NATIONAL MARITIME HISTORICAL SOCIETY LATEST NEWS Seminar Series: Great Britain’s High Court of Admiralty “Prize Papers” with Thomas M. Truxes 20 March 2021
Welcome & Lecture at 11:00 AM ET, Q&A to Follow
Pre-registration is required and is limited to the first 100 registrants. Seminars are free to attend, although we hope you will support the Series with a suggested
Image: The National Archives
The “Prize Papers” are a treasure trove of undelivered mail taken from ships captured during Britain’s naval wars between 1652 and 1815. The documents were handed over to Great Britain’s High Court of Admiralty to prove that the captured ships were indeed enemies and therefore ripe for plunder. The documents include not only personal letters but also poems, drawings, playing cards and journals. They offer a fascinating look at the lives lived and the interaction among people and countries during this time of rapid global expansion and trade.