Court document, 4 ¼ x 7 ½, Bristol County, Commonwealth of Massachuetts, June 30,1794. 
Court complaint Barney Hicks against Abial Tripp for “feloniously taking two gallons of rum on board the Brigg”.
Captain Hicks  served in the Revolutionary War, made  several privateering cruises, was captured, and held for nearly two years a prisoner on a prison ship in New York. When the war closed he entered he merchant service . He made 45 voyages to San Domingo ; traded with the West Indies, and  sailed for Christopher Champlain of Newport, who owned a rum distillery , and he kept him supplied with molasses. He would go to Africa with rum - to the mouth of the Congo and trade the rum for slaves who were brought to Santo Domingo and then the molasses was brought up to Newport to make the rum. This was a triangular trade.
Fine condition. law 333