Precepts of the Court of Admiralty, 1781-1788

About This Collection

Images of writs issued to the Sheriff of Philadelphia by Court of Admiralty Justices ordering him to bring before the Court all prisoners in his jail accused of piracy or other crimes committed on the high seas. The precepts were issued either from the Court of Admiralty of Pennsylvania, or by the Court of Admiralty of the United States, and provide such information as names of the Sheriff and two Justices, signatures of the Justices, and the date the court session began. Also included in the files are lists of grand and traverse jurors, a list of Justices for the Court of Admiralty of the United States, and a copy of an ordinance by Congress providing for the establishment of Courts of Admiralty by the authority of Article IX of the Constitution.