Legal Records of the Smack L.A. Macomber
Scope and Content
The collection contains complainant's briefs, supporting documentation, copies of the "Rules of the Court of Commissioners of the Alabama Claims" and the Act organizing the court, related correspondence and the final disposition of each case.
Briefs are files numerically and are followed by related paperwork.
Dates
- Creation: 1863-1876
Language of Materials
English Latin
Restrictions on Access
Available for use in the Manuscripts Division.
Restrictions on Use
Various copying restrictions apply. Guidelines are available from the Manuscripts Division.
History of the Smack L.A. MACOMBER
The smack L.A. MACOMBER was built at Noank, Connecticut in 1853. Her length was 53' 3", breadth 17' 6", depth 6', and she measured 47 23/95 tons. She was described as a sloop rigged fishing smack.
The vessel was lying at anchor off Nantucket shoals on June 17, 1863 when she was captured and destroyed by the Confederate Bark TACONY. At the time of her destruction the MACOMBER had been out fishing for over a week and had on board approximately 2/3 of a cargo of fish.
Frederick A. Holmes, an attorney from Mystic River, Connecticut, represented the complainants, i.e. the owners and crew of the vessel, before the Alabama Claims Court (circa 1874-1876). The cases were numbered 1036 through 1042 by the Alabama Claims Commissioners.
The complainants were Elihu Potter (for James Potter), ½ interest; Francis A. and Henry W. Brooks, 1/4 interest; Eunice Brown (for Pardon T. Brown), 1/8 interest; Sara P. Morse (for Stephen Morse), 1/8 interest; Joseph Lamphere, Nelson H. Peekham, Sally Ann Lamb (for Charles Barber); Charles F. Potter (crewman).
Extent
50 item(s)
Abstract
Legal briefs (chiefly rough drafts), probate certificates, and powers of attorney, relating to the destruction of the L.A. MACOMBER. Includes copy of rules of the Court of Commissioners of Alabama Claims, together with act organizing the court (1874); correspondence to lawyer Frederick A. Holmes, of Mystic River, Conn., representing the complainants (i.e. owner and crew of vessel) from John Davis, clerk of the court, relating to the cases; and letter giving final disposition of each case.
- Title
- Legal Records of the Smack L.A. Macomber (Coll. 45)
- Subtitle
- An Inventory of The Records at the G.W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscripts Repository
G. W. Blunt White Library
Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.
112 Greenmanville Avenue
Mystic CT 06355 United States
860.572.5367
collections@mysticseaport.org