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In Congress, New-Jersey, March 2, 1776.
The Congress proceeded to the determination of the prize-ship Blue-Mountain-Valley, now lying at Elizabeth-town Point, lately seized by Lord Stirling, with a detachment of the Continental Forces and Militia; and it appearing, by the testimony of credible witnesses upon their oaths, that the said Ship, John H˙ Dempster, master, sailed from London some time last fall, laden with stores, shipped by
It is, therefore, Resolved, That the said Ship Blue-Mountain- Valley, with such of her cargo as was shipped by order of the said Lords Commissioners of his Majesty' s Treasury, directed, as by said bill of lading, to be delivered at the Port of Boston, or elsewhere, unto the Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty' s Forces in America, or to his order, shall be, and the same is hereby, confiscated to the use of the captors, pursuant to the general directions for distribution resolved on by the said honourable Continental Congress.
Resolved, That the said Ship and Cargo be disposed of by any two agents or persons, to be chosen, the one by Lord Stirling, and the other by the Committee of Elizabethtown.
Resolved, That all the necessary expense and charge which have arisen by guarding and securing said Prize, and supporting the Seamen, be first deducted out of the nett proceeds of such sales.
Resolved, That the amount of the sales of the said Ship and Cargo (the expense and charge of guarding and securing the same, and supporting the seamen, being first deducted and paid thereout) be divided among the captors, as well as those of the Militia sent out by the Committee of Elizabethtown, as such of the Continental Forces as were employed in that service under Lord Stirling; that the said distribution be made among the officers, privates, and to the vessels employed in the said capture, in such manner as is usually distributed in the neighbouring Colonies, agreeable to the resolutions of the Continental Congress.
Resolved, That all such Goods, Wares, and Merchandises, on board said Ship, belonging to the Captain, Mates, and Seamen, as their, or either of their own private property, be reserved for the proprietors thereof, and delivered to them free of all cost and deductions.
Resolved, That the Captain and Seamen belonging to said Ship when seized, be suffered to go to any place they may think proper, his Majesty' s Fleet or Army only excepted. And this Congress recommend to the captors pf said Ship to make some gratuity to each of the Seamen taken on board, to enable them to travel to some other parts in pursuit of business.
A true copy:
W˙ PATERSON, Secretary.
Resolutions of Provincial Congress of New-Jersey
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order of the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty' s Treasury, bound to the Port of Boston, or any other Port in America, the said cargo, by the bill of lading, dated the 30th day of November, 1775, to be delivered unto the Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty' s Forces in America, or to his order; and the honourable the Continental Congress having, previous to the taking of the said Ship, resolved that all Transport Vessels in the same service, having on board any Troops, Arms, Ammunition, Clothing, Provisions, or Military or Naval Stores, of whatever kind so ever, and all vessels, to whomsoever belonging, that shall be employed in carrying Provisions, or other necessaries, to the British Army or Armies, or Navy, that now or shall hereafter be within any of the United Colonies, or any Goods, Wares, or Merchandise, for the use of such Fleet or Army, shall be liable to seizure, and, with their cargoes, shall be confiscated: