| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Colonial Courts |
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Inferior Court – first Tuesday in January 1752 Superior Court – Boston – third Tuesday in February 1752 and 12 December 1752 |
Participants |
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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) |
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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) |
| 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) |
| Library | Law Library of Congress: Sir George Lee collection (Includes manuscript notes) |
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: |
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(1) a manuscript copy with notes of Vassall’s petition of appeal (f.70–73); |
(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 |
(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). |
| Other Documents | Fletcher, State of the Action can also be found in Early American Imprints, Series 1. |
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