Resources in Early American History
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1Author:  Adye, Stephen PayneRequires cookie*
 Title:  Stephen Payne Adye correspondence, 1769-1783     
 Dates:  1769-1783 
 Abstract:  The collection consists of Stephen Payne Adye's correspondence during some of his time in North America (1769-1783), where he served as a Deputy Judge Advocate General of the British Army during the Revolutionary War. The correspondence is primarily related to wartime events and trials, although there are four letters that predate Independence and make vague references to events happening during the imperial crisis, especially military courts in Boston during 1774 and 1775 when the colony was put under martial law.

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 Call #:  Mss.B.Ad95 
 Extent:  0.25 Linear Feet 
 Topics:  African American | American Revolution | Law | Military History 
 Subjects:  Armies, Colonial. | Trials (Military offenses) -- New York (State). 
2Author:  Smyth, Frederick, 1732-1815Requires cookie*
 Title:  Frederick Smyth papers, 1756-1816     
 Dates:  1756-1816 
 Abstract:  Frederick Smyth was the Chief Justice of New Jersey before the American Revolution (appointed in 1764). Before that, he lived in England, Barbados, and Martinique. This collection of Smyth papers contains a range of official documents that relate to political and legal matters in New Jersey. The legal documents include petitions, reports to the grand jury, and official pronouncements and commissions. There are also several pieces of private correspondence. Some of the earliest documents contain information on Smyth's career before arriving in New Jersey. There is also a deposition relating to the firing on HMS St. John in Newport, Rhode Island in 1764 and a series of other documents relating to legal and political affairs in Rhode Island during the imperial crisis. Of particular note are two long speeches Smyth delivered before a grand jury in 1775 and 1776 in which he defends the Crown, a response to these speeches from the grand jury defending American rights, and a long letter from Edward Affleck in 1783 describing the British departure from New York City. Smyth stayed in Philadelphia after the war, although he never relinquished his British citizenship, and there are a few documents chronicling his post-war experience.

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 Call #:  Mss.B.Sm95 
 Extent:  0.25 Linear Feet 
 Topics:  American Revolution | Colony and State Specific History | Law 
 Genre:  General Correspondence | Legal Records | Official Government Documents and Records | Political Correspondence 
 Subjects:  Judges -- New Jersey. | Legal instruments -- New Jersey. 
3Author:  New Hampshire.Admiralty Court.Requires cookie*
 Title:  Lusanna Prize Case Records     
 Dates:  1777 - 1778 
 Abstract:  Although the record states that this bound volume contains the proceedings of the controversial Admiralty Courts for New Hampshire, the court cases brought before it cover all of New England, especially Massachusetts. The records in this volume date from 1775 to 1778 and involve a single case brought against Elisha Doane from Wellfleet. A variety of evidence is included in this case, including copies of letters, cargo manifests, depositions, and court proceedings. The case appears to have continued until 1778. The last page is signed by Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress, who reports that the case files were sent to him, but he does not know why.

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 Call #:  Mss.973.3.N41 
 Extent:  1 volume(s) 
 Topics:  American Revolution | International Trade. | Law | Military History 
 Genre:  Legal Records 
 Subjects:  Admiralty | Lusanna (Vessel) -- Trials, litigation, etc. | Privateering -- New Hampshire | Prize-courts -- New Hampshire | Prizes -- Cases