Legal Subject: Affreightment

Case Date Legal Subject Abstract
Scrimgeour and Son v. Alexander and Sons 1769 Contract, Affreightment, Ships, Interlocutor, Proof, Reduction In March 1765, Edinburgh merchants Alexander & Sons contracted with the Borrowstounness merchant house of James Scrimgeour & Son to freight the ship the Duke of Athol for a voyage to Grenada—after considering a trip to Maryland or Virginia—with a cargo of herring, staves, and green linens. Due to a variety of accidents, the ship did not make it to Grenada until after the end of sugar season. Having no sugar to collect and bring back to Scotland, the agent at Grenada for Alexander & Sons convinced the ship’s captain to sail for (North) Carolina. Within days of the ship’s arrival in Wilmington, protests broke out over the Stamp Act, delaying the ship’s loading and departure for months. When the Duke of Athol finally returned to Leith, Alexander & Sons brought a legal dispute against James Scrimgeour & Son over the respective financial obligations of the parties due to the ship's delay.
Scrimgeour and Son v. Alexander and Sons 1772 Adjudication, Affreightment, Interlocutor, Oath, Reduction, Interest Documents available. Rich description in progress.

Documents discussing this subject (17)