Archive Of The Captain Who Discovered the Amistad

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/15/2022

A incredible Naval letter/document archive of Captain Richard Meede, the officer on the Massachusetts who discovered the Slave Ship Armistad. The archive consists of 15 letters/document concerning Meade’s Naval career.1. Letter Signed, by “Sam(uel) S Southard (seventh Secretary of the Navy) ,July 21st, 1806, 1pp., ordering Meade to report to New York.2. Autograph Letter Signed “Ja(mes) Jones”aborad USS Brandywine, November 21, 1827, ordeing Meade to report to the USS Vincenny. 3. Letter Signed by “R(ichard) B. Maury, October 30, 1829, attesting to copy of commendation of Meade by John H. Aulick, his superior, for his performance on the US Schr Dolphin.4. Autograph Letter Signed, August 28, 1830, ordering Meade to Norfolk for duty on the FGrigate Brandywine.5. Autograqph Letter Signed “R.M. Meade”, Washington April 11, 1849, written to Secretary of the Navy Wm. Preston, in part “Under your order of this date to report ... the US Steamer Edite ... request ... allot to my family, one hundred dollars ...” The letter is light as is the signature.6. Autograph Letter (unsigned draft), Washington March 8, 1850, by Meade regarding Meade shipping two large chests to San Francisco ... under orders ... of 11th April to report for command of the USS Edit ...7. Letter Signed “Wm. Ballard Preston” (Secretary of the Navy, later CS Virginia Senator ), March 9, 1850, in part “I inform you that the leave of absence which you request cannot be granted”.8. Signed Endorsement “R.W.Meade” on preprint form, October 21, 1851, issued and signed by “J(ohn) Downes, Comnt” whereby Meade is ordered for duty on board the US Sloop of War Portsmith. Meade writes “I certify in obedience to the above order I left my domicile on the 28th Oct. 1851”.9. Letter Signed “Will(iam) A. Graham” December 1, 1851 to Meade, in part “Your resignation ... in your letter of the 28th ultimo, is hereby accepted”.10. Letter Signed, ”J(ames) C. Dobbin” as Secretary of the Navy, April 13, 1853 to Meade, in part, “Your letter of the 11th is received. The department ... with respect to your application and will aprize you of its decision”.11. Autograph Letter Signed “R.W. Meade, Lieut. US Navy”, August 31, 1853 in part, “... I respectfully ask a leave of absence to take them (family) to Washington ...”12. Autograph Letter Signed “R.W. Meade, Lieut. US Navy”, )on the back of previous letter), September 3, 1853, to J.E. Dobbs, Secretary of the Navy, in part “Leave of absence having been granted ... I respectfully requests its extension ....”13. Autograph Letter Signed ”J(ames) C. Dobbin” as Secretary of the Navy, September 5, 1853 to Meade, in part “... an extension of your leave has been received ... your services are not needed at Norfolk in connextion with the Steamer Massachusetts ... you may expect orders when she is ready ...”14. Autograph Letter Signed “R.W. M”, on 2nd page, September 13, 1853 to J.C. Dobbins, Secretary of the Navy, asking for extension of his leave stating “In this I am of no service ...”15. Letter Signed, ”J(ames) C. Dobbin” as Secretary of the Navy, September 14, 1853 to Meade, in part “The order of the Department ... detaching you from the Steamer Massachusetts is hereby revoked. Leave of absence for one week is granted ...”MEADE, Richard Worsam (1807-1870) was an officer in the United States Navy. In 1839, he was one of the two Navy officers who intercepted the Amistad off Long Island and claimed its slaves as salvage, the other being Thomas R. Gedney. In 1839, while serving aboard USS Massachusetts, he took part in the intercept of the slave schooner Amistad and the capture of its crew, mostly African slaves. Meade and Lieutenant Thomas R. Gedney attempted to claim the slaves as salvage, but, after receipts for their purchase were introduced as evidence, their claims were rejected. In 1851, Meade resigned his commission, but he briefly served again from 1854 to 1855. During the American Civil War, he rejoined the Navy as a Commander.

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