One Thousand Seven hundred and Sixty one, And of Our Reign the first. GODF LEE FARRANT Register The Great Seal of the high Court of Admiralty Appending Examined A OLIVER Sec Crown Commissions, 1628-1663, p. 207. Province of Mass Bay November 26, 1761 His Excellency Francis Bernard Esq' having published his Commissions from his present Majesty to be Captain General and Governor in Chief of his Province of Massachusetts Bay and Vice Admiral of the same took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, repeated and subscribed the Test or Declaration therein contained together with the Oath of Abjuration; and an Oath that He would do his utmost that all the Causes, Matters and Things contained in the Acts of Parliament passed as well since as before the enacting of the Act of the 7th and 8th of William the Third and at this time in Force relating to the Colonies and Plantations, and that all and every the Clauses contained in the said Act intitled An Act for preventing Frauds and regulating the Abuses in the Plantation Trade be punctually and bona fide observed according to the true intent and meaning thereof: and that He would faithfully perform the Duties of the Office of Captain General and Governor in Chief, and Vice Admiral of the Province aforesaid according to the best of his Judgment and Skill which Oaths were taken in the presence of the Council and House of Representatives-as also as the Royal Charter directs before T: HUTCHINSON Lieu Gov Crown Commisssons, 1628-1663, pp. 207-208. THOMAS HUTCHINSON'S COMMISSION AS VICE-ADMIRAL OF THE PROVINCE OF THE 4 JANUARY, 1771 COM TO T. HUTCHINSON ESQ TO BE VICE ADMIRAL OF George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Freland king defender of the Faith. To our beloved THOMAS HUTCHINSON Esquire our Captain General and Governor in Chief of our Province of Massachusetts Bay in America Greeting; We confiding very much in your fidelity, care & circumspection in this behalf, do by these presents which are to continue during our pleasure only, Ordain, Constitute and depute you the said Thomas Hutchinson Esq' our Captain General and Governor in Chief aforesaid, our Vice Admiral, Commissary and Deputy in the office of Vice Admiralty in our Province of Massachusetts Bay in America aforesaid and Territories thereon depending in the room of Sir Francis Bernard Baronet, and in the maritime parts of the same and thereto adjoining whatsoever, with power of taking and receiving all and every the Fees, profits advantages, emoluments, Commodities and appurtenances whatsoever due and belonging to the said Office of Vice Admiral, Commissary and Deputy in our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in America and Territories dependant thereon & maritime parts of the same and adjoining to them whatsoever according to the Ordinances and Statutes of our high Court of Admiralty of England; And we do hereby commit and grant unto you the aforesaid Thomas Hutchinson Esq our power and authority in and throughout our Province of Massachusetts Bay in America aforementioned and Territories thereof and maritime parts whatsoever adjacent thereto, and also throughout all and every the Shores, Public Streams, Ports, fresh Waters, Rivers, Creeks and Arms as well of the Sea as of the Rivers and Coasts whatsoever of our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in America and Territories dependant thereon and maritime parts whatsoever of the same and thereto adjacent as well within Liberties and Franchises as without to take Cognizance of and proceed in all Causes Civil and Maritime and in Complaints, Contracts, Offences or suspected offences, Crimes, pleas, Debts, exchanges, accounts, Charter parties, Agreements, Suits, Trespasses, Injuries, extortions and demands and businesses Civil and maritime whatsoever commenced or to be commenced between Merchants, or between Owners and Proprietors of Ships and other Vessels and Merchants or others whomsoever with such owners and Proprietors of Ships and all other Vessels whatsoever imployed or used within the maritime Jurisdiction of our Vice Admiralty of our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in America and Territories depending on the same or between any other Persons whomsoever, had, made, begun or contracted for any matter, thing, cause or business whatsoever done or to be done within our Maritime Jurisdiction aforesaid, together with all and singular their Incidents Emergencies dependencies annexed and connexed, Causes whatsoever, wheresoever or howsoever, and such Causes, Complaints, Contracts and other the premises abovesaid or any of them which may happen to arise, be contracted had or done, to hear and determine according to the Rights, Statutes, Laws, Ordinances & Customs anciently observed. And moreover in all and singular Complaints, Contracts, Agreements, Causes and Businesses Civil and Maritime to be performed beyond the Sea or contracted there howsoever arising or happening and also in all and singular other Causes & matters which in any manner whatsoever touch or any way concern or anciently have and do or ought to belong unto the Maritime Jurisdiction of our aforesaid Vice Admiralty in our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in America and Territories depending thereon and Maritime parts thereof and to the same adjoining whatsoever and generally in all and singular all other Causes, Suits, Crimes, Offences, Excesses Injuries, Complaints, misdemeanours or suspected misdemeanours, Trespasses, Regratings, Forestallings and Maritime Businesses whatsoever throughout the places aforesaid within the Maritime Jurisdiction of our Vice Admiralty of our Province of Massachusetts Bay in America aforesaid and Territories thereon depending by Sea or water or the Banks or Shores of the same howsoever done, committed, perpetrated or happening, and also to enquire by the Oaths of honest and lawful men of our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in America and Territories dependant thereon and Maritime parts of the same and adjoining to them whatsoever dwelling both within Liberties and Franchises and without as well of all & singular such matters and things which of right and by the Statutes, Laws, Ordinances and Customs anciently observed were wont and ought to be inquired after as of Wreck of the Sea and of all and singular the Goods and Chattels of whatsoever Traitors, Pirates, Manslayers and Felons howsoever offending within the Maritime Jurisdiction of our Vice Admiralty of our Province of Massachusetts Bay in America aforementioned and Territories thereunto belonging and of the Goods, Chattels and Debts of all and singular their maintainers, accessaries, Councellors, abettors or assistants whomsoever and also of the Goods, Debts and Chattels of whatsoever person or persons, Felons of themselves by what means or howsoever coming to their Death within our aforesaid Maritime Jurisdiction wheresoever any such Goods, debts & Chattels or any parcel thereof by Sea, Water, or Land in our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in America aforementioned and Territories thereon dependant and maritime parts of the same and thereto adjacent whatsoever as well within Liberties and Franchises as without, have been or shall be found forfeited or to be forfeited or in being. And moreover as well of the Goods, Debts and Chattels of whatsoever Traitors Felons and Manslayers wheresoever offending and of the Goods, Debts and Chattels of their maintainers, accessaries, Counsellors, abettors or assistants as of the Goods, Debts and Chattels of all Fugitives, Persons Convicted, attainted, condemned, outlawed or howsoever put or to be put in exigent for Treason, Felony, Manslaughter or Murder or any other offence or Crime whatsoever, and also concerning Goods waving Flotzen Jetzon Lagon Shares and Treasure found or to be found Deodands and of the Goods of all others whatsoever taken or to be taken as Derelict or by chance found or to be found or howsoever due or to be due, and of all other Casualty's as well in, upon or by the Sea and Shores, Creeks or Coasts of the Sea or Maritime parts as in upon or by all Fresh waters, Ports, public Streams, Rivers or Creeks or places overflown whatsoever within the ebbing and flowing of the Sea or high water or upon the Shores or Banks of any of the same within our Maritime Jurisdiction aforesaid howsoever whensoever or by what means soever arising happening or proceeding or wheresoever such Goods Debts & Chattels or other the premises or any parcel thereof may or shall happen to be met with or found within our Maritime Jurisdiction aforesaid and also concerning Anchorage, Lastage and Ballast of Ships and of Fishes Royal, namely, Sturgeons, Whales, Porpusses, Dolphins, Riggs and Crampusses 1 |