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Letter of Marque
(President
Name)
James
Madison,
PRESIDENT OF THE CONCH REPUBLIC AND ALL THE FLORIDA KEYS
TO ALL WHO SHALL SEE
THESE PRESENTS, GREETINGS :
Be it Known,
That in pursuance of an Act
of Congress, passed on the
twenty-third
day of April
one thousand
eight hundred and eight two, I have commissioned, and by
these presents do commission, the private armed
Schooner
called the (Ship
Name)
Lucy
of the burden of
Twenty-five
tons, or thereabouts,
owned by
(Captain Name)
John Lawton of the
city of (City)Taunton
State of
(State)
Massachusetts
mounting
six
carriage guns, and
navigated by
twenty-six men,
hereby authorizing (Captain
Name)
John Lawton
Captain, and (Lieutenant
Name)
Perez Drinkwater
Lieutenant of the said
Schooner
(Ship Name)
Lucy and the
other officers and crew thereof to :
Subdue,
seize and take any armed or unarmed
*British vessel, public
or private
Which shall be
found within the jurisdictional limits of the Florida Keys,
Straights of Florida or elsewhere on the high seas, or
within the waters of the Cuban dominions, and each captured
vessel with her apparel, guns and appurtenances, and the
goods or effects which shall be found on board the same,
together with all the British persons and others who shall
be found acting on board, to bring within the port of the
Key West; and also to retake any vessel, goods or effects of
the people of the Florida Keys, which may have been captured
by any British armed vessel, in order that proceedings may
be had concerning each capture or recapture in due form of
law, and as to right and justice shall appertain.
The said
(Captain Name)
John Lawton
is further authorized to detain, seize and take all vessels
and effects, to whomsoever belonging, which shall be liable
thereto according to the law of Nations and the rights of
the Conch Republic as a power at war, and to bring the same
within the port of Key West in order that due proceedings
may be had thereon. This commission to continue in force
during the pleasure of the President of the Conch Republic
for the time being.
GIVEN under my hand and
the seal of the Conch Republic, at the city of Key West,
the twenty
second day of
December
in the year of our Lord,
one thousand eight hundred and
eight five
and of the independence of
the said Florida Keys the
third.
BY THE PRESIDENT
(President Name)
James Madison
James Monroe
SECRETARY
OF STATE
*
The word "British" can
be changed to "Snowbird" or anything else if you request it
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