Contains Letters including a letter of heartfelt thanks, a letter about a hurricane a letter demanding compensation and Receipt as well as three Danish Bank notes and One Warranty Deed.

Administrative / biographical background
Penrice was Captain of the COMADRE a White Star Line vessel (ON 58902) built in Glasgow 1868 by Alexander Stephens & Co. On October 28, 1871 Captain Penrice sailed to the port of Magdalena Bay, in Lower California, to collect cargo to ship to England. Also at the port were two American schooner boats. At 4am, a large group of Mexican bandits dressed as soldiers set out to attack and attempted to board an American Schooner ELLEN AND CATHERINE. The vessel sailed quickly towards Captain Penrice's boat and asked for protection from the bandits. Penrice offered protection to the Americans, reflected in the letters of thanks from the crew and officials. The captain ordered the Americans to tie up alongside his ship and he hoisted the British flag. When the Mexicans demanded the Americans be handed over, the British captain refused. The American Schooner ELLEN AND CATHERINE were now under the protection of Queen Victoria. He ordered his crew to arm themselves and for ten days offered shelter and food to the ELLEN AND CATHERINE, until further assistance arrived. The article on file shows that American thanks went further than the letter from the Treasury Department, as he was awarded a watch engraved from the President. Joseph Penrice died on his voyage to New Zealand, on the 20th December, aged 66 of bronchitis. It was later revealed that he had been suffering from ill health before he left and was advised by his medical attendant to make the voyage in hopes that the warm weather would benefit his health. The voyage did not get off to a great start as two days before the ship left home the carpenter and the ship keeper walked over the side during the fog and falling into the West India Docks were killed. Captain Penrice took to his bed 4th December 1879 and died 16 days later. Upon his death the carpenter constructed a lead line coffin, the materials from which was obtained by tearing down the leaden cisterns and piping, while every available bit of Pewter was utilised as solder. This was enclosed in an outer case of wood. The will of Joseph Penrice (formerly of Woking in the County of Cumberland but late 49 Grange Mount Birkenhead in the County of Chester) Master Mariner proved left his widow Ruth Penrice just under £3000 Buried 28th January 1880.