of fower yeares last past"

The goods shipped in the silver ships appear to have come from a variety of places. Sherry wine was shipped from Domingo de Padilla's own vineyards in Saint Lucar to Cadiz, where it was laden aboard the Sampson Tobacco was shipped from Marrachio and elsewhere in the Spanish Indies to Cadiz, where it was laden onto both the Sampson and the Salvador. Mother of pearl from XXX. Cochineal from XXXX.

The residences given for merchants who had lost goods on board the silver ships included Cadiz, Saint Lucar, Sevill, and several places in the Spanish West Indies.

Flandrian merchants

A Dunkirk based merchant named Phillip de La [?SXXXXpe] deposed in the claim of the English merchant Baldwyn Mathewes, for silver belonging to Mathewes seized in the ships the Sampson and the Saint George Phillip stated that he was brother to ffrancisco de la [SXXXpe], who was factor and agent for Baldwyn Mathewes in Cadiz, where the two brothers lived.

He described loading a bar of silver into the Sampson in November (sic) 1652 at the instruction of his brother, the bar weighing "nine and twenty marks and six ounces of fine silver", and lading onto the Saint George three [?XXX] or small bars of silver, which weighed together seaventeene markes two ounces and a halfe. He alleged that the two parcels of silver were shipped for the account and adventure of Baldwyn Mathewes, and were to be delivered to Peter [Lam?es]/[Lams] of Ostend, and that Peter Cock [alt Peter de Cock] of Gaunt [Ghent] was was to dispose of them, as factors and agents of Mathewes.

In answer to an interrogatory about the bills of lading for the silver, which were signed by the purser of the Sampson and the master of the Saint George, he explained that De Cock's name was inserted, rather than that of Mathewes, as the recipient of the silver, for if an Englishman's name had been on the bill of lading, the silver would have been made prize should the ships have been taken by Hollanders.

The same deponent testified in a second claim, on behalf of Peter Mathewes, Arnold Beake and William Moore, all London merchants. In this case he stated that "twoe Barretones of fine silver weighing together sixtie twoe markes and sixe ounces" were laden in August 1652 into the Salvador. As for Balwyn Mathewes, the silver was to be shipped to Oastend for delivery to Peter Lams of Ostend, who in this case wsa to follow the directions and order of mr Robert Lamon of Antwerp, who was the factor and agentthere of Peter Mathewes et al. He described witnessing the silver being stamped with their weight, mark and numbers, which were recorded in writing. Working as servant to his brother, the deponent claimed to have read letters sent to his brother from the claimants directing his brother to buy the silver and to follow their instructions in determining the consignees.

Trade in silver bullion

Several cases regarding ships other than the Sampson, the Salvador, and the Saint George mention merchants and ship owners who were connected with the silver ships. Depositions regarding claimants of goods seized in the Saint Michaell or Angell Michaell of Hamburg are particularly informative about the silver trade. The ship had departed Cadiz one month later than the three silver ships, and was bound allegedly for Hamburg, rather than Ostend, carrying silver and other goods.

One claim was brought by the widow and heirs of "Danyel Sloyer deceased". The deceased Danyel Sloyer was quite clearly the father of Daniel Sloyer [the younger] and Franz Sloyer, who were part owners of the ship the Saint George of Hamburg. The forty-four year old steersman of the Angel Michael, Peter Scholenburg, deposed at the end of March 1653 that he well knew the deceased Danyel Sloyer whilst he lived and that he "departed this life at Hamboro about a twelve moneth". Moreover, Scholenburg likewise knew Sloyer's widow (who had brought a case for silver on board the Angel Michael in her and Daniel Sloyer's heirs names), stating that she was his "neere neighbour in Hamborowe where shee liveth with her childern and family". Later in his deposition, Scholenburg described knowing the deceased Danyell Sloyer "for many yeares before his death", and that of his own direct knowledge Sloyer had been "a citizen and burgher of Hamborowe and a subiect of the same ffree city", being "a merchant of good worth and accompt in Hamborowe" and that it had been "commonly knowne and noted to have driven a greate trade and to have dealt much into Spayne for silver and other wares and merchandizes".

This trade had continued since the death of Danyel Sloyer [senior], Scholenburg reporting that "the trade was and still is contynuall by the wydowe Sloyer arlate for and on the behalfe of her selfe and the heyres of her said husband deceased". In answer to interrogatories, Scholenburg specified Daniel Sloyer Senior's precise dwelling place as the Ruyn{?s]markett in Hamborowe". Scholenburg described receiving on board his ship, when lying in the bay of Cadiz in November 1652 "one barr of silver without a bag and one bag or sacke conteyning twoe little barrs of silver...". He stated that he received the silver from the ship's boatswain, together with bills of lading, and that he passed it on to the ship's gunner "whoe stored the same amongest other goods and silver in the hold of the said shipp". He claimed that he heard at Cadiz that the silver was to have been transported from Cadiz to Hamburg in the Angel Michael "for the account of the said producent Wydowe Sloyer and her assignees. The same Scholenburg deposed on behalf of another claimant in the same ship, a Spaniard.

[ADD SENTENCE ON CUSTOMARY BEHAVIOUR OF MERCHANTS TRADING IN SILVER FROM CADIZ TO HAMBURG] Spanish concerned about confiscation of their silver by the French, so used Hamburg names colourably as the consignees, when in fact the silver remained their property.

London merchants

Several London merchants gave evidence on behalf of the alleged owners of the three silver ships and the goods on board the same ships. For example, the thirty-two year old London merchant Giles Vandeputt reported receiving letters of advice in late October 1652 from John Bollart, a merchant and burger of Antwerp (in the Spanish Netherlands) stating that Bollart had caused his factors and correspondents at Cadiz to load quantities of silver and plate on board the Salvador and the Saint George to be transported for Ostend, where they were to be discharged and delivered for the account of Bollart. At Bollart's request, Vandeputt claims he took out several policies of assurance drawn at the Assurance Office in London for Bollart's silver.

Two London merchants with extensive experience of Spanish trade (Roger Kilvert (b.?, d.ca.1657) and Antonio Fernandez Caravajall (b. ca.?, d. ca. 1659)) gave evidence regarding the illict bullion trade from the Spanish Netherlands to Amsterdam. Kilvert had earlier acted as translator for at least one of the Spanish merchants testifying in the Admiralty Court on bhalf of Spanish claimants.Kilvert stated that the lading and export of bullion from Spain was absolutely forbidden without special licence, and that any bullion found on board ships without licence was subject to confiscation. Nevertheless, many merchants exported bullion illegally, putting "feigned and unknowne names" in their bills of lading for the senders of the bullion, or leaving blanks where the names should be. But "the contents of the plate laden and the parties to whome consigned is usually plainely expressed." Kilvert suggested that the Dutch were active exporters of illegal bullion, just as were merchants of other nations. Evidence from a separate case in the English Admiralty Court from November 1656 suggests that a commercial relationship existed between Kilvert and Caravajall.

English crew members

One English crew member of the Spanish ship the Nostra Signora Del Rosaria, thirty-two year old John Perryn from Faversham in Kent, gave evidence on behalf of the claim of Manuell Corea, having witnessed Corea load tobaccoes onto that ship in the West Indies, which brought them to Cadiz, and then helping to lade those tobaccoes onto the ships the Salvador and the Saint George at Cadiz.

Trip to the Prize Office on Bishopsgate Street, London

Otto George, commander of the Sampson, came to the Office for Dutch Prize Goods in Bishopsgate street at half past nine in the morning on the second day of February 1653. It was a Sunday and Otto George was desiring to speak with the Commissioners for Prize Goods. He was met by John Gover, a twenty one year old London merchant working in the Prize Office. At Otto George's request, Gover informed Mr Richard Hill[22] and Mr Robert Turpin, two of the Commissioners then there, and they willed that Otto George should enter the office.

In Gover's account, Otto George "came into the parlour where the said two Commissioners were sitting", and was asked by Mr Hill whether he had not conveyed some silver ashore out of his ship, which Otto George denyed. Hill persisted with his questioning, and leading at length the Sampson's commander confessed and acknowledged "that hee had conveyed some bullion and plate out of the said shipp ashore which hee pretended to be his owne", which was" for his owne private use if necessitie did require, which hee affirmed was to buy provisions for his shipp and to pay off some of her men who wanted money".

Waiters for the Prize Commissioners and the Customs House

On the same day in mid-March 1653, William Turner and Roger Thorpe made gossipy depositions in the Admiralty Court. They were both waiters on board the ship the Saint George, which then lay under seizure in the River Thames. Turner was in the employ of the Prize Commissioners, whereas Thorpe worked for the London Customs House.

Turner dramatically described the finding of two bars of silver hidden in the gunner's bed in the gunroom of the Saint George and the gunner's subsequent confession. Supposedly, the gunner admitted to having taken the two pieces of silver from out between deck under the gunroom. But, Turner "and partners" (namely the other waiters) "were of opinion that hee the said gunner and the stiersman had some confederacie or contrivance together about imbeazelling or carrying away silver out of the said shipp, and that the said gunner had got or fetched the said two peeces or small piggs out of the Masters cabbin, and that with the first opportunitie hee would have conveyed them away".

Moreover Turner noted "there was a negro a servant to a marchant passenger that had severall peeces of eight about him and was going to carry them out of the shipp which hee had taken out of a trunck aboard." The servant was frustrated, having the peieces taken away from him and allegedly "lay long afterwards, watching (as hee conceiveth) an opportunitie to convey silver out of the shipp."

To the list of sinners, Turner added the ship's surgeon, who allegedly "endeavoured many times and saith did others of the shipps company and passengers to goe downe into the hold and to look as they pretended for necessaries and provisions belonging to them."

Turner concluded portentously that "the said silver to bee in greate danger by reason of soe many sorts of people of severall nations and conditions belonging to the said shipp as of her company and frequently attempting to goe downe into her hold."

A motley band

A motley band of witnesses (William Astell, Abraham Johnson and William Pembridge) gave evidence of alleged conversations with one of the crew of the Salvador. They appear to have been hired by the London based Prize Office to spy on the crew of the silver ships in the inns and victualling houses of Woolwich, close to where the ships were moored. These witnesses claimed to have been drinking with the trumpeter of the Salvador in a house knowne by the sign of the shipp at the Woolwich Waterside on the evening of Friday 21st January 1653 and the early morning of the ensuing Saturday, together with "one Mr Simonds belonging to the prize office." The alleged conversations took place in a mixture of Dutch and English. The witnesses were of varied background and no doubt incentivised by the prospect of monetary reward from either the Prize Office, or possibly from Thomas Violet.

William Astell was a sixty year old surgeon of the parish of Allhallowes Barking. A "Lieutenant of horse for the Parliament for the most part of the late warrs", he had fallen on hard times. He paid his parish dues, but "not any thinge to the taxes of the army or navie, not being of abilitie thereto, having bin plundred by the kings partie. William Pembridge was a forty-two year old haberdasher of the parish of Saint Magnus London. He had a pre-existing connection with the London prize office, and "useth to waite aboard shipps for the prize office".

Abraham Johnson was a thirty-five year old sail-maker, living at the time of his first Admiralty Court deposition in Saint Catherine's Lane near the Tower of London. Apparently English by birth, with English as his mother tongue he also spoke fluent Low Dutch, "having lived 26 or 27 yeares in holland (ended about 14 monethes since)" (that is in September 1652). Abraham Johnson claimed additionally to have known Otto George, the master of the Sampson, when Johnson dwelled in Amsterdam. Moreover Johnson claimed to have been the sailmaker on board the Sampson on a former voyage, havings served for eighteen months on her, about seven or eight years before his deposition. His evidence contradicted that of Astell and Pembridge, recalling that they conversed with mariners from the Salvador in the Bell, rather than the Ship, in Woolwich. Johnson claimed to have witnessed the delivery of silver out of the Sampson by Otto George on a prior voyage of the Sampson. Johnson claimed to have been in Amsterdam in the summer of 1652 and to know that the Mercurius sailed to Amsterdam, delivering her silver to Mathew ffransen, a sailmaker dwelling there. Moreover, Johnson claimed subsequently to have met in Amsterdam with sailors from the Golden Sunn, whom he claimed acknowledged that "they came from Cadiz with silver and other goods bound for Amsterdam and that in their course they were chased into Ostend, and being there they there delivered the silver (as they said) which they brought from Cadiz."

Jurian Martinson, a thirty-four year old mariner from Flensburg (fflintzborough) in Holsteinland, was a witness for the Commonwealth. He claimed to have been in Amsterdam in late 1652. Somewhat before Christmas 1652, according to Martinson, news arrived there "of the seizure of the said three shipps the Sampson, the Salvador and the Saint George with the silver and other goods in them brought from Cadiz; and saith that upon the said newes there was much sorrowing and generall lamentations at Amsterdam for and by reason of the said seizure, and it was then and there generally and commonly said that the said silver or a great part thereof was belonging to them of Amsterdam and other the subiects of the States of the United Netherlands, and that they would have a very greate losse and dammadge by the said seizure". Martinson, according to his own testimony, had been a sailor on board the Mercurius, and stated that the ship had been bound for Amsterdam "but afterwards therev comming newes of warrs betwixt England and holland, they the said masters gave out that they were all bound for Ostend or dunquirke and as hee heard got passes at Cales to that purpose, and of his knowledge the said shipp the Mercurius got a passe for fflanders, notwithstanding that shee was (to the time of the said newes of the said warrs) intended for Amsterdam."

The fifty nine year old London merchant Stephen Puckle of East Smithfield was also a witness for the Commonwealth. He told the Court that he had been a resident of Rotterdam for twenty years until the recent war with the United Netehrlands, and that he spoke fluent Dutch. Puckle reported being in London when the three silver ships were brought to England, and shortly afterwards, in November of 1652 "had occasion to repair agayne into Holland for the selling, and disposing of an house, and garden and some other things which he had att Roterdam." Puckle described being ar Rotterdam, Leyden, Delft and the Hague that month and that at that time it was "commonly and generally talked of and reported, that the States of the United Provinces and their subiects had an exceeding great losse by reason of the seizure of the sayd shipps by the English and there was of this deponents sight and observation a generall and great lamenting in those places for the sayd loss." Giving more detail, Puckle described being in the company of a number of Dutchmen on November 22nd 1652 (new style), travelling on a barge or skute from Delft to the Hague. He stated that "the sayd Dutch amongst other matters fell into discourse about the takeing of the sayd three shipps by the English which had the plate and sylber in them, meaning and speaking of the sayd shipps Sampson Salvador and Saint George above mentioned, And in that discourse one of the sayd dutch men who was one of the Lords of delph and a Bewinthebber of the Dutch East India Company did then and there in the presence and hearing of him this deponent confidently affirme to the rest of the gentlemen in company together in the sayd skute, that the plate and sylver which was on board those shipps then lately seized by the English meaning and speaking of the foresayd three shipps did belong to severall dutchmen of Amsterdam and harlem or to that effect, And further also sayd that although it might be pretended that the sayd sylver did belong to Hamburgh, yet att last (sayd he) it will fall upon our owne heads, meaning and speaking of the Dutch that were subiects of the States aforesayd, And further then likewise added that the English were subtile enough to find out the ground of the busines, or to the selfe same effect and purpose, for which reasons this deponent for his part did and doth verily beleive that the plate and sylver in the sayd three shipps did and doth really belong to the subiects of the sayd States of the United Netherland Provinces."

Hamburg mariners on the Silver Ships

A number of mariners from the three silver ships were called as witnesses on behalf of the ships and their owners. These included Hance Ramke, a forty year old mariner of Hamburg, who was formerly a member of the company of the Salvador, and who had been to Spain in her on her last but one voyage. He had left the Salvador at Amsterdam to return to Hamburg on her previous voyage, and was now once again a member of her company now in London, though not present on her when she was seized by the English. Ramke testified to being present at the building and launching of the Salvador at Hamburg in 1647. He identified the ship's owners as Hamburg merchants and gave the names of four of them as Daniel Brandes, Jerome Switger, Jerome Peterson and Henderick Hambrooke. Another witness was the thirty-six year old Hamburg resident and mariner, Henrick Vett - formerly a member of the crew of the Saint George. He was a brother-in-law of John Martindorp, the ship's captain. He testified to having witnessed the ships's building at Hamburg in 1642, and appears to have kept the books for the ship for the last 19 months prior to his deposition in the English Admiralty Court in November 1654.

Other Hamburg mariners in the English Admiralty Court

Another Hamburg mariner (though not on any of the three silvers ships), thirty-five year old Joachim Beane, similarly reported having witnessed the building of the Salvador, and the departure of the same ship on her first voyage, which was in June 1647. Beane had been present in Cadiz himself in the summer of 1652, as master of the ship the White Swann, and had sent the Salvador riding there under the command of Christian Cloppenburgh. Beane was able to list eight owners of the Salvador - in addition to the four named by Ramke, Beane added John Baptista Parker, Vincent Clingeburgh, Derrick Rourke and Gerrit Bowmaster, claiming that all eight were merchants of Hamburg.

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Other potential Sources

In addition to a large volume of records produced by the Admiralty Court and held at the National Archives, Kew, there is considerable information about the silver ships in the English State Papers (which you can access through British History Online), and in the Thurloe papers in the the Bodleian Libary, Oxford.

A key printed primary source is a pamphlet by the goldsmith Thomas Violet, titled: "A true narrative of the proceedings in the Court of Admiraltie against the ships Sampson, Salvador, and George, their silver and lading and an accompt presented what silver was taken out of the said ships and coined in the Tower (being above two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds,) all which silver the Common-wealth got by the chargeable prosecution and discovery of Tho. Violet, who saved the Common-wealth this silver, Dec. 16. 1652", and published in 1659.

You can find some secondary material on the conversion of the seized bullion into English coinage in Henry William Henfrey's Numismata Cromwelliana.

You can find short profiles and contemporary maps of a number of countries and places of importance in this case within the MarineLives wiki. See Spain, Spanish Netherlands, United Netherlands, Cadiz, Seville, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Lubeck and the River Thames.

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Context

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Cadiz in 1650s

Patrick O'Flanagan, Port Cities of Atlantic Iberia, c. 1500–1900 (Aldershot, 2008)
Ma. Guadalupe Carrasco González, Comerciantes y casas de negocios en Cádiz, 1650-1700 (Cadiz, 1997)
Enrique Martínez Ruiz, Magdalena Pi Corrales, Commerce and navigation between Spain and Sweden throughout history (XXXX, 2000)

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Spanish plate fleets in 1650s

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Cadiz to Northern Europe bullion trade in 1650s

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Spanish Netherlands in 1650s

Map of county of Flanders; cartographer: Mathias Quad; engraver & publisher: Johannes Bussemacher, Cologne; 1609; source: Wikimedia

In October 1652 the English seized three extremely valuable ships carrying bullion (the Sampson, the Salvador and the Saint George), bound from Cadiz to Northern Europe. It was subsequently disputed in the English Admiralty Court whether the ships were bound from Cadiz for Ostend or Dunkirk within the Spanish Netherlands, or in fact for Amsterdam within the United Provinces.

Several depositions in the English Admiralty Court suggest that the silver ships were bound for either Ostend or Dunkirk. However, Dunkirk was in French hands (though besieged by the Spanish) through to early September 1652, when the town surrendered to the Spanish. It is neverthless possible that news of Dunkirk's return to Spanish control would have reached Cadiz by early October 1652, when the three silver ships are alleged to have departed Cadiz for Ostend or Dunkirk.

In late 1652, at the time of the English seizure of the three silver ships, the ports of Dunkirk and Ostend were both under the control of the Spanish, and were located in the Flemish speaking province of Flanders, which was part of the Spanish Netherlands. Lost to the French in 1648, Dunkirk had been recaptured, together with Graveslines, earlier in 1652 by the Spanish, but was lost again in 1658, following a Franco-English siege. It was then briefly awarded to England in 1659, before its subsequent sale by Charles II to France in October 1662.

Archduke Leopold (b.1614, d.1662) governed the Spanish Netherlands between 1647 and 1656. His court was located in Brussels.

Spanish Netherlands, c.1700; source: Wikimedia

[TO DO: REPLACE MAP OF LOW COUNTRIES WITH ONE FROM 1650S, SHOWING DUNKIRK UNDER LEOPOLD'S CONTROL]

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Spanish West Indies

Places named in depositions:

Marachio

Tobacco laded on board the Nostra Seigniora del Rosario for her master Antonio de la Rosa by twenty-five year old Cadiz merchant Guillermo Crombeen

?Varinas

Tobacco bought at ?Varinas in the West Indies for John Baptista Sabino by Manuel Correa and brought first to Marachaio in the West Indies, and from thence in the Nostra Seigniora del Rosario to Cadiz, where it was laden on board the ships the Sampson and Salvador

Gilbralt[?er]

Thomas Juan stated by Anthonio De La Rosa to have bought tobacco at "the ffayre att Gibralter in the West India" froms everal men and "brought it afterwards to Marachio distant about five and twenty leagues from the same port".

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Amsterdam in 1650s

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Ostend, Dunkirk, Bruges and Ghent in Flanders in 1650s

Anthony Sola of Ostend in fflanders Mariner Master of the said shipp the Trowe alias Mariage, aged 44
Hendrick Lawrenson Veger of Ostend in fflanders Mariner Master of the sayd shipp the Morning Starr aged 35 yeares
John Baptisra Rulands of Gaunt in fflanders gentleman aged 23 yeares
John de [?ffrond] of Dunkirke Marriner aged 35 yeares
Guillermo Crombeen of Vadiz Spaine Merchant aged about twenty five yeares
- "borne att Courtrey in fflannders yet hee hath lived in the condition of a Merchant att Cadiz arlate his usuall place of Residence and att Marachais Var[?inas] Gibraltar and other places in the West Indies for the space of fower yeares last past"

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Antwerp in Brabant in 1650s

Adrian Goldsmith, merchant of Antwerp (claime of Adrian Goldsmith and company for the shipp the Morning Starr)

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Hamburg and Lubeck in 1650s

Two of the three silver ships were allegedly built in Hamburg (the Salvador and the Saint George), and the third allegedly in Lubeck (the Sampson).

Diplomatic correspondence between Hamburg and London

The Hamburg Senate was in correspondence with the Council of State or with the Committee or Trade and Foreign Affairs regarding the seizure and retention of the two Hamburg ships, together with other Hamburg built and owned ships seized in 1652 and 1653 by the English during the English war with the Dutch (July 1652 - April 1654).

Dec 15th 1652: Committee for Trade and Foreign Affairs had received several letters from the Senate of Hamburg concerning ships of Hamburg seized by the English

Sep 2nd 1654: "It appears by yours that the Hamburg agent urges a judgment on the Samson, Salvador, and George"

Feb 9th 1655: Letter, in Latin and English, from Joachim Petersen, the Hamburg Resident, to Oliver Cromwell, complaining of the unjust detention of two ships of Hamburg, the St. Salvador and the St. George, which is dated February 9th 1654 (presumably 1655 modern style)

Other Hamburg ships seized by English 1652-55

Listed in HCA 13/67: The ffortune; the Saint George; the Saint Peter (Master: Jasper Jacobsen); the Saint Peter (Master: Peter Hausen); the Hamborough (built at Rotterdam); the Morning Starr

Listed in HCA 13/68:

Listed in HCA 13/70: The Angel Gabriel, The Augustine, The Hope, the Morning Star, the Orbus Mundi, the Patriach, The Peter

Hamburg merchants and ship owners

Owners of the Saint George of Hamburg

Henrick Vett, a Hamburg mariner familiar with the building of the Saint George, and brother-in-law of the master of her, deposed that "the said shipp the Saint George (whereof John Martens dorp was Master) was in the yeare 1642. Originally built at hamborough by a shippwright and Burger of hamborough named Joachim Moller, by the order and direction of the said John Martens dorp (who bought and provided the timber for the said ships structure) Vincent van Campen now dwelling at Cadiz in Spaine, Daniel Sloyer, Abraham de Bois, Decloffe Classoft Mathys Heyndrick and others all Burghers and subjects of the ffree Citie and State of hamborough" The spelling of the owners names differs slightly in the deposition of another Hamburg mariner, Joachim Beene, who stated that in addition to the master "John Marten dorpe" the owners were "Abraham de Bois Daniel Sloyer dittelof Classoft Mathys hendricx and others all Burghers and subjects of the free state of hamborough". In contrast to Vett, Beene does not mention Vincent Van Campen as an owner of the Saint George.

Owners of the Salvador of Hamburg

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Daniel Sloyer

A concerted effort in the Hamburg archives is needed to find the Hamburg merchants and ship owners mentioned in the Silver ship cases. So far we have found traces of Daniel Sloyer, one of the principal owners of the Saint George of Hamburg.

Daniel Sloyer's testament appears dated 1691 in legal documentation from the early C18th held in the Staatsarchiv Hamburg. The archival metadata in which Sloyer's name appears concerns a legal dispute between the heirs of Daniel and Franz Sloyer, and lists a number of attachments, including "Inventar von 1687 des Nachlasses des Franz Sloyer, Kaufmann in Hamburg; Testament von 1691 des Daniel Sloyer, Kaufmann in Cadix" A further archival deposit in the same legal dispute contains "Auszüge aus dem Testament des Daniel Sloyer von 1691; Vergleiche von 1693 und 1695 zwischen Sara Scholten, Heinrich Sloyer, Kaufmann aus Amsterdam in Hamburg, und Jacob Milich (der Ältere), Kaufmann in Hamburg"

A separate legal dispute concerning Franz Sloyer, describes Franz as "Kaufmann und Bürger zu Hamburg". The dispute, dating from 1658-1663 in the Reichskammergericht, is between the plaintiff Franz Sloyer and the defendant "Rat der Stadt Hamburg" with co-defendant listed as "Engel Richter mit ihrem Kurator Lt. Johann Schulte, Bürgermeister, in Hamburg". Summary case details include the "Aufhebung des Arrestes einer Partie Zucker und Indigo auf dem Schiff des Christian Richter sowie Fragen der Kautionsleistung in dem Streit um die Erbschaft des Wilhelm Richter, Kaufmann in Cadix."

A later legal dispute involving Franz Sloyer, dating from 1675-1683, was brought by "Franz Sloyer und Franz Sabel, Kaufleute in Hamburg" against "Jan Pedy, Kaufmann, Reeder und Bürgermeister der Stadt Rotterdam". The archival metadata describes the dispute as covering: "Zahlung von 6566 Gulden durch die Kläger aus einer Bürgschaft und Eidesleistung des Beklagten über die Schadenshöhe in einem Streit um den vom Beklagten erwirkten Arrest des Schiffes "Potsdam", das Soldaten für den Kurfürsten von Brandenburg von Holland nach Hamburg gebracht hatte und dort von dem Schiffer Jasper Cornel(i)sen (Beklagter) an Thomas Chaire (Nebenbeklagter) verkauft worden war; Hinweis des Beklagten, dass er zusammen mit Benjamin Raule und Francois Versen Eigentümer des Schiffes sei".

Primary Sources

Hamburg

SP 82/9/f1 Joachim Petersen, Secretary of Hamburg, to Council of State 1653 Jan 31
SP 82/9/f3 Joachim Petersen, Secretary of Hamburg, to Council of State 1653 Feb 2
SP 82/9/f8 Joachim Petersen, Secretary of Hamburg, to Council of State 1653 Feb 2
SP 82/9/f11 J Petersen to Council of State 1653 Feb 21
SP 82/9/f34 J Petersen to Council of State 1653 Mar 22
SP 82/9/f36 J Petersen to Council of State 1653 Mar 29
SP 82/9/f42 J Petersen to Council of State 1653 Apr 13
SP 82/9/f101 J Petersen to Council of State 1653 Aug 8
SP 82/9/f153 J Petersen to Council of State 1653 Nov 21
SP 82/9/f181 J Petersen to Cromwell 1654 Jan 9
SP 82/9/f183 J Petersen to Cromwell 1654 Jan 21
SP 82/9/f189 J Petersen to Council of State 1654 Apr 11
SP 82/9/f193 J Petersen to Cromwell 1654 May 24
SP 82/9/f195 J Petersen's memorial on claim for ship taken [1654 c June]

[INCOMPLETE LIST - ADD FROM TNA DISCOVERY CATALOGUE]

Staatsarchiv Hamburg
Findbuch der Reichskammergerichtsakten im Staatsarchiv Hamburg, Teile 1-4 (Hamburg, 1993-1995)
Friedrich Battenberg, Bernd Schildt, Das Reichskammergericht im Spiegel seiner Prozessakten: Bilanz und Perspektiven der Forschung (Köln, 2010)
Hamburg Museum - Historical museum, Hamburg
Schleswig Holstein & Hamburg web database
Archivportal

Lubeck

Archiv de Hansestadt Lubeck

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Woolwich in 1650s

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Spanish ambassador in London

Don Alonso de Cardenas was the Spanish ambassador in London between 1638 and 1655. A letter from the ambassador addressed to the Council of State, dated November ? 1653 was published in Spanish in the 1742 edition of Thurloe's papers. Reference is made to interaction with the Spanish ambassador over the silver ships in the Calendar of State Papers Domestic in the early 1650s and in the Catalogi Codicum Manuscriptorium Bibliothecae Bodleianae: Pt. V: Ricardi Rawlinson (Oxford, 1862). Reference is also made to the sending of a letter from the English parliament, via the Spanish ambassador, to Archduke Leopold.

The English State Papers contain a paper from Don Alonso de Cardenas complaining as to the behaviour of the Commissioners for Prize Goods in two cases which were contemporarneous with the three silver ships.

Letter from Spanish Ambassador to the Council of State, Nov. 1653; source: Thurloe Papers, vol. I (London, 1742), pp.578-9

See: Deposition of Egidio Mottet Secretary to his Excellency the Lord Ambassador of his Catholique Majesty the King of Spayne aged 30 yeares, dated November 4th 1653

See: Deposition of Egidio Motet Secretary to his Excellency the Lord Embassador of Spaine, aged 33 yeares, dated January 24th 1655 (1654 old stile)

See: PRO 31/12/43 Simancas, Secretaría de Estado: A de Cárdenas; dispatches from London, Oct 1652-Dec 1655; presented by Dr S R Gardiner

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Civil lawyers of Louvain

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Thomas Violet

Thomas Violet (b.?, d. 1662/3). Described by Anita McConnell in her ODNB profile of Thomas Violet, published in 2004, as a "goldsmith and writer on trade".

An earlier entry for Violet in the Dictionary of National Biography, written by Charles William Sutton, suggests he flourished between 1634 and 1662, and described him as a writer on trade, and as a goldsmith and alderman of London. Rather vividly, Sutton summarise Violet as being "probably a restless, meddling man, who failed to please his friends, while he certainly displeased his enemies."

The character of Thomas Violet has attracted some recent historiographical attention. Adrian Hessayon devotes a chapter to him in a volume of essays edited by Michael Braddick and David Smith, focussing on XXX. Gijs Rommelse devoted a paragraph to him in the context of Violet's polemic against the export of bullion.

H.S.Q. Henriques, writing on the subject of Jews and the English Law, makes reference to an alleged petition by Violet against the Jews presented to the King and Houses of Parliament in December 1660, and to an anonymously published pamphlet in which Violet was lampooned as the "Great Trappaner of England".

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Dr Walter Walker

Extract, John Venn, J.S.Venn, Alumni Cantabrigienses, pt. I, vol. IV (Cambridge, 1927), p.319

Dr Walter Walker (b. ca. 1600, d. 1674) was the judge advocate of the Commonwealth in the Admiralty Court in the early 1650s. Often referred to simply as Dr. Walker.

Venn's Alumni Cantabrigienses lists him as transferring to Christ's College Cambridge from Oriel College, Oxford, with the award of an LL.B. in 1628 and an LL.D. in 1640, followed by admission to the Inner Temple in 1642. He was knighted in 1661.

He is described in secondary literature, but without clarification as to dates, as "a judge of the admiralty and prerogative courts" Another secondary source describes him "Sir Walter Walker" to be "judge advocate to the queen consort Catherine" and states that he died in 1674, when his son George succeeded him to the manor of Goldicote, which itself was held of the manor of Alderminster.

Appointed by the parliament to the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, March 12th 1659

Author of the "Statute of Distributions" (1670)

Samuel Pepys mentions Dr Walter Walker a number of times in his diary. In his entry for Jan 21st 1666/67 he describes Walker at Doctors Commons discoursing most understandingly of Pepys' matters, despite being "not very well". Pepys "was mightily taken to hear his manner of discourse" Pepys suggested in his diary entry of Thursday March 21st 1666/7 that Walker was receptive to a little inducement, writing that "Yesterday, Walker was mighty cold on our behalf, till Sir W. Batten promised him, if we sped in this business of the goods, a coach; and if at the next trial we sped for the ship, we would give him a pair of horses. And he hath strove for us today like a prince, though the Swedes’ Agent was there with all the vehemence he could to save the goods, but yet we carried it against him. Five days later, Pepys' recounted the pleading of his case in Court, commenting favourably on Walker: "Sir [Edward] Turner, Sir W. Walker, and Sir Ellis Layton being our counsel against only Sir Robert Wiseman on the other. The second of our three counsel was the best, and indeed did speak admirably, and is a very shrewd man."

Potential Sources

SP 89/4/35 Folio 84: Dr. W. Walker to Admiralty Committee. His legal opinion on the seizure of the 9 English Brazil ships. Date and place: 1651 Mar 31 London.; Original, autograph
DEL 2/158 The Percy: Dr Walker's report on; paper 2 fos; 1650s no date (Registrar of the High Court of Delegates and of the High Court of Admiralty: Cause and Miscellaneous Papers)

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The Prize Commissioners

Richard Hill

Feb 2nd 1653: Otto George, commander of the Sampson, alleged to have come into the Office for Dutch Prize Goods in Bishopsgate street at half past nine in the morning desiring to speak with the Commissioners for prize goods
- witnessed by John Gover, a twenty one year old London merchant, who subsequently deposed on February 23rd of the same month that he, Gover, informed Mr Richard Hill and Mr Robert Tur[?pin], two of the Commissioners then there, and they willed that Otto George come in. In Gover's account, Otto George "came into the Parlour where the said two Commissioners were sitting", and was asked by Mr Hill whether he had not conveyed some silver ashore out of his ship, which Otto George denyed. Gover describes further questioning by Hill leading to Otto George then at length confessing and acknowledging "that hee had conveyed some bullion and plate out of the said shipp ashore which hee pretended to be his owne, and for his owne private use if necessitie did require, which hee affirmed was to buy provisions for his shipp and to pay off some of her men who wanted money".

Robert Turpin

See "Turpin (Robert). Appointment of, as Commissioner for Dutch Prizes, with other papers, 1654. 5500.f.9"

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Events and people in secondary literature

Charles William Sutton, 'Violet, Thomas', Dictionary of National Biography, vol.56, p.374, repub. by Wikisource

Ariel Hessayon, '‘The Great Trappaner of England’: Thomas Violet, Jews and crypto-Jews during the English Revolution and at the Restoration' in Michael J. Braddick & David L. Smith (Eds.), The Experience of Revolution in Stuart Britain and Ireland (Cambridge, 2011), p.216

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Admiralty Court Judges

Dr John Exton: Heard the depositions of a number of Silver ship witnesses in March 1653

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Evidence in Whitelocke papers

Whitelocke Papers, Volume XIII, Jan-Sep 1653

"Item 11: 'The case concerning the Sampson and other silver ships, stated in the matter of fact, and an opinion thereupon in the Admiral Court’, addressed ‘For the Lord Commissioner Whitelocke’. These ships having been laden in Spain and being bound to the United Provinces, were by the way seized in the Downs. The Court had ordered Otto George, master of the Sampson, to specify the names of the persons to whom the goods belonged, and of those to whom they were assigned. This order was protested against by George and the Spanish Ambassador; 25 February 1653, f.20."

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Evidence in Thurloe papers

Three references to the cases of the silver ships appear in the Thurloe papers. The first reference is to "An answeare to what is sett forth by the Spanish ambassador, concerning the decree made by the judges of the admiralty, the 10th of November [1652]" regarding the unlading of two Plate ships, the Sampson and S. Salvador The second reference is to the "Proceedings on the court of admiralty, 10 Nov. 1652, with depositions concerning the two Plate ships", and is an eleven page document. The third reference is to a letter, in Latin and English, from Joachim Petersen, the Hamburg Resident, to Oliver Cromwell, complaining of the unjust detention of two ships of Hamburg, the St. Salvador and the St. George, which is dated February 9th 1654 (presumably 1655 modern style).

Catalogi Codicum Manuscriptorium Bibliothecae Bodleianae: Pt. V: Ricardi Rawlinson (Oxford, 1862), p.6

Catalogi Codicum Manuscriptorium Bibliothecae Bodleianae: Pt. V: Ricardi Rawlinson (Oxford, 1862), p.18

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Involvement of the Council of State and the Committee for Trade and Foreign Affairs

1652

Apr 1652: Manuell Correa saw Tobacco in Marachaio in the Spanish West Indies, which was subsequently shipped in the Nostra Seigniora del Rosario to Cadiz

Dec 3rd: The Council of State recorded on Dec. 3rd 1652 that "The Committee for Foreign Affairs to sit on Monday. The Admiralty Judges and Dr. Walker to attend, and report what has been done in that court about the ships Samson, Salvador, and George."

Dec 6th: The Council of State recorded on Dec. 6th 1652 making an "Order, on consideration of the proceedings in the Admiralty Court against the Samson, Salvadore, and George, that Council sees no reason to alter their resolutions, but the Admiralty Judges are to proceed against them according to law and justice."

Dec 7th: The Council of State recorded on Dec. 7th 1652 that "The Committee for Foreign Affairs to consider Mr. Violet's paper concerning the silver on board the Samson, Salvador, and George."

Dec 9th: The Council of State recorded on Dec. 9th 1652 that "The petition of the officers and mariners of the Samson referred to the Admiralty Judges."

Dec 10th: Of possible relevance, the Council of State recorded on Dec. 10th 1652 that "The paper for the Spanish Ambassafdor, now read, to be signed and sent to him to-morrow by Sir Oliver Fleming."

Dec 13th: The Council of State recorded on Dec. 13th 1652 that "Mr. Violet to assist, on behalf of the commonwealth, in the prosecution of the suits now in the Court of Admiralty against the Samson, Salvador, and George, and to acquaint Dr. Walker from time to time what he has to offer in reference to them."

Dec 15th: Of possible relevance, the Committee for Trade and Foreign Affairs recorded on Dec. 15th 1652 "Mr. Thurloe to look over the several letters from the Senate of Hamburg, concerning their ships stayed here, and to inquire into the proceedings in the Admiralty Court against those ships, and report."

Dec 20th: Of possible relevance, Council of State recorded on Dec. 20th 1652 that "The Commissioners for Sale of Dutch Prize Goods to send all bullion, gold, and silver, taken from time to time and adiudged prize, to the Tower to be coined."

Dec ?: Nine and a half page, unfinished, certificate of the Admiralty Judges to Parliament, dated Dec. ? 1652, "on their order to peruse the acts made by the Admiralty Court concerning the seizure of the ships St. Salvador and St. George of Hamburg, and the Samson of Lubec, as also their lading, and to state the whole matter of fact thereupon, as it stands in their court; also to consider the reasons given by the Spanish Ambassador against their proceedings, as being injurious and against the law and practice of nations. That it was alleged in November 1652, that the Samson and Salvador belonged to subiects of the King of Spain, and the Ambassador complains that the Admiralty Court, instead of ordering the takers to prove them enemy's goods, order the Spaniards to prove the contrary, which is against law, they being in possession. Arguments on both sides. Presumptions that the goods are Hollanders', because the States gave particular order for them to be protected against the English, which were needless had they been from Spain, with which there is free trade and no war. The rule is that neutral powers are to be impartial, and not colour the goods of nations in hostility. Any silver or goods of the Hollanders, though laden in ships of Spain, Flanders, or Hamburg, are prize."

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1653

Jan 3rd: The Committee for Trade and Foreign Affairs recorded on Jan. 3rd 1653 that "The deposition of Mr. Violet to be considered to-morrow, Sir Sack. Crowe, Pompey Kalendrine, the Admiralty Judges and Dr Walker to attend."

Jan 7th: The Committee for Trade and Foreign Affairs recorded on Jan. 7th 1653 that "The Admiralty Judges to send an account to Mr. Thurloe tomorrow of their proceedings against the Samson, Salvador, and George, and the whole state of that business."

Jan 7th: The Council of State recorded on Jan 7th 1653 that "The Committee for Foreign Affairs to consider what further allowance should be made to Dr. Walker, as advocate for the commonwealth in the Admiralty Court; and whether it may not be fit to add two able civilians to assist him for the effectual managing of the business."

Jan 10th: The Committee for Trade and Foreign Affairs recorded on Jan 10th 1653 an "Order on Council's reference of the 7th instant, that as Admiralty employment is very much increased by the war with Holland, Dr. Walker's allowance of 100 l. a year as advocate in the Admiralty Court be made 200 l. for the ensuing year. Also that for better managing the multiplied and weighty affairs in that court, Dr. Clerk, late one of the Admiralty Judges, be added to Dr. Walker for a year, with the same allowance."

Jan 27th: Of possible relevance, the Council of State recorded on Jan 27ththat "Mr. Thurloe to prepare the letter to Archduke Leopold this day passed in Parliament, for the signature of Mr. Speaker, and Fleming to send it to the Spanish Ambassador, that he may forward it."

Jan. 27th: The Council of State recorded on Jan 27th that "The papers sent from Parliament concerning the Samson, Salvador, and George referred to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, who are to prepare them to be presented to Parliament by Wednesday next."

Jan 28th: The Committee for Trade and Foreign Affairs recorded on Jan 29th that "The Admiralty Judges then to bring in the case of the Samson, Salvador, and George, avowed under their hands."

Feb 11th: Of possible relevance, the Committee for Trade and Foreign Affairs recorded on Feb 11th "The business of Spanish wools, represented to this Committee by the Admiralty Judges, to be reported to Council in the afternoon."

Feb 18th: The Committee for Trade and Foreign Affairs recorded on Feb 18th that "Dr. Walker to move the Admiralty Court to give a speedy order on the Samson, Salvador, and George, according to justice."

Feb 18th: Of possible relevance, The Council of State recorded on Feb 18th "The appointed Committee to meet the Spanish Ambassador next Monday at 4 p.m., in Whitehall. Fleming to give him notice."

Mar 4th: The Council of State recorded on Mar 4th that "Mr. Thurloe to declare to Dr. Walker that he may give such answers as he think fit to the paper published by the advocate of Flanders, upon the proceedings in the Admiralty Court upon the Samson, Salvadore, and George, and publish the same if he see cause."

Mar 11th: The Committee for Trade and Foreign Affairs recorded on Mar 11th that "The former report concerning Drs. Walker and Clerk, recomitted for further consideration, to be again offered to Council, after debate thereof."

Mar 14th: The Committee for Trade and Foreign Affairs recorded on Mar 14th that "Dr. Walker to give a full accoun, with all speed, of some speeches lately used in open court, much derogating from the due respect and honour thereof, upon the trial of the ship Samson in the Admiralty Court."

Mar 25th: The Council of State recorded on Mar 25th that "The petition of Juan de Lassa barrona and Juan Mexia de de Herrera, referred to the Committee for Foreign Affairs."

Mar 25th: The Council of State recorded on Mar 25th that "The petition of Thos. Violet referred to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, who are to hear what he has to say."

Mar 25th: Of possible relevance, the Council of State recorded on Mar 25th that "The petition of Manuel Corea, with others, referred to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, to confer with Dr. Walker and others as they think fit, and report."

Mar 30th: The Committee for Trade and Foreign Affairs recorded on Mar 30th that "The Commissioners for Prize Goods to attend Dr. Walker, and give him their evidence on the Samson, Salvador, and George, to use as appertaining to his place."

Mar 30th: The Committee for Trade and Foreign Affairs recorded on Mar 30th that "Mr. Violet to put in writing his information about Mr. Budd, proctor in the Admiralty Court, and Budd to attend the Committee and give in his answer."

Mar 31st 1653: The Council of State recorded on March 31st 1653 that Dr Walker, the advocate for the Commonwealth, was "to print his arguments against the pleas of the advocate from Flanders, and the arguments of the civilians of Louvaine (?), made upon a sentence lately given in the Court of Admiralty against the plate ships."

Mar 31st: The Council of State recorded on March 31st 1653 that an "Order on consideration of the great increase of labour in the Admiralty Court in the present state of things, that 100 l. a year be added to Dr. Walker's salary of 100 l.; that Dr. Wm. Clerke be the other next advocate, and that he have 200 l. a year; and order for Dr. Clerke's appointment accordingly"

Apr 1st: The Committee for Trade and Foreign Affairs recorded on April 1st 1653 that "the petitions of Juan Mexica de Herrera and Juan de Lossa Barrona to be sent to the Admiralty Judges, to report to this Committee what should be done in the cases, returning the petitions."

Apr 7th: The Committee for Trade and Foreign Affairs recorded on April 7th 1653 on the petition and remonstrance of severall Spaniards "claiming tobacco in the Samson, Salvador, and George, now in the Thames," that Thurloe confer with Drs Walker and Gierke and others, and inquire into the state of their case, and what should be done thereon, and report.

May 3rd 1653: The Council of State recorded on March 3rd 1653 in the day's proceedings that: "9. Account by the Commissioners of Prize Goods of the malpractices of Otho George and others interested in the three silver ships, Salvador, Samson, and George. That they made the purser alter his book, taking out the names of all Hollanders and Zealanders That they threw letters overboard tied to an iron bar, on comng into the Downs. That they threatened and attacked the surgeon and others who could bear evidence against them. That they said at Calais they were for Amsterdam, but hearing of the war breaking out, said they were for Ostend. That they altered their bills of lading, and tried to hide the silver. That they contradict themselves in swearing, pretend to be Hamburghers, [?XXX]landers, and inserting others.itheow though only speaking low Dutch, "c. "c. [3 pages]

[ADD MORE DATA]

Sep 1st: The Council of State recorded on Sep 1st 1653 that "The Commissioners for Prize Goods and their agents, the State solicitors and proctors, and Mr. Violet, to be ordered forthwith to meet and confer with Dr. Walker, and to look up ail their informations touching the silver and lading in the Samson, Salvadore, and George, and to take down in writing all the preparations of evidence and proofs thereupon, and draw a full plea by his advice for the protection for the State's interest, and to give in the names of all the material witnesses they know of, that the points may be proved by them, and the witnesses brought in and examined, that the commonwealth may suffer no default in those"

Sep 2nd 1653: The Council of State recorded on Sep 2nd 1653 that "Mr. Thurloe to prepare something declaratory for preventing frauds to the State in the not making of ships prizes, by their calling themselves Hamburgbers and Lubeekers when they really belong to the enemies of the State ; and if possible, to offer the same to Council to-morrow morning."

Sep 3rd: Item 46. and Item 47. "[Sept. 7.] 45. Petition of Geo. Boachaert of Hamburg to the Council of State, for speedy hearing of his cause by the Admiralty Judges, that he may be preserved from rum. Returning from Spain, was taken by English ships, and has waited many months to prove his interest in what he claims, being his whole livelihood, but wanting friends, must perish unless some one or more of the Admiralty Judges be ordered to hasten his cause. Has waited 10 months, and they will not proceed on the present order. [Sept. 7.] 46. Order thereon that the Admiralty Judges proceed speedily to determine the case. Also note that Mr. Advocate answer to Council for the contents of this order"

Sep 7th: Of possible relevance, the Council of State recorded on Sep 7 1653 that "The Committee of Council appointed to treat with the Spanish Ambassador to meet him at 5 next Friday at Whitehall. Fleming to give him notice."

Sep 7th: The Council of State recorded on Sep 7th 1653 "To order Major Wigan to withdraw the guard of soldieirs which, by order of Council, was placed upon the ships Samson and Salvadore."

Sep 15th: The Council of State recorded on Sep 15th 1653 that "The Mint Committee and the Lieutenant of the Tower to consider what allowances should be made to those employed on the business of the silver taken out of the Samson, Salvadore, and George, over and above the officers of the Mint, and to report."

Sep 30th: Item 151 "Report hy Dr. Walker to Council, on the petition of George Boschaert, referred to the Admiralty Judges. He represents in general terms that being a Hamburgher, on his return from Spain, he was taken by our ships, and has waited many months to prove his interest in what he claims. His claim, often agitated, is for 20,000 l.. if not 40,000 li. of silver in the Samson, Salvador, and George. The masters alleged the ships were free, being laden in free ports and to and from free ports. I required specification, and the rule of the Court was consonant thereto, and after long debate between the English and Spanish advocate, I obtained an order for it.

The shipmasters asked 6 months to make their claims, but meanwhile many particular claims were put in, and among them this of Boschaert, on 24 May 1653, for several great parcels of silver, on which I protested.

Many witnesses were examined, but weighty affairs prevented my having the matter heard before Council. Perusing Violet's book offering to prove the falsity of the bills of lading, and the frauds used by the Dutch, to make it out that most of the silver belonged to them, I tried to gain all the information I could from him, the Commissioners for Prize Goods, and the agents and solicitors. By the late order of 1 Sept. they were to confer with me, and I urged them to write down all their evidence, and issued a warrant for the claims, bills of lading, &c. to be shown to Violet.

Some examinations have since been taken, but more are required. Violet promises his help as soon as he has despatched something now before Council.

Therefore the matter is not ready for settlement, for though the proofs are published on Boschaert's part, they have to be made on the other side. But lest the time should run out and the claimers press an hearing, dispatch should be used that Violet may produce his evidence, it being very important that the case be managed according to the laws and practice of nations. [2 2/3 pages. Date endorsed on the reference, of 7 Sept. No. 46.]"

Oct 12th: The Council of State recorded on Oct 12th 1653 that "Thos. Violet to be authorised from time to time to produce before the judges in the Admiralty Court such witnesses as he has to offer for the commonwealth, against the Samson, Salvadore, and George, or any of the goods brought in them, and to assist in bringing the same to trial."

Oct 21st: The Council of State recorded on Oct 21st 1653 an "Order on consideration of the business of the wools taken in the Salvadore, Samson, and George, and in the Morning Star and Augustine, now depending in the Admiralty Court, which are claimed by the Spanish Ambassador as belonging to the King his master, that the Admiralty Judges proceed to sentence upon the wools, according to law."

Oct 31st: The Council of State recorded on Oct 31st 1653 " The petition of Jas. Walker and Rich. Scott, Scotchmen, and Peter Nott, a Lubecker, for three butts of sack taken in the Samson, being their own proper adventure, referred to the Admiralty Committee."

Nov 7th: The Council of State recorded on Nov 7th 1653 that "Rouse, Jones, Roberts, Fleetwood, Goddard, and Col. Cromwell, to be a Committee to consider of a paper from the Spanish Ambassador, presented this day, concerning bags of wool taken out of the Samson, Salvador, and George, to examine the fact, to send for Dr. Walker and such other persons, papers, and witnesses as they find necessary, and to report."

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1654

Feb. 22. "Item 52. Petition of Thos. Violet to the Protector. By several orders of the late Council of State I have assisted 14 months in prosecuting in the Admiralty Court the silver ships Samson, Salvador, and George, I find hundreds of claims put in for the silver and merchandise, by Spaniards, Flandrians, and Hamburghers, and scores of examinations to prove them to belong to Spaniards and Hamburghers, and I think it my duty to acquaint you therewith.

I beg you to appoint a Committee to take an exact account of all the transactions in that business, and of how it stands in the Admiralty Court, what claims are fit to come to trial, and what should be respited till the return of commissions from foreign parts. Also to order Dr. Walker and me to attend the said Committee, to advise how the business may best be carried on, and vindicate the justice of this nation for staying the silver and merchandise. With reference thereon to Council, 3 Feb. 1654. [1 page.]

Order in Council referring the same to Lambert, Lisle, and Sydenham, who are to send for the petitioner and Dr. Walker, and any other persons or papers they think fit, and report. [1. 75, p. 131.]"

Mar 28th: "March 28. Item 60. Account presented by Thos. Violet to the Committee on the plate ships [see 22 Feb. 1654] of all his previous proceedings relating to the said ships; of the best mode to prevent embezzlement; of the nature of the claims made upon the silver, &c.; suggestions as to the best mode of proceeding in reference to them, and details of his own expenditure and services therein. [53/4 closely written pages.]"

Mar 31st: The Council of State recorded on March 31st 1654 that "Order on petition of Wm. Astoll and Wm. Pembridge, about the discovery of the silver ships, that the master of requests procure the Admiralty judges' report mentioned, so that further order may be taken."

May 4th The Council of State recorded on May 4th 1654 that "21. Order — on representation that the goods in the Samson, Salvadore, St. George, Golden Morning Star, and St. Augustine, having remained many months in warehouses, will decay and he rendered of little value to the State or their claimers, if order be not taken for their disposal; — that the Admiralty Commissioners order their sale, unless on speaking with Dr. Walker, they see cause to the contrary; if they are sold, Council will order satisfaction to those claiming interest in them according to their rate of sale, if, on determing their claims in the Admiralty Court, there shall appear just cause. Approved 4 May."

Aug. 25th "Aug. 25, 21. Accounts presented to the Mint Committe by Col. John Berkstead, on their order of 3 May, of the money lately coined in the Tower : —

Silver received from the Samson, Salvador, £ s. d.

George, Morning Star, and Angel of Flushing, from 17 June 1653 to 10 May 1654, when coined at 3 l. the pound-weight £276,702 16 s 0 d
Expense of coinage, 9,223 l. 8 s. 6 d.
Paid on orders given to G. Frost, the Navy treasurer, deputy treasurer of the fleet, Col. Wm. Goffe and Lieut-Col. White, and the Treasurers-at-war £239,560 0 s 0 d

Balance £37,142 16 s 0 d

Received back in part of two of the above orders £9,260 0 s 0 d

Balance £46,402 16 s 0 d

Account of the sheer money of the aforesaid silver, adding 594 l. 6 s.. 4 d. gold, taken from the silver ingots. Total £1,?673 12 s 5 d

Paid for Treasury contingencies, counting rooms, and service from other than the Mint officers £1,122 14 s 2 d

Total receipts £287,536 8 s 5 d

Total payments £240,682 14 s 2 d

Balance in hand £46,853 14 s 3 d

Also a parcel of gilt plate and of West India bezar.

List of the persons employed about the silver from the Samson, Salvador, and George, and other services connected with the aforesaid accounts. Account of receipts and payments from 10 May to 15 Aug., leaving the balance in hand £37,225 l. 10 s. 5 d., of which 3,400 l. being already charged on the Treasury by an order of Council, the remainder is 3,225 l. 10 s. 5 d. Noted as carefully examined by Wm. Jessop, [7 sheets.]"

Aug 31st [ADD ENTRY FROM PP. 346-347 CSPD 1654]

Sep 2nd: "[Sept. 2.] Item 12. Dr. Walter Walker to Sec Thurloe. It appears by yours that the Hamburg agent urges a judgment on the Samson, Salvador, and George. I waited on you yesterday at Whitehall about it, but could not see you.

The matter of the silver is much stronger than that of the ships. I attended a Committee of Council upon it, on a reference from his Highness on Mr. Violet's petition, and sent a report, which remains with Council, about the silver, the ships, and the tobacco, and other goods.

The ships have lain so long in the river that they are much injured, and grow worse daily, and ought to come to judgment; and the owners are clamorous for a hearing before they perish. The reason of the firet opposal was to prevent the enforcement of the argument upon the silver, that it should not be pressed upon us that it came In free ships, but cautions may be taken that this should
not be ui^ed as a consequence.

The judges have been threatened in court for not assigning a hearing, which, by the rules of juaticc, cannot be denied, but I leave
it to your wisdom and reason of State. [1 page.^

Sept. 2. Order in Council that the Admiralty judges determine the ease of the said ships according to law and justice. Approved 2 Sept. [7. 75,3Jp. 558,.565.]"

Dec 13th: The Council of State recorded on Dec 13th 1654 an "Order in the Admiralty Committee to request the Protector and Council for an order to dispose of the Samson, Salvadore, and George, which had the great quantity of silver on board, to the best
advantage of the State, the Prize Goods' Commissioners reporting that they are much injured by having lain 2 years in the Thamea,
and arc in a perishable condition, and a great charge, by keeping men on board. Noted as read 28 Dec, but respited till Gen. Desborow be present. [1 page.]"

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1655

Feb ?X: "Note of a petition referred to the Committee for Petitions of Henrique Geo. Mendez, on behalf of Ferdinando Montesines Assentista, of the kingdom of Spain, for restitution of Spanish wools and cochineal imported in the St. George and Salvador, Order in Council — as to wools brought in by the Peter, Swan, and Hope, and the proceeds assigned for the King of Spain in Flanders, but the vessels taken at sea, and restitution ordered in the Admiralty Court to Montesines, in spite of which part has been seized by attachment from the Court of the Sheriff of London, at suit of Antonio Duarte Rodrigues Lamego, merchant of Rohan, — that the wools be entirely freed, as decreed in the Admiralty Court, Approved 23 Feb. [I.92, No.144; I.75, pp. 685, 695.]"

Apr 25: "Notes of petitions, the consideration of which was transferred in 1654 to the Committee for Petitions, but on which nor reports were made, nor Council orders given...John Dethick, Nathan Wright, &c, that Serjeant (?) Eltonhead may receive a determination in the Admiralty on 8,000 l., in pieces of 8, taken in the silver ships Salvadore, &c., he pretending the dependence there a bar for doing them justice upon a contract for a sum of ryals. [No.228.]"

Jul 4th "July 4. Item 14. Wm. Astell to the Protector. Abr. Johnson, a Dutchman, pretends to be an Englishman, and the discoverer of the 3 silver ships. I confess he discovered them to me and Wm. Pembridge, and we were examined before the Prize Commissioners, who sent us to Woolwich, to see what we could gather from the Dutch, when we heard that the trumpeter had confessed that the ships, with their silver and lading were of Holland, but Johnson never acted with us after. He was very obstinate and drunken, and would hardly be examined unless he knew what he should have for it, and by his contradictions, we lost the ships, though three of their own men said they were of Holland. He pretends to have lost a ship worth 300 1. by a Flushinger. He sold the sails and cables of a Mr. Baron who employed him. He was pressed on board the Plymouth frigate, but got off with a month's pay, by pleading that he was a Dutchman, and should be hanged if he were taken. [1 sheet]"

Jul 4th: "July 4. Item 15, Petition of Wm. Astell to the Protector. Thanks for your gracious promises to put an end to my long waiting, but there is a stop by one, Johnson, a Dutchman, pretending to be English, who has laid a great scandal on me, which I hope you will not believe, as he is a vile wretch ; I bear it patiently, for wicked men scandalize you without cause, and the servant must not be above his master. Pray let me see the paper put in against me, and give me a reference to the Admiralty Judges, or Prize Office Commissioners. [1/2 page]"

Jul ?4th "July 4? Item 16. Wm. Astell to Wm. Jessop. Thanks for your promise of help. I have long lived in a sad condition for my fidelity to the State, having left my calling and joined the people of God, to help the Lord against the mighty. I have been an officer throughout, am much in arrears, and never had a penny; yet I undertook the labour of prosecuting those silver ships, and have only had 40 l. on a report from the judges to his Highness; and now I suffer on a wrong information; yet I am content if I may obtain a place. I dare not speak to Maj.-Gen. Skippon, for he has been the best friend in England to me and my wife. Let me know if his Highness or Council have been moved for a place for me. [1 page.]
Annexing,

Item 16. I. Warrant by Council, on an Order of 3 May, to Gualter Frost, to pay to Wm. Astell 40 l., for special service, out of Council moneys. Whitehall, 8 May 1654. [Copy 1 page.]"

Jul 12th: The Council of State recorded on Jul 12th 1655 "The petition of Abr. Johnson and his wife Magdalene, which was referred to the Committee on the Salvadore and other silver ships; also the petitions of Wm. Astell and Anne Pembridge concerning the same matter, referred to Lambert, Jones, Strickland, Sydenham, and Montague, to report."

Aug 20 "[Aug. 20.] Tem 38. Abstract by Wm. Astell of his proceedings in reference to the silver ships

On 21 January 1652-3, Ab. Johnson told me and Wm. Pembridge that the Samson, Salvador, and George belonged to Holland, and said he would confess it before the Prize Commissioners. They sent 4 of us to Woolwich to make discoveries, and we met with the trumpeter of the Salvador, Corn. Petersen, who discovered to us what I have already alleged, and said they could get at the silver and fill their pockets when they pleased. I told the Prize Commissioners this, in order that the waiters might search them, and they gave me and Pembridge a letter to Col. Barkstead, who gave us a search warrant; but our intentions were soon known; though we took no silver, we kept them from stealing, as the seamen were to be searched before leaving the ship; but 2 bars taken by the gunner and hidden in his cabin were seized.

I showed my paper of discovery to Dr. Walker, and he was angry that it had not been brought in before; then I sent it to the Council of State by Maj.-Gen. Desborow, who hade me see what more I could discover.

I was from January to October before I could get my witnesses examined, and then the examinations were delivered to Mr. Violet, who pretended to the discovery, and my labour would have been imputed to him, but my wife informed Dr. Walker to the contrary. I often went to the Admiralty Judges for publication, but could get none, so I thought all was done, and begged a gratuity, when his Highness sent to the Judges for examination and report. At last the Judges brought a report, I know not what; Judge Godolphin said it was not ripe, but I might ask for charges, when I got 40 l. I had then been 16 months on the business, and still went on, till at last I got publication, and then the trial was 3/4 of a year, and I followed it to the end; but by means of Ab. Johnson and his wife, the Samson was cleared, though afterwards made prize, because some Spaniards were part owners. It was in the height of our Holland war, and I prosecuted the ships because they sailed from Amsterdam, and were bound to Amsterdam, and that not on Johnson's discovery, but on what I heard from Corn. Petersen, the trumpeter. Johnson claims the discovery, but he never put in a paper, nor brought witnesses, nor was at any charge. [41/2 pages.]"

Aug 20th "Aug. 20. Item 39. Similar paper, but more lengthy in its details. [61/2 pages.}
Annexing,

Item 39. I. Warrant by Col. John Barkstead, Lieutenant of the Tower, to all constables, officers, &c. of the Thames, and in Middlesex and Surrey, to assist Wm. Astell and Wm. Pembridge in finding out silver conceived to be embezzled from the Dutch prizes between the Tower and Gravesend, and to apprehend those concerned therein, and bring them before him, or a justice of peace near, to be proceeded against according to law. Tower, 5 Feb. 1652-3. [Copy, 1 page.]

Item 39. II. Dr. Walter Walker to Sec. Thurloe. The bearer begs that Urian Martesen may be examined about the silver in the Samson, &c. I tell him this cannot be without Council's order, hut he is so importunate, because the man is soon
going out of England, that I trouble you with these lines. 4 July, 1653. [I page.]"

Sep "[Sept] Item 162. Answer by Wm. Astell to the report about him sent by the Prize Commissioners to Council. It was Mr. Violet, not my wife and I, who accused Ab. Johnson of perjury. I repeated it because Johnson said he had spent 300 l.. in maintaining me and the rest of the witnesses, whereas he never spent a penny, for all the charge lay on me, and he said a thing one day and denied it the next. I have not been perfidious, as he accuses me. The Commissioners join me with Mrs. Pembridge, but she had nothing to do with it. I only asked them for my charges in lying 4 months on the Thames, but am not yet paid.

Dr. Walker said that no one came in on the case except Mr. Violet, and so the onus prohandi was cast upon them, but I had given in my paper long before to the Commissioners of Prize Goods, and thought they would look after it, I showed a copy to Dr. Walker when I heard the Spanish agent plead, and he was angry because it was not brought in before, which was the Prize Commissioners' fault.

It was the long delay, and the death of some of our witnesses that caused the claimers' proofs to be more effectual than ours. The Commissioners say they have paid me 5 l. 8 s. 0 d. more than ever I have received. [4 pages, containing beside the above, much repetition of his other statements] Annexing,

Item 162. I. Depositions on 39 interrogatories of Urian Marteson. {51/4 pages.] Also,
Information of Roger Thorpe as to the taking of 2 bars of silver by the gunner of the George, 30 Jan. 1654-5. [I3/4 pages.] Also,
Answer of Wm. Astell, surgeon, of Allhallows, Barking, aged 60, to 10 interrogatories, 13 Oct, 1653. [3 pages.]

Item 162. II. Further depositions of Urian Marteson, 7 Aug. 1655. [2 pages.]

Item 162. III. Certificate by Geo. Parker that Ah. Johnson did not maintain Wm. Astell nor Wm. Pembridge with meat or drink in his house. 22 Sept. 1652. [Scrap.]

Item 162. IV. Affidavit of Barbara, wife of Wm. Astell, that when Ab. Johnson had been examined several times ahout the silver ships, he would come no more, and told her he would be hanged before he would come, unless he knew what he should have; she persuaded Mr. Arnold to send for him. which was unusual, as those that come in for the State should come freely, and then he and Urian Marteson both were exainined at the Admiralty Court, in Sept. 1653. 24 Sept. 1655. [1 page.]

Item 162. V. Depositions of Ab. Johnson's witnesses, in the case of the
Samson, &c., viz. : —

Rich. Chambers, 20 Sept. [3/4 page.]
Hen. Groome. [1/4 page.]

162. VI. Certificate hy Edw. Bendall, rector of Cotgrage, co. Notts, that he found on enquiry that Johnson was the prime discoverer, and that Astell and the others who wished to share in the premium, had no right thereto; and that he promised to try to get Johnson a reward from the Prize Cowmissioners, if he would not join the others. Attended the Commission thereon, when the objections raised were, —
1. Whether Johnson was the primary discoverer?
2. That they could pay nothing till it it was fully proved that the ships were prizes. [3 pages.]"

Oct 5th "Oct. 5 Prize Office, London. Item 19. Commissioners for Prizes to Wm. Jessop, Whitehall. We request you to annex the enclosed to the papers already delivered you concerning Ab. Johnson and the other petitioners about the Samson, &c. [1/2 page.]"

Oct 12th "Oct. 12. Note of a petition, referred to the Committee for Petitions, of Anne, widow of Wm. Pembridge, searcher for the Port of London, for allowance for his charges as one of the discoverers of the plate ships, Astell, another discoverer, having had 501. ; reported for lOL from Council's contingencies. [I.92, No. 242.]

Oct 12th: "Oct. 12. Like note of a petition of Wm. Astell, for consideration of his pains, time, and charge about discovering the silver ships, for which iOl. or 501. was ordered him, S May 1651. [I.92, No. 192.]"

Oct 12th: "Oct. 12. Like note of a petition of Abr. Johnson for payment for his aervJees in discovering the silver ships. Order in Council on a report of the Committee of Council, who were to consider a report from Dr. Walker and the Prize Goods' Commissioners on the petitions of Johnson and Astell, and Anne Pembridge, — that neither the said persons nor Mrs. Urdge obtained any advantage to the State by their testimony, and that they have been paid for their pains, — that the said petitions be dismissed. [I.92, No 469, I. 76, p.334.]"

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1656

Jan 16th: The Council of State recorded on Jan 16th 1656 that "The petition and papers of Thos. Violet referred to Montague and Sydenham, to report."

Jan 22nd: The Council of State recorded on Jan 22nd 1656 "Strickland added to the Committee on Thos. Violet's petition."

Jan 26th The Council of State recorded on Jan 26th 1656 the "Petition of Chris. Boone, merchant of London, to the Protector. Having lately resided and traded in Spain, since my return, I delivered to Adrian Goldsmith of Antwerp goods value 200,000 ryals, and for payment, on 6 Nov. 1654, he assigned to me some silver and cochineal on board the Samson, Salvador, &c., which were seized and brought in, and his claim thereto proved.

As such transfers are always held good among merchants, and cannot well be denied for the upholding of trade, and as the assignment was made 14 Feb. 1654-5, long before the differences with Spain, I beg the benefit of the assignment, and of Goldsmith's right to the goods. With reference thereon to Council. [1 page.]

Mar 21st: The Council of State recorded on Mar 21st 1656 an "Order on report from the Commissioners on Thos. Violet's petition, — praying that certain bonds seized by the Committee of Salop may be restored to him; as they were for 40 l., used by the Committee for public good, — that on his paying 40l. he receive the bonds, which he may sue, as he might have done before, and that John Corbett see the bonds delivered. Approved 31 March."

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Timeline

Please enter below all events relating to the Admiralty court case of three Silver ships. Be as specific as possible in terms of day, month, and year.

Please note whether the dates you enter are New or Old style (typically non-English witnesses will use New Style dates, and English witnesses will use Old style dates. In the 1650s the same day in New style was ten days ahead in terms of date compared with Old style.

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1642

Month unspecified: The ship the Saint George was built at Hamburg.

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1643

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1644

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1645

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1646

Month unspecified: The ship the Sampson was built and completed in Lubeck in 1646.

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1647

Month unspecified: The ship the Salvador was built at Hamburg

June 1647: Departure of the Salvador on her first voyage from Hamburg to Spain

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1648

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1649

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1650

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1651

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1652

June 1652: The ship the Golden Sunn (Master: Peter Tam) departed Cadiz bound for Ostend. The ship ws laden with cutcheneale by the Governor of Cadiz "in the service of his Catholique Majestie in fflanders.

?July/August/September 1652: Arrival at Cadiz of the "Plate fleete of Spaine" from the West Indies

September 1652: The ship the Mercurius (Master: Hance Yonger) departed Cadiz a full month and above before the ships the Sampson, Salvadore and Saint George departed from the same port. According to Henry Slegar, a sailor on the Salvadore, the Mercuius set sail from Cadiz in the company of the Saint John Evangelist (Master: John de Vas).

October 10th, 11th or 12th 1652 [old style]: Departure of the ships the Sampson, Salvadore and Saint George from Cadiz bound allegedly for Ostend.

As early as October 28th 1652; as late as November 2nd 1652 [old style]: Seizure of the ships the Sampson, Salvadore and Saint George by the English in the English Channel. Matter of legal dispute as to the intended destination of the ships. Hamburg sailor Henry Slegar, who was onboard the Salvadore at the time of her seizure, states that she was seozed "in the English Channell off of Portsmouth" about eighteen days or three weeks after departing Cadiz. Christian Cloppenburgh, master of the Salvador, states the three silver ships departed Cadiz on October 10th, 11th or 12th 1652 and were seized in the English channell eighteen or twenty days later.

October 28th 1652: London merchant Gyles Vandeputt claims he took out several policies of assurance drawn at the Assurance Office in London for Antwerp merchant John Bollart's silver on bord the ships the Saint George and the Salvador.

November 22nd 1652 [new style] [November 12th old style]: London merchant Stephen Puckle described being in the company of a number of Dutchmen on November 22nd 1652 (new style), travelling on a barge or skute from Delft to the Hague. He stated that "the sayd Dutch amongst other matters fell into discourse about the takeing of the sayd three shipps by the English which had the plate and sylber in them, meaning and speaking of the sayd shipps Sampson Salvador and Saint George above mentioned, And in that discourse one of the sayd dutch men who was one of the Lords of delph and a Bewinthebber of the Dutch East India Company did then and there in the presence and hearing of him this deponent confidently affirme to the rest of the gentlemen in company together in the sayd skute, that the plate and sylver which was on board those shipps then lately seized by the English meaning and speaking of the foresayd three shipps did belong to severall dutchmen of Amsterdam and harlem or to that effect, And further also sayd that although it might be pretended that the sayd sylver did belong to Hamburgh, yet att last (sayd he) it will fall upon our owne heads, meaning and speaking of the Dutch that were subiects of the States aforesayd, And further then likewise added that the English were subtile enough to find out the ground of the busines, or to the selfe same effect and purpose, for which reasons this deponent for his part did and doth verily beleive that the plate and sylver in the sayd three shipps did and doth really belong to the subiects of the sayd States of the United Netherland Provinces."

November & December 1652: Spanish Ambassador in London and various agents of Duke Leopoldus and Licencees of the King of Spain living in Antwerp asserted to the Admiralty Court, the Council of State and the English Parliament that "all the lading, both silver and merchandize in the said ships, did appertain to the King of Spain and his subjects, and none other"

Early December 1652: Order of English Parliament to the Admiralty Court Judges to proceed to judgement concerning the three silver ships

December 8th 1652: The goldsmith Thomas Violet laidd a paper before the Council of State begging a strict enquiry relative to the three silver ships as they awaited judgement in the Admiralty Court as to whether they were good prize. Violet claims subsequently that his paper or writing was referred to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, and that in his writing "Your Supplicant discovered the fraudulent Practises of the Spanish Embassadour, an[?d] Duke Leopoldus and his Agents, to defraud the Parliament of a Vast Summ of Treasure, above three hundred Thousand Pounds; which was brought up into the River as a Prize, in three ships, viz. The Sampson, Salvador, and George".

December 13th 1652: Council of State ordered that Thomas Violet assist Dr Walker, the Commonwealth advocate, in prosecuting the three silver ships.

December 17th 1652: Thomas Violet made a protest in the Admiralty Court "against the Judges and their Proceedings." Apparently this was the day the Judges were intending to discharge the ships.

December 17th 1652: Thomas Violet was required to appeare before the Council of State at 3 pm, at the demand of the Admiralty Court, "to answer before the Counsel for his actions. Judge Exton, for the Admiralty Court, apparently clained that Violet's protest was "made against and contrary to an order of Parliament". Violet claims that "upon full debate in the Counsel of State, these three ships and silver were all (by Order of Counsel) stayed" and Violet thanked for his service, "and presently commanded with all diligence to make his proof, whereby to disprove the Spanish Ambassadors Claims"

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1653

Possibly early 1653: Petition of Juan de lossa Barrona, a Spaniard born in Segovia, Spain, regarding the seizure of his goods in the ship the Saint George of Hamburg (Master: John Martin), leading to he himself being detained in London hoping that the ship with her lading would be released "to finish her voyage to Ostend". The ship not being released, the petitioners business affairs pressed for him to depart to Flanders.

January 21st or 22nd 1653: Various Admiralty Court deponents testifying on behalf of the Commonwealth claim to have been in company of Cornelius Peterson, trumpeter of the ship the Salvador at the sign of the ship in Woolwich, and that Petrson confessed that all three silver ships belonged to Holland and specifically that the ship the Salvador was bound for Amsterdam when she was seized.

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1654

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1655

April 3rd 1655: Petition to the English Admiralty Court judges of Christian Cloppenburgh, master of the ship the Sampson, on behalf of himself and the rest of the owners of the ship. States his ship has been detained for more than two years depending on a suit in the Admiralty Court about proving her to be prize and that a sentence had recently been passed by the Court setting the ship and her freight free. However, Thomas Violet had put in information that some silver had been purloyned or embeazled out of a different ship (the Salvadore (Master: Otto George)), and that under this pretence the ship had been further detained. Asked the Court that his ship be speedily discharged to save him and it from utter ruin.

April 3rd 1655: Petition to the English Admiralty Court judges of John Martindorp, master of the ship the Saint George, on behalf of himself and the rest of the owners of the ship. Similar plea to the petition of the same date made by Christian Cloppenburgh.

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1656

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1657

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1658

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1659

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Witness list

Please add witness details and linked references in alphabetical order of witness.

William Astell of the parish of Allhallows Barking London Chirurgeon aged 60 yeares
William Astell of the parish of All Hallowes Barking London Chirurgeon, aged 60 yeares
John Bacon of the parish of Saint Giles Criplegate in the Citty of London Mariner Owner and master of the shipp the John of London aged five and forty yeares
Beniamin Bathurst of London Merchant aged 19 yeares
Albert Bechere of the free Citie of Lubeck Mariner at present Master or Commander of the shipp the King David of London aged 47. yeares
Joachim Beene of hamborough Mariner aged 35. yeares
Joachim Beene of hamborough Mariner aged 35. yeares
Antonio Fernandez Caravashall of London Merchant aged 54 yeares
Antonio Fernandez Caravashell of London Merchant aged 54 yeares
Christian Cloppenburgh of hamborough Mariner aged 43. yeares
Christian Cloppenburgh of Hamborough Mariner Master of the shipp the Salvadore aged 44 yeares
Christian Cloppenburgh of Hamburgh Mariner Master of the said shipp Salvador aged 44 yeares
Christian Cloppenburgh of hamborough Mariner aged 43 yeares
Manuell Corea Citizen of Varines in the West Indye Merchant aged about 34 yeares
Manuell Corea Citizen of Varines in the West Indye Merchant aged about 34 yeares
Manuell Corea Citizen of Varines in the West Indye Merchant aged about 34 yeares
Manuell Corea Citizen of Varines in the West Indye Merchant aged about 34 yeares
Manuell Corea Citizen of Varines in the West Indye Merchant aged about 34 yeares
Manuell Corea Citizen of Varines in the West Indye Merchant aged about 34 yeares
Guillermo Crombeen of Cadiz Spaine Merchant aged about twenty five yeares
Anthonio Da La Rosa of Sivill in Spayne Marriner aged about 32 yeares
Antonio De La Rosa of [?XXX] [?XXX] in the West Indies Mariner aged 32 yeares
Anthonio Da La Rosa of Sivill in Spayne Marriner aged about 32 yeares
Anthonio Da La Rosa of Sivill in Spayne Marriner aged about 32 yeares
Antonio da Ponte of Teneriffa in the Canary Islands merchant aged twenty eight yeares
Antonio da Ponte of Tenariffa merchant aged 28 yeares
Antonio Estevan de Balderas of Madrid an Inhabitant of Limma in the Indies merchant aged thirty eight yeares
Antonio Estevan de Balderas of Limma in the West Indies merchant aged 38 yeares
Philipp de La [?Surpe] of Sunkirk merchant where he hath lived for fifteene yeares or thereabouts aged 23 yeares
Carsten Franck of Lubeck Shipwright aged 32. yeares
Carsten Franck of Lubeck shipwright aged 32. yeares
John Gover of London Merchant aged 24 yeares<ref?HCA 13/67 f.? IMG_117_07_1529</ref>
John Hanschen of Antwerp Marchant aged 21 yeeres
Magdalena Hendricks the wife of Abraham Johnson living in the Minories neere London aged thirty two yeares
Magdalena Hendrickes the wife of Abraham Johnson living in the Minneries nere London wall saylemaker, aged thirtie two yeares
Abraham Johnson of the precinct of Saint Catherins neere the Tower of London Sailemaker aged 35 yeares
Thomas Juan of Cadiz in Spayne Marriner aged about [?40] yeares
Roger Kilvert of London Marchant, aged 67 yeares
Robert Kilvert of London Merchant aged 67. yeares
John Lowers of Masterland in Norway Mariner aged 26. yeares
John Lowers of Masterland in Norway Mariner aged 26. yeares
John Martenson-Dorp of hamborough Mariner aged 53. yeares
Jurian Martinson of fflintzbourgh in Holsteinland Mariner, aged 34 yeares
Domingo Padellas of Saint Lucar in Spayne Merchant aged 29 yeares
Domingo Padellas of Saint Lucar in Spayne Merchant aged 29 yeares
Domingo Padilla (sic) of Saint Lucar in Spayne merchant where he hath lived for most the part from his birth being there borne aged 29 yeares
William Pembridge of the Parrish of Saint Magnus London Habberdasher aged 42 yeares
William Pembridge of the parish of Saint Magnus London haberdasher, aged 48 yeares
John Perryn of Feversham in Kent mariner aged 32 yeares
Joachim Pesler of der [?Meuble] in Prussia, Chirurgeon and late Chirurgeon of the said shipp the Sampson aged 36 yeares
Stephen Puckle of Eastsmithfeild neere London Merchant aged fifty nine yeares
Stephen Puckle of Eastsmithfeild neere London Merchant aged fifty nine yeares
Stephen Puckle of East Smithfeild neere London Merchant aged fifty nyne yeares
Hance Ramke of Hamborough Mariner aged 40 yeares
Hans Ramkey of hamborough Mariner aged 40 yeares
Peter Rokes of Lubeck in Germania Mariner Steeresman of the shipp the Goulden Grape of dantsick aged 43. yeares
John Baptista Sabino of Cadiz in Spaine Merchant aged 27 yeares
John Baptista Sabino of Cadiz in Spaine Merchant aged 27 yeares
John Baptista Sabino of Cadiz in Spaine Merchant aged 27 yeares
John Baptista Sabino of Cadiz in Spaine Merchant aged 27 yeares
John Baptista Sabino of Cadiz in Spaine Merchant aged 27 yeares
Henry Slegar of hamborough Saylor aged 23. yeares
Henry Slucker of hamborough Mariner aged 23 yeares
Tobias Sollicoffre, of the Citie of Saint Gallen in Switzerland Consull for the hansa Townes in the Maritime parts of Provence in ffrance aged 27. yeares also deposed on the seizure of the Sampson by the French
Thomas Swann of Cadiz in Spaine Marriner aged 40 yeares
Thomas Swann of Cadiz in Spaine Marriner aged 40 yeares: upon Interrogatories
ffrancis Thoris of London Merchant aged forty eight
Roger Thorpe one of the Weighters of the Custome house London, aged 43 yeares
William Turner of Blackffryars London one of the Waiters under the Commissioners for prize goods, aged 39 yeares
Thomas Sanchez de Vacar of Cadiz in Spayne Merchant about 30 yeares
Giles Vandeputt of the parish of Saint Martins Orgers in the City of London Merchant aged 32 yeares
Henrick Vett of hamborough Mariner aged 36. yeares
John Willmott of London Merchant aged twenty eight yeares

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Primary source material other than depositions

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HCA 15/6 Box 2

Item: Petition of Christian Cloppenburgh: Date: April 3rd 1655

Item: Petition of John Martindorp: Date: April 3rd 1655

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Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Interregnum

"1652: 26. The Committee for Foreign Affairs to sit on Monday. The Admiralty Judges and Dr. Walker to attend, and report what has been done in that court about the ships Samson, Salvador, and George. 27. Orders for regulating Council's proceedings to be considered on Monday. 28-30. Serjeant Dendy, Mr. Scutt..."

"Jun 1653: ...Admiralty Court, and deliver in on oath after the usual manner the papers now sealed up, which were taken out of the Samson, Salvadore, and George. 10, 11. Mr. Perrott and Mr. Throckmorton, prisoners with the Serjeant-at-arms for being engaged in a challenge, to be dismissed on bonds in 1,000 l . and two..."

"Dec. 1654: Warrants of the Council of State, Generals of the Fleet, &c ...Bristol, to transport 40 draugh t nags to Barbadoes, for the use of the sugar mills, on the same terms as others. 120 — — " 21 " Pass For Eliz. Meutis to Flanders 127 — — " " " Comrs. for Sale of Dutch Prizes. To seize and secure some gold and silver embezzled from the Samson, Salvador, and George in the..."

"1654: the Admiralty Committee to request the Protector and Council for an order to dispose of the Samson, Salvadore, and George, which had the great quantity of silver on board, to the best advantage of the State, the Prize Goods' Commissioners reporting that they are much injured by having lain 2 years in..."

"Sep 1653: the Samson, Salvadore, and George, and to take down in writing all the preparations of evidence and proofs thereupon, and draw a full plea by his advice for the protection for the State's interest, and to give in the names of all the material witnesses they know of, that the points may be proved by..."

"Nov 1653: consideration of a paper from the Spanish ambassador presented this day to the council, concerning certain bags of wooll, taken out of the Samson, Salvador, and George, and to examine the matter of fact, and for their better information to send for doctor Walker, and such other persons, papers, and witnesses as..."

NEED TO COMPLETE LINKING OF TEXT BELOW

Volume 32 - January 1653

Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Interregnum, 1652-3

send an account to Mr. Thurloe tomorrow of their proceedings against the Samson, Salvador, and George, and the whole state of that business. 3. The petition of Col. Ryley to be considered on Wednesday, and he to be here. 4. Mr. Thurloe to draw up a paper to be offered to Council, to be sent to foreign

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53415

Volume 34 - March 1653

Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Interregnum, 1652-3

referred to the Committee for Foreign Affairs. 15. Mr. Thurloe to declare to Dr. Walker that he may give such answers as he thinks fit to the paper published by the advocate of Flanders, upon the proceedings in the Admiralty Court upon the Samson, Salvadore, and George, and publish the same if he see

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53417

Volume 33 - February 1653

Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Interregnum, 1652-3

February 1653 Feb. 1. 4. Order in the Council for Trade and Foreign Affairs, that the account brought in by the Admiralty Judges of their proceedings in the Admiralty Court, on the Samson, Salvador, and George, be presented to Council. [ I . 132, p . 61.] Feb. 1. 1, 2. Petition of Thomas Jennings

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53416

Volume 76 - September 1654

Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Interregnum, 1654

into one treasury. [ Excise Coll. pp . 149–154, Vol . 98, June 1655.] [Sept. 2.] 12. Dr. Walter Walker to Sec. Thurloe. It appears by yours that the Hamburg agent urges a judgment on the Samson, Salvador, and George. I waited on you yesterday at Whitehall about it, but could not see you. The matter of

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53456

State Papers, 1654 - March (5 of 5)

A collection of the State Papers of John Thurloe, volume 2

ships the Samson, Salvadore, and St. George, in the port of Cadiz, being his own port, several bags of wools, to be transported to another port of his own in Flanders, for his own account, there to be delivered to his assistants, for his own account, towards the payment of his armies. That these ships

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=55311

Volume 36 - May 1653

Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Interregnum, 1652-3

of Otho George and others interested in the three silver ships, Salvador, Samson, and George. That they made the purser alter his book, taking out the names of all Hollanders and Zealanders, and inserting others. That they threw letters overboard tied to an iron bar, on coming into the Downs. That

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53419

Volume 130 - October 1656

Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Interregnum, 1656-7

the next post after I have received the value. I am surprised your friends do not put another address on your letters. [1 page, French .] Oct. 20. 63. Shorthand notes of proceedings in the Committee upon the case of the [silver] ships Samson, Salvador, and George. [3¼ pages, undecyphered .] Oct. 21.

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=54487

[ADD DATA]

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List of individuals

Peter Eleston/Eleson, innkeeper of the Goulden Posthorne on the sea dike in Amsterdam
John Martindorp (Master: The Saint George)
Tam (Master: The Goulden Sunn)
Hanse Younger (Master: The Mercurius)

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Cast of Characters

Please add key characters in the affair of the silver ships, together with short referenced profiles of the characters.

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Christian Cloppenburgh

Master of the ship the Salvadore of Hamburg. Aged forty-four in June 1655.

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Antonio Estevan de Balderas

Spanish merchant, resident in Lima in the Spanish West Indies.

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Otto George

Master of the ship the Sampson of Lubeck (December 1646-November 1654). According to the Hamburg mariner Joachim Beene, Otto George was earlier the commander of the ship the Saint Lucar de Barrameda, and sailed her in 1646 from Cadiz to Hamburg, where in December 1646 Otto George left the ship and went on to Lubeck "expressely (as hee the said Otto then declared to this examinate) to buy the said ship the Sampson. Joachim Beene suggests that Otto George was "first made skipper of her about December 1646, or in the beginning of the ensueing yeare 1647, in which yeare this deponent saw her in Spaine under the conduct of the said Otto George." Beene states that the very first voyage of the Sampson was made from Lubeck to Spain in 1647.

Born in Hamburg, Otto George died in 1654 a married man, keeping his wife in Lubeck from at least 1647. Despite his birth in Hamburg, Otto George was "a citizen and inhabitant of Lubeck".

According to the steeresman of the Danzig ship the Goulden Grape, Otto George left the city of London in roughly November 1653 "sick and weake" and returned to Lubeck where he "shortly after did depart this life", and was buried in Lubeck. The Hamburg mariner Joachim Beene adds the detail that Otto George "being sick and diseased" imbarqued himself on the ship the Neptune of Hamburg (Master: Martin Holst) bound for Hamburg "with an intention to goe to Lubeck."

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Jaspar Lorenzo

Spanish merchant claiming to have lost three cerons of cutchineele in the ship the Salvadore.

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John Martindorp

Master of the ship the Saint George of Hamburg

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Ferdinando Nunez

Spanish merchant.

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Ships

Please create profile of ships named in the case of the three silver ships.

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Angel Michael, or Saint Michael

The Angell Michael of Hamburg (Master: John Lowe).

The Angel Michaell or Saint Michaell sailed from Hamburg to Cadiz with a lading of deale boards, which were sold at Cadiz "for the accompt and adventure of the master and owners of the sayd shipp". She took on a lading of silver and other goods at Cadiz in November 1652, and departed Cadiz in ?November 1652 allegedly bound for Hamburg. Seized by Captain John Bonner of the Marmaduke frigate en route from Cadiz near the Isle of Wight and carried to the River Thames. The steersman of the ship gave a detailed deposition regarding silver laden on board ship for the accompt of the widow of Danyel Sloyer [the elder].

The steersman, Peter Scholenburg, gave a separate deposition regarding "five sackes or bagges of peeces of eight" similarly laden on board ship at Cadiz, for the account of a Spaniard with the wonderful name of Vande [?VenXXe] y Guarto Pedro De Villa Reall Ropez Roble[?ds]. These pieces of eight, which Scholenburg described also as "silver coins", were, like the silver, alleged to have been destined for Hamburg, where they were allegedly to be delivered to [?Samuel] [?Rockesloe], a merchant of Hamburg, who was the Spaniard's agent or factor there.

In a third deposition in the claim of the master of the Angell Michaell for silver of his seized in his ship, Scholenburg listed the ship's owners as "Otto Boyer Thomas [?Neadome] Thomas Crock Hans and Asmes Egler, who are twoe brothers, Peter Simons Van Hereson thelder, and Peter Nicholson", together with the master John Lowe. He gave the reason for being certain of the ownership of the ship because he had seen all the men "att fflentzburg in Holsteine about tenne monethes since att which tyme the said producent and they did perfect the Accounts and reckeninges concerning the said shipp ". All the ship's owners, with the exception of her master were "accompted to be Subiects of the Duke of Holsteine and are knowne to Live in fflintzburge in the Dominion of the said Duke and other parts and places in the said Dukedome". In contrast the master was a long term Hamburg resident and subject.

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Golden Sunn

The Golden Sunn of ? (Master: Peter Tam)

The Golden Sunn was laden with cochineal in June 1652 at the port of Cadiz by Conte de Molino, Governor of Cadiz, and departed that month for Ostend.

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Mercurius

The Mercurius of Hamburg (Master: Hance Young)

Sailes from the Straights to Cadiz about Whitsuntide, 1652.

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Prophet Elias

Master of the Prophet Elias died whilst the ship was at Cadiz, in summer 1652. Bullion was then transferred from the Prophet Elias to the Salvador, the Sampson, the Saint George and the Mercury.

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Saint George

The Saint George of Hamburg (Master: John Martindorp)

Henrick Vett, a Hamburg mariner familiar with the building of the Saint George, and brother-in-law of the master of her, deposed that "the said shipp the Saint George (whereof John Martens dorp was Master) was in the yeare 1642. originally built at hamborough by a shippwright and Burger of hamborough named Joachim Moller, by the order and direction of the said John Martens dorp (who bought and provided the timber for the said ships structure) Vincent van Campen now dwelling at Cadiz in Spaine, Daniel Sloyer, Abraham de Bois, Decloffe Classoft Mathys Heyndrick and others all Burghers and subjects of the ffree Citie and State of hamborough"

The spelling of the owners names differs slightly in the deposition of another Hamburg mariner, Joachim Beene, who stated that in addition to the master "John Marten dorpe" the owners were "Abraham de Bois Daniel Sloyer dittelof Classoft Mathys hendricx and others all Burghers and subjects of the free state of hamborough". In contrast to Vett, Beene does not mention Vincent Van Campen as an owner of the Saint George.

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Salvadore

The Salvadore of Hamburg (Master: Christian Cloppenburg). Built in 1647 in Hamburg.

The forty year old Hamburg mariner Hance Ramke claims to have been an eye witness to the building of the ship the Salvador at Hamburg. Ramke names the exact place of building as "a place called the Tarr-host where this deponent sawe her as shee was building upon the stocks, and sawe her finished and sawe her launched, and ever since her said building shee hath belonged to the port of Hamborough."

The thirty-five year old Hamburg mariner Joachim Beene similarly claims to have witnessed the building of the Salvador, and named her master shipwright as one John Henderson. Beene stated that "the said Henderson as hee taketh is a Hollander borne, but this deponent hath knowne him to be living in Hamborough thise foureteene or fifteene yeares where hee is a burgher, and an inhabitant and hath bin there maried about tenn yeares or upwards, and there hath kept his wife and family for the said space." Bene also beleived that many of the servants and workmen employed by Henderson were Hollanders.

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Sampson

The Sampson of Lubeck (Master: Otto George)

Built by the shipwright Jurian Steeckman, a burger and inhabitant of Lubeck, in 1646.

Vincent Van Campen and other owners of the Sampson
Christian Cloppenburgh (master of the Salvador) listed some of the owners of the Sampson, saying "Vincent van Campen, ffrederick Bevia, and John de Windt Merchants of principall worth and qualitie at Cadiz, and othrs of great qualitie at Sevill, (who are each of them severallty esteemed capable to be Owners of such a shipp as the Sampson and to freight her upon their owne particular accompt"

XXX named Vincent Van Campen ("now dwelling at Cadiz in Spaine") as one of the individuals who commissioned the building of the Saint George in Hamburg in 1642.

According to Henrik Martens, the Hamburg resident master of the Hope, the Sampson was in Cadiz in 1651, where she took on goods and set sail bound for Genoa, but was seized by the French in 1651 en route for Genoa and was carried to Toulon and declared prize. Otto George, her master, redeemed her on behalf of her owners, whom Martens listed as "Vincent Van Campen John de Windt ffrederique Bevan, Daniel de Loon, ffrancisco Pennincque Don Joseph and ffrancisco Peralti and Company". Otto George left his ship at Toulon and went to Genoa, where he arranged for12,000 pieces of eight to be paid to redeem the vessel by Jacomo Maria and [?Thomaso] Van Harten, two merchants of Genoa. These Genoese merchants were satisfied by Vincent Van Campen from Cadiz, with whome Van campen had a corresponding relationship.

Tobias Sollicoffre, of the Citie of Saint Gallen in Switzerland Consull for the hansa Townes in the Maritime parts of Provence in ffrance aged 27. yeares also deposed on the seizure of the Sampson by the French

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List of ships crews, passengers and freighters

Mercurius

Jurian Martinson - one of company of the Mercurius
Hance Young - master of the Mercurius

Morning Starr

Nostra Seignora del Rosario

Antonio de la Rosa - master of the Nostra Seignora del Rosario

Saint Augustine

Saint George

John Martindorp (aka. Martenson-Dorp) - master of the Saint George
John Lowers - member of the crew of the Saint George. A twenty-six year old mariner of Masterland in Norway.
Juan de Lossa Barron - passenger on the Saint George. Spanish merchant.
Henrick Vett - formerly a member of the crew of the Saint George. A thirty-six year old mariner of Hamburg. Brother-in-law of John Martindorp, the ship's captain. Witnessed the ships's building at Hamburg in 1642. Appears to have kept the books for the ship for the last 19 months prior to his deposition in the English Admiralty Court in November 1654.

Saint John [of Hamburg]

Salvadore

Christian Cloppenburgh - master of the Salvadore
Carsten Franck - ships carpenter on the Salvadore
Hance Ramke - formerly a member of the company of the Salvadore. A forty year old mariner of Hamburg.
Henry Slegar - member of the company of the Salvadore at the time of her seizure. A twenty-three year old sailor of Hamburg.
fferdinando Numez - merchant of Sevill, laded 46 sacks of unwashed wool and 110 sacks of washed wool on the Salvador for transport to Ostend
Manuell Corea - passenger on the Salvador citizen of Varines in the West Indye merchant aged about 34 yeares
Thomas Juan - passegner on the Salvador; of Cadiz in Spayne Marriner aged about [?40] yeares; according to Manuel Corea, Thomas Juan was gunner of the ship the Nostra Seignior Del Rosario, in which Juan brought tobacco on his own account, which was subsequently laden into the Salvador

Sampson

Otto George (alt. Octavio George) - master of the Sampson
Antonio da Ponte - passenger on the Sampson accompanying goods from Cadiz. A twenty-eight year old merchant of Teneriffa in the Canary Islands.
[?Frocato] Millenes - merchant of Cadiz and owner of one bar of silver sent on the Sampson
Anthony Rodriques - passenger on the Sampson from Cadiz; resident of Cadiz
ffrancis Machado - passenger on the Sampson from Cadiz; resident of Port Saint Mary near Cadiz
John Baptista Sabino - passenger in the Sampson from Cadiz (according to Manuel Correa [TBC])
Anthonio Da La Rosa - passenger in the Sampson; resident of Sivill in Spayne Marriner aged about 32 yeares
Joachim Pesler of der [?Meuble] in Prussia, Chirurgeon and late Chirurgeon of the said shipp the Sampson aged 36 yeares
Peter Hor[?seld] - alleged by Joachim Pesler to have been the Sampson's purser; came onboard the ship at Genoa as a passenger, but the existing ship's surgeon leaving, he was hired by Otto George for ten months at a fixed rate; gripes about not being paid
Peter [?Maddt] - alleged by Joachim Pesler to have been the Sampson's stiersman
Unamed carpenter - alleged by Joachim Pesler to have been involved in stealing silver on the Sampson
Unnamed steward - alleged by Joachim Pesler to have been involved in stealing silver on the Sampson
Jacob Elers - cabin boy on the Sampson; "of [?Barnestey] about foure miles from Hamburg, late Cabbin-boy of the said shipp the Sampson, aged 17 yeares; came on board at Genoa as the stiersman's boy, but at Cadiz was made captain's boy after Otto George's previous cabin boy left

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All legal cases and petitions relating to the three Silver Ships

Allegation made on behalfe of the State in the Acts of Court
- The Keepers of the Libertie of England by authoritie of Parliament against the shipp the Saint George John Martinsondorp master

"Allegation made in the acts of Court on behalfe of the State the eleaventh of this instant March 1652"
- "The Keepers of the Livebertie of England by authoritie against the shipp Sampson (Otto George commander) and silver and goods in the same"

The Lord Protector against the shipp the Saint George (whereof John Martendorpe is Master) and against daniel [?Sloter] and others coming in for their interest

The Lord Protector against the Salvador whereof Christian Cloppenburgh is master and against Brandes and others

The Lord Protector against the shipp the Sampson (whereof Otto George was Master) and against Vincent van Campen and others comeing in for their interest

The clayme of Christopher Boone of London Merchant for severall parcells of silver and Cutcheneale hereto fore specially claymed by Adrian Goldsmith of Antwerpe having bin seized} in the Shipps the Sampson Salvador Saint George and Morning Starr and since legally transferred to him the sayd Christopher Boone and perticulerly conteyned in the Instrument of transfference exhibited into this Court the 14th of ffebruary 1654 and remayning in the Registry thereof
- See also: The clayme of Christopher Boone et cetera

The Clayme of Manuall Correa for one hundred and seaventeene potacchaes of Tobacchoe of the first marke and for twoe patachaes of the second marke laden on board the Shipp the Salvadore whereof Christian Cloppenbergh is master and allsoe for three potachas Laden onboard the Shipp the Saint George of which John Martyn is Captaine or master marked with the third Marke [?XXXX] seized by some of the ffleet[?s] belonging to this Commonwealth

The clayme of Nicholas Crombeene of Cortee[?p] in fflanders for sixtie one Potackes of Tobaccoe whereof sixtie are without marke and one Potaccoe marked laden on board the shipp called the Salvadore whereof Christian Cloppenbergh is Master lately seized by some of the shipps of this Commonwealth

The Clayme of Blases da La Pyna of Sevill for his goods in the shipp the Salvador whereof Christian Cloppenbergh is Captaine taken by a shipp of the Parliaments fleet under the Command of Capt PomXXX

The Clayme of Anthony de la Rosa for fourescore petacchoes of Tobacchoa of the first marke and one of the second and forre butts of wyne laden aboard the shipp the Samson whereof Octavio George is master of the third marke in the margent and allsoe of sixe potacchoes of Tobachoe and one hundred hydes laden aboard the Shipp the Salvador whereof Christian Cloppenbergh is master marked with the fourth marke in the margent seized by some of the Shipps of this Commonwealth

The Clayme of Thomas Juan for twelve Pptacchoes of Tobacchoe Ldaen on board the shipp the Salvador whereof Christian Cloppenbergh is master marked as in the margent seized by some of the Parliaments ffleete

The Clayme of Jaspar Lorenzo Merchant of Antwerpe for 3 Cerons of Cuchineale seized in the shipp Salvador (Christian Cloppenburgh Master)

The Clayme of Baldwyn Mathewes English man for one Barre [?bono] of Silver marked and numbred as in the margent laden aboard the Shipp the Sampson whereof Otto [?Jurjus] is master and allso for three peeces of silver numbred as in the margent laden aboard the Shipp the Saint George wherepf John artynes is master lately seized by some or one of the Parliaments Shipps

The Clayme of Peter Mathewes Arnold Beake and William Moore for twoe Cases of Silver of the marke number and weight under written taken and seized in the Shipp the Salvador whereof Christian Cloppenbergh is master taken by some or one of the Parliaments Shipps

The Clayme of fferdinando Numez (sic) merchant of Sevill for his goods and merchandizes in the shipps the Saint George John Martins Captaine, and in the shipp Salvador Christian Cloppenbergh Captaine taken by some of the Parliament ffleet

The Clayme of fferdinando Nunez for his woolls in the Saint George

The Clayme of Domingo de Padilla of Cadiz merchant for 12 butts of sherry wines taken and seized in the shipp Sampson whereof Octavio George is Captaine taken by a Parliament ffrigott under the Command of Generall Blake

The Clayme of ffrancisco Pellays a Subiect of Spaine for six barrells of mother of pearle of the first marke laden in the Salvadore Christian Cloppenbergh Master, and alsoe for six barrells of mother of pearle of the second marke laden on board the shipp cllaed the Sampson, of which Captaine Octavio George is master lately seised by some of the shipp sof this Comon wealth

The Clayme of Anthony Rodriques of Cadiz of Spayne for twelve Potaccoes of Tobaccho marked with the first marke in the Margant and likewise of ffrancis Markadoe for fower Potacchoes of Tobacchoe of the second marke and countermarked with the third marke in the Margent Laden aboard the Shipp the Sampson whereof Octavio George is Master [?XXXed] by certayne of the States Shipps

The Clayme of John Baptista Sabino for sixe Potacchoes of Tobaccho laden on board the Shipp the Sampson whereof Octavio George is master And for nine Potacchoes of Tobacchoe laden aboard the Shipp the Salvador whereof Christian Cloppenbergh is master seized by some of the Parliaments Shipps

"The petition of the officers and mariners of the Samson", dated before or on Dec 9th 1652 (mentioned in CSPD, Council of State proceedings) [No physical copy found to date, but mentioned in CSPD]

Te Clayme of John de [?Caudle] of Cadiz in Spayne Marchant for seaven butts of Sherrie wyne marked with the marke in the margent taken and seized in the Shipp Salvador whereof Christian Cloppenbergh was and is master by some of the Parliaments ffleete under the Command of Generall Blake

Petition of Juan de lossa Barrona
- referred on March 25th 1653 to the Committee for Foreign Affairs (CSPD, vol. XXXIV., Mar 25th 1653, p.232)
- referred by Committee for Trade and Foreign Affairs on April 1st 1653 "to the Admiralty Judges, to report to this Committee what should be done in the cases, returning the petitions" ( CSPD, XXXV. April 1st 1653, p.249)

Petition of Juan Mexia de de Herrera [No physical copy found to date, but mentioned in CSPD]
- referred on March 25th 1653 to the Committee for Foreign Affairs (CSPD, vol. XXXIV., Mar 25th 1653, p.232)
- referred by Committee for Trade and Foreign Affairs on April 1st 1653 "to the Admiralty Judges, to report to this Committee what should be done in the cases, returning the petitions" ( CSPD, XXXV. April 1st 1653, p.249)

The petition of Manuel Corea [No physical copy found to date, but mentioned in CSPD]
- referred on March 25th 1653 to the Committee for Foreign Affairs (CSPD, vol. XXXIV., Mar 25th 1653, p.232)

Petition of Christian Cloppenburgh: Date: April 3rd 1655

Petition of John Martindorp: Date: April 3rd 1655]

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Bibliography

Books

Paul Herre and others (ed.), Quellenkunde der deutschen Geschichte. Unter Mitwirkung von Ernst Baasch et al. 8th ed.(Leipzig, 1912)
Dr Ernst Baasch, Die Handelskammer zu Hamburg 1665-1915, Band I: 1665-1814 (Hamburg, 1915)
Margrit Schulte Beerbuhl, The Forgotten Majority: German Merchants in London, Naturalization, and Global Trade 1660-1815 (XXXX, 2014). First published as Margrit Schulte Beerbuhl, Deutsche Kaufleute in London: Welthandel und Einbuergerung (1660-1818) (Muenchen, 2007)
Christina Dalhede, Handelsfamiljer pa Stormaktstidens Europamarknad (3 vols., Stockholm, 2001).
Henriette De Bruyn Kops, A Spirited Exchange: The Wine and Brandy Trade Between France and the Dutch Republic in Its Atlantic Framework, 1600-1650 (Leiden, 2007)
Oscar Gelderblom, Cities of Commerce: The Institutional Foundations of International Trade in the Low Countries, 1250-1650 (Princeton, 2013)
Ma. Guadalupe Carrasco González, Comerciantes y casas de negocios en Cádiz, 1650-1700 (Cadiz, 1997)
Donald J. Harreld, High Germans In The Low Countries: German Merchants And Commerce In Golden Age Antwerp (Leiden, 2004)
Donald J. Harreld,(ed.), A Companion to the Hanseatic League (Leiden, 2015)
Enrique García Hernán et al. (ed.), Irlanda y la monarquía hispánica: Kinsale, 1601-2001 : guerra, política, exilio y religión (?Madrid, 2002)
Ariel Hessayon, 'The Great Trappaner of England': Thomas Violet, Jews and crypto-Jews during the English Revolution and at the Restoration' in Michael J. Braddick & David L. Smith (eds.), The Experience of Revolution in Stuart Britain and Ireland (Cambridge, 2011)
Lodewijck Huygens, The English journal: 1651-1652 (Leiden, 1982)
Jonathan Israel, Empires and Entrepots: Dutch, the Spanish Monarchy and the Jews, 1585-1713 (London, 1990)
Hermann Kellenbenz, Unternehmerkräfte im Hamburger Portugal-und Spanienhandel 1590-1625 (Hamburg, 1954)
- See review by Jürgen Bolland, in 'Zeitschrift des Vereins fuer Hamburgische Geschichte', Band XLIII (Hamburg, 1956), pp.226-228
Hermann Kellenbenz, Sephardim an der Unteren Elbe: Ihre wirtschaftliche und politische Bedeutung vom Ende des 16. bis zum Beginn des 18. Jahrhunderts (Wiesbaden, 1958)
Sean Kelsey, Inventing a Republic: The Political Culture of the English Commonwealth, 1649-1653 (Manchester, 1997)
Mary Lindemann, The Merchant Republics: Amsterdam, Antwerp, and Hamburg, 1648-1790 (Cambridge, 2015)
- pp.27-30 review literature on Hamburg, and compare economic growth of Hamburg with Amsterdam
William Monter, Cultural Exchange in Early Modern Europe, vol. 2 (Cambridge, 2006)
Patrick O'Flanagan, Port Cities of Atlantic Iberia, c. 1500–1900 (Aldershot, 2008)
- Ch.2: Formation and Georgaphy of the Atlantic and Transatlantic Economies, pp.19-38, especially The Inner Atlantic, pp.20-21, The Portuguese Atlantic, pp.22-24, The Spanish Atlantic, pp.25-26; Ships and ports of Atlantic Iberia, pp.34-38
- Ch. 3: Seville, pp.39-78
- Ch. 4: Cadiz and La Bahia de Cadiz, pp.81-113
François Joseph Pons, A Voyage to the Eastern Part of Terra Firma, Or the Spanish Main, in South-America, During the Years 1801, 1802, 1803, and 1804, vol. III (New York, 1806)
- "Containing a Description of the Territory Under the Jurisdiction of the Captain-General of Caraccas, Composed of the Provinces of Venezuela, Maracaibo, Varinas, Spanish Guiana, Cumana, and the Island of Margaretta; and Embracing Every Thing Relative to the Discovery, Conquest, Topography, Legislation, Commerce, Finance, Inhabitants and Productions of the Provinces, Together with a View of the Manners and Customs of the Spaniards, and the Savage as Well as Civilized Indians"
- Francois Pons was former agent of the French goovernment at Caraccas
Jorun Poettering, Handel, Nation und Religion: Kaufleute zwischen Hamburg und Portugal im 17. Jahrhundert (Goettingen, 2013)
Martin Reißmann, Die hamburgische Kaufmannschaft des 17. Jahrhunderts in sozialgeschichtlicher Sicht (Hamburg, 1975)
Enrique Martínez Ruiz, Magdalena Pi Corrales, Commerce and navigation between Spain and Sweden throughout history (XXXX, 2000)
Werner Scheltjens, Dutch Deltas: Emergence, Functions and Structure of the Low Countries’ Maritime Transport System, ca. 1300-1850 (Leiden, 2015)
Justyna Wubs-Mrozewicz, Stuart Jenks (ed.), The Hanse in Medieval and Early Modern Europe (Leiden, 2012)
Kathrin Zickermann, Across the German Sea: Early Modern Scottish Connections with the Wider Elbe-Weser Region (Leiden, 2013)

Chapters

Mark Haeberlein, 'German Communities in 18th-Century Europe and North America', pp.19-35, in Matjaz Klemenic, Mary N. Harris (ed.), European Migrants, Diasporas and Indigenous Ethic Minorities (Pisa, 2009)
- mentions German communities in Cadiz

Journals

Ernst Baasch, 'Hamburg's Seeschiffahrt und Waarenhandel vom Ende des 16. bis zur Mitte des 17. Jahrhunderts', special reprint from (Zeitschrift des Vereins für Hamburgische Geschichte, Vol. 9 (1893), pp.295-420
- Ernst Baasch has published some important statistical material in his article
- Note the date of the special reprint is 1893 (not 1894)
'Droit et pratiques du cosmopolitisme marchand: la bourse de Hambourg au XVIIe siècle', P. GONZALES-BERNARDO, M. MARTINI et M.-L. PELUS-KAPLAN, Etrangers et sociétés. Représentations, coexistences, interactions dans la longue durée, P.U.R., Rennes, 2008, p. 351-360.
Erik Lindberg, 'The Rise of Hamburg as a Global Marketplace in the Seventeenth Century: A Comparative Political Economy Perspective', Comparative Studies in Society and History, Volume 50, Issue 03, July 2008, pp 641-662

Palaeographical guides

Brigham Young University, The Spanish Script Tutorial, online guide