Appeals to the Privy Council
Report No. 05_1753_00

Vassall v Fletcher

Massachusetts 

 

Case Name Short

Vassall v Fletcher

 
Case Name Long

William Vassall v William Fletcher

 
 

Acts of the Privy Council, Colonial Series

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APC Citation 

v.4 [220] p.226 – 14 November 1753 – entry 1

 
PC Register Citation 

George II v.14 (1 April 1752 – 31 December 1753) p.428, 506–507: PC 2/103/428, 506–507

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APC Citation 

v.4 [220] p.226 – 31 January 1754 – entry 2

 
PC Register Citation 

George II v.15 (1 January 1754 – 31 December 1755) p.14, 25–28, 32: PC 2/104/14, 25–28, 32

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Colonial Courts

Inferior Court – first Tuesday in January 1752

Superior Court – Boston – third Tuesday in February 1752 and 12 December 1752

Participants

Fletcher, William

Vassall, William

Description

Slander and defamation

Disposition

Reversed; Fletcher is free to bring a new action in the Inferior Court after repaying Vassall the damages and costs with interest.

References in Smith, Appeals to the Privy Council from the American Plantations

Table of Cases (Vassall v Fletcher)


DOCUMENTATION

Printed Cases

Appellant’s case

Case of the appellant (Vassall)

Counsel

[Signed] W. Murray; Al. Forrester

 
Library

British Library: (Hardwicke Papers) Additional Manuscripts 36217 f.44–45 (Includes separate pages of manuscript notes, f.78–84)

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Library

Law Library of Congress: Sir George Lee collection

Respondent’s case

Case of the respondent (Fletcher)

Counsel

[Signed] A. Hume-Campbell; C. Yorke

 
Library

British Library: (Hardwicke Papers) Additional Manuscripts 36217 f.46–47 (Includes separate pages of manuscript notes, f. 78–84)

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Library

Law Library of Congress: Sir George Lee collection (Includes manuscript notes)

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Privy Council Documents in PC 1 at The National Archives at Kew

Not found

Other Documents

Other Documents

Three additional items are in the British Library, Additional Manuscripts 36217:

 

 
 

     (1) a manuscript copy with notes of Vassall’s petition of appeal (f.70–73);

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     (2) a manuscript copy of Extracts from the laws of New England, relating to the authority and methods of proceedings in the courts there (f. 74–77), and

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     (3) a printed copy of The State of the Action brought by William Fletcher against William Vassall for defaming him: tried in the Superiour Court at Boston, August Term, A.D. 1752 and now pending by appeal to his Majesty in Council (Boston, 1753) (f.48–69).

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Other Documents

Fletcher, State of the Action can also be found in Early American Imprints, Series 1.