Protest lodged by George Stephens, Master of the brig 'Cicero' of Whitby, dated 9th February 1820.
single folio sheet (two sides) hand-written draft document, with corrections and redactions, detailing the events leading up to the loss of an anchor and chain cable from the 172-ton brig 'Cicero' in Whitby Roads in August 1819.
The 'Cicero' had sailed from Archangel with a cargo of oats and tallow, bound for "the first northern port of Great Britain".
She arrived off Whitby on the 13th August, took on a pilot, and anchored in seven fathoms. Whilst George Stephens was ashore reporting to the Customs House, a sudden squall came in from the north-east.
Stephens immediately returned to the ship, the anchor was partly got up, but as the brig passed over rocks, the anchor caught, and to save ship and cargo, about 63 fathoms of chain cable and an anchor was slipped and lost.
The 'Cicero' then bore away for the safety of the Humber estuary.
The facts of the case were verified by the Mate and the Pilot, who was still on board.
a 'Protest' was a written declaration, usually made by the master of ship, and attested by a Justice of the Peace, Consul, Notary Public, etc, stating the circumstances under which injury has happened to a ship or its cargo.
Although a legal document, these protests vividly illustrate the events leading to the loss or damage sustained by the vessels
