Harold You are correct, it seemed to be for marine insurance purposes. It also seemed to be a merchant captains opportunity to protect his reputation and explain the circumstances for what might well be his major career low point. Some observations from my research on British privateers on the coast of South America during 1790 to 1815. A ship protest was typically lodged by the master or owner's representative gathering the key details in a legal form, and usually it was being made at a location distant from the home port. In Sydney there are many examples of English captains and supercargoes lodging a Ship's Protest with the local judge advocate, and giving a detailed description of the events leading to the loss (or injury). The issue in the late 18th & early 19th C was that the marine insurers / underwriters would be looking for a reason not to pay up on the loss. It was in the interests of the owner and master that the contemporaneous events were documented, and were authoritative. For those with a maritime history interest a Ship Protest, and the subsequent proceedings in court, can prove a researchers dream. The challenge is to locate which court, if any, the claims were heard: the Court of Common Pleas, or Court of Exchequer, or Court of Chancery, or Kings Bench. I have yet to locate any Ship protests in the British archives such as the TNA. I know of a particular protest supposedly lodged in London in 1810. Can't seem to find it. If some kind soul has noticed a TNA group that has Ship protests, then a bottle of Australian wine is yours for the taking. Chris Maxworthy Australian Assocation for Maritime History (AAMH) > 1. Making "a protest" after loss of a ship (Hwabz@aol.com) > > Subject: [MAR] Making "a protest" after loss of a ship > To: mariners@rootsweb.com > Message-ID: <4a01e.2a0bc536.3b33f15a@aol.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > Can someone please enlighten me about the formal process of "making a > protest" after the loss of a ship? > > After the ship EXPRESS was lost with all hands but one seaman, her owner, > William Kelly, at once noted protest before a notary, "Fearing that the > master of the said ship may be lost, and that the seaman so saved may be > unable to make a protest.? > > The protest was sworn on the ?Holy Evangelists of Almighty God,? and after > recounting his knowledge of the voyage he ended up protesting against the > ? > ?Winds, seas, weathers, accidents, and occurrences aforesaid, and against > all losses or damages suffered or to be suffered,? etc. > > Was this action a necessary legal precursor to claiming an insurance loss? > > Thanks, > > Harold >