Illustration 069
EDward Teachwas aBristolMan born, but had sailed some Time out ofJamaicain Privateers, in the lateFrenchWar; yet tho’ he had often distinguished himself for his uncommon Boldness and personal Courage, he was never raised to any Command, till he went a-pyrating, which I think was at the latter End of the Year 1716, when CaptainBenjamin Hornigoldput him into a Sloop that he had made Prize of, and with whom he continued in Consortship till a little while beforeHornigoldsurrendered.
In the Spring of the Year 1717,TeachandHornigoldsailed fromProvidence, for the Main ofAmerica, and took in their Way a Billop from theHavana, with 120 Barrels of Flower, as also a Sloop fromBermuda,ThurbarMaster, from whom they took only some Gallons of Wine, and then let him go; and a Ship fromMaderatoSouth-Carolina, out of which they got Plunder to a considerable Value.
After cleaning on the Coast ofVirginia, they returned to theWest-Indies, and in the Latitude of 24, made Prize of a largeFrench GuineyMan,bound toMartinico, which byHornigold’s Consent,Teachwent aboard of as Captain, and took a Cruize in her;Hornigoldreturned with his Sloop toProvidence, where, at the Arrival of CaptainRogers, the Governor, he surrendered to Mercy, pursuant to the King’s Proclamation.
Illustration 070-image
Blackbeard the Pirate.
Aboard of thisGuineyManTeachmounted no Guns, and named her theQueen Ann’s Revenge; and cruising near the Island of St.Vincent, took a large Ship, called theGreat Allen,Christopher TaylorCommander; the Pyrates plundered her of what they though fit, put all the Men ashore upon the Island above mentioned, and then set Fire to the Ship.
A few Days after,Teachfell in with theScarboroghMan of War, of 30 Guns, who engaged him for some Hours; but she finding the Pyrate well mann’d, and having tried her strength, gave over the Engagement, and returned toBarbadoes, the Place of her Station; andTeachsailed towards theSpanish America.
In his Way he met with a Pyrate Sloop of ten Guns, commanded by one MajorBonnet, lately a Gentleman of good Reputation and Estate in the Island ofBarbadoes, whom he joyned; but in a few Days after,Teach, finding thatBonnetknew nothing of a maritime Life, with the Consent of his own Men, put in another Captain, oneRichards, to CommandBonnet’s Sloop, and took the Major on aboard his own Ship, telling him, thatas he had not been used to the Fatigues and Care of such a Post, it would be better for him to decline it, and live easy and at his Pleasure, in such a Ship as his, where he should not be obliged to perform Duty, but follow his own Inclinations.
AtTurnifften Leagues short of the Bay ofHonduras, the Pyrates took in fresh Water; and while they were at an Anchor there, they saw a Sloop coming in, whereupon,Richardsin the Sloop called theRevenge, slipped his Cable, and run out to meether; who upon seeing the black Flag hoisted, struck his Sail and came to, under the Stern ofTeachthe Commadore. She was called theAdventure, fromJamaica,David HarriotMaster. They took him and his Men aboard the great Ship, and sent a Number of other Hands withIsrael Hands, Master ofTeach’s Ship, to Man the Sloop for the pyratical Account.
The 9th of April, they weighed fromTurniff, having lain there about a Week, and sailed to the Bay, where they found a Ship and four Sloops, three of the latter belonged toJonathan Bernard, ofJamaica, and the other to CaptainJames; the Ship was ofBoston, called theProtestant Cæsar, CaptainWyarCommander.Teachhoisted his Black Colours, and fired a Gun, upon which CaptainWyarand all his Men, left their Ship, and got ashore in their Boat.Teach’s Quarter-Master, and eight of his Crew, took Possession ofWyar’s Ship, andRichardssecured all the Sloops, one of which they burnt out of spight to the Owner; theProtestant Cæsarthey also burnt, after they had plundered her, because she belonged toBoston, where some Men had been hanged for Pyracy; and the three Sloops belonging toBernardthey let go.
From hence the Rovers sailed toTurkill, and then to theGrand Caimanes, a small Island about thirty Leagues to the Westward ofJamaica, where they took a small Turtler, and so to theHavana, and from thence to theBahamaWrecks, and from theBahamaWrecks, they sailed toCarolina, taking a Brigantine and two Sloops in their Way, where they lay off the Bar ofCharles-Townfor five or six Days. They took here a Ship as she was coming out, bound for London, commanded byRobert Clark, with some Passengers on Board forEngland; the next Day they took another Vessel coming out ofCharles-Town, and also two Pinks coming intoCharles-Town;likewise a Brigantine with 14 Negroes aboard; all which being done in the Face of the Town, struck a great Terror to the whole Province ofCarolina, having just before been visited byVane, another notorious Pyrate, that they abandoned themselves to Dispair, being in no Condition to resist their Force. They were eight Sail in the Harbour, ready for the Sea, but none dared to venture out, it being almost impossible to escape their Hands. The inward bound Vessels were under the same unhappy Dilemma, so that the Trade of this Place was totally interrupted: What made these Misfortunes heavier to them, was a long expensive War, the Colony had had with the Natives, which was but just ended when these Robbers infested them.
Teachdetained all the Ships and Prisoners, and, being in want of Medicines, resolves to demand a Chest from the Government of the Province; accordinglyRichards, the Captain of theRevengeSloop, with two or three more Pyrates, were sent up along with Mr.Marks, one of the Prisoners, whom they had taken inClark’s Ship, and very insolently made their Demands, threatning, that if they did not send immediately the Chest of Medicines, and let the Pyrate-Ambassadors return, without offering any Violence to their Persons, they would murder all their Prisoners, send up their Heads to the Governor, and set the Ships they had taken on Fire.
Whilst Mr.Markswas making Application to the Council,Richards, and the rest of the Pyrates, walk’d the Streets publickly, in the Sight of all People, who were fired with the utmost Indignation, looking upon them as Robbers and Murtherers, and particularly the Authors of their Wrongs and Oppressions, but durst not so much as think of executing their Revenge, for fearof bringing more Calamities upon themselves, and so they were forced to let the Villains pass with Impunity. The Government were not long in deliberating upon the Message, tho’ ’twas the greatest Affront that could have been put upon them; yet for the saving so many Mens Lives, (among them, Mr.Samuel Wragg, one of the Council;) they comply’d with the Necessity, and sent aboard a Chest, valued at between 3 and 400l.and the Pyrates went back safe to their Ships.
Blackbeard, (for soTeachwas generally called, as we shall hereafter shew) as soon as he had received the Medicines and his Brother Rogues, let go the Ships and the Prisoners; having first taken out of them in Gold and Silver, about 1500l.Sterling, besides Provisions and other Matters.
From the Bar ofCharles-Town, they sailed toNorth-Carolina; CaptainTeachin the Ship, which they called the Man of War, CaptainRichardsand CaptainHandsin the Sloops, which they termed Privateers, and another Sloop serving them as a Tender.Teachbegan now to think of breaking up the Company, and securing the Money and the best of the Effects for himself, and some others of his Companions he had most Friendship for, and to cheat the rest: Accordingly, on Pretence of running intoTopsailInlet to clean, he grounded his Ship, and then, as if it had been done undesignedly, and by Accident; he ordersHands’s Sloop to come to his Assistance, and get him off again, which he endeavouring to do, ran the Sloop on Shore near the other, and so were both lost. This done,Teachgoes into the Tender Sloop, with forty Hands, and leaves theRevengethere; then takes seventeen others and Marroons them upon a small sandy Island, about a League from the Main, where there was neither Bird, Beastor Herb for their Subsistance, and where they must have perished if MajorBonnethad not two Days after taken them off.
Teachgoes up to the Governor ofNorth-Carolina, with about twenty of his Men, surrender to his Majesty’s Proclamation, and receive Certificates thereof, from his Excellency; but it did not appear that their submitting to this Pardon was from any Reformation of Manners, but only to wait a more favourable Opportunity to play the same Game over again; which he soon after effected, with greater Security to himself, and with much better Prospect of Success, having in this Time cultivated a very good understanding withCharles Eden, Esq; the Governor above mentioned.
The first Piece of Service this kind Governor did toBlack-Beard, was, to give him a Right to the Vessel which he had taken, when he was a pyrating in the great Ship called theQueen Ann’s Revenge; for which purpose, a Court of Vice-Admiralty was held atBath-Town; and, tho’Teachhad never any Commission in his Life, and the Sloop belonging to theEnglishMerchants, and taken in Time of Peace; yet was she condemned as a Prize taken from theSpaniards, by the saidTeach. These Proceedings shew that Governors are but Men.
Before he sailed upon his Adventures, he marry’d a young Creature of about sixteen Years of Age, the Governor performing the Ceremony. As it is a Custom to marry here by a Priest, so it is there by a Magistrate; and this, I have been informed, madeTeach’s fourteenth Wife, whereof, about a dozen might be still living. His Behaviour in this State, was something extraordinary; for, while his Sloop lay inOkerecockInlet, and he ashore at a Plantation, where his Wife lived, with whom after he had lain all Night, it was his Custom to invite five or six of his brutal Companionsto come ashore, and he would force her to prostitute her self to them all, one after another, before his Face.
InJune1718, he went to Sea, upon another Expedition, and steered his Course towardsBermudas; he met with two or threeEnglishVessels in his Way, but robbed them only of Provisions, Stores and other Necessaries, for his present Expence; but near the Island aforementioned, he fell in with twoFrenchShips, one of them was loaden with Sugar and Cocoa, and the other light, both bound toMartinico; the Ship that had no Lading he let go, and putting all the Men of the loaded Ship aboard her, he brought home the other with her Cargo toNorth-Carolina, where the Governor and the Pyrates shared the Plunder.
WhenTeachand his Prize arrived, he and four of his Crew went to his Excellency, and made Affidavit, that they found theFrenchShip at Sea, without a Soul on Board her; and then a Court was called, and the Ship condemned: The Governor had sixty Hogsheads of Sugar for his Dividend, and one Mr.Knight, who was his Secretary, and Collector for the Province, twenty, and the rest was shared among the other Pyrates.
The Business was not yet done, the Ship remained, and it was possible one or other might come into the River, that might be acquainted with her, and so discover the Roguery; butTeachthought of a Contrivance to prevent this, for, upon a Pretence that she was leaky, and that she might sink, and so stop up the Mouth of the Inlet or Cove where she lay, he obtained an Order from the Governor, to bring her out into the River, and set her on Fire, which was accordingly executed, and she was burnt down to the Water’s Edge, her Bottom sunk, and with it,their Fears of her ever rising in Judgment against them.
CaptainTeach, aliasBlack-beard, passed three or four Months in the River, sometimes lying at Anchor in the Coves, at other Times sailing from one Inlet to another, trading with such Sloops as he met, for the Plunder he had taken, and would often give them Presents for Stores and Provisions took from them; that is, when he happened to be in a giving Humour; at other Times he made bold with them, and took what he liked, without saying,by your Leave, knowing well, they dared not send him a Bill for the Payment. He often diverted himself with going ashore among the Planters, where he revelled Night and Day: By these he was well received, but whether out of Love or Fear, I cannot say; sometimes he used them courteously enough, and made them Presents of Rum and Sugar, in Recompence of what he took from them; but, as for Liberties (which ’tis said) he and his Companions often took with the Wives and Daughters of the Planters, I cannot take upon me to say, whether he paid themad Valorem, or no. At other Times he carried it in a lordly Manner towards them, and would lay some of them under Contribution; nay, he often proceeded to bully the Governor, not, that I can discover the least Cause of Quarrel betwixt them, but it seemed only to be done, to shew he dared do it.
The Sloops trading up and down this River, being so frequently pillaged byBlack-beard, consulted with the Traders, and some of the best of the Planters, what Course to take; they, saw plainly it would be in vain to make any Application to the Governor ofNorth-Carolina, to whom it properly belonged to find some Redress; so that if they could not be relieved from some other Quarter,Black-beardwould be like to reign with Impunity, therefore, with as much Secrecy as possible, they sent a Deputation toVirginia, to lay the Affair before the Governor of that Colony, and to solicit an armed Force from the Men of War lying there, to take or destroy this Pyrate.
This Governor consulted with the Captains of the two Men of War,viz.thePearlandLime, who had lain in St.James’s River, about ten Months. It was agreed that the Governor should hire a couple of small Sloops, and the Men of War, should Man them; this was accordingly done, and the Command of them given to Mr.Robert Maynard, first Lieutenant of thePearl, an experienced Officer, and a Gentleman of great Bravery and Resolution, as will appear by his gallant Behaviour in this Expedition. The Sloops were well mann’d and furnished with Ammunition and small Arms, but had no Guns mounted.
About the Time of their going out, the Governor called an Assembly, in which it was resolved to publish a Proclamation, offering certain Rewards to any Person or Persons, who, within a Year after that Time, should take or destroy any Pyrate: The original Proclamation being in our Hands, is as follows.
By his Majesty’s Lieutenant Governor, and, Commander in Chief, of the Colony and Dominion ofVirginia,
A PROCLAMATION,
Publishing the Rewards given for apprehending, or killing, Pyrates.
WHereas, by an Act of Assembly, made at a Session of Assembly, begun at the Capital inWilliamsburgh, the eleventh Day ofNovember, in the fifth Year of his Majesty’s Reign, entituled,An Act to encourage the apprehending and destroying of Pyrates: It is, amongst other Things enacted, that all and every Person, or Persons, who, from and after the fourteenth Day ofNovember, in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighteen, and before the fourteenth Day ofNovember, which shall be in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and nineteen, shall take any Pyrate, or Pyrates, on the Sea or Land, or in Case of Resistance, shall kill any such Pyrate, or Pyrates, between the Degrees of thirty four, and thirty nine, of Northern Latitude, and within one hundred Leagues of the Continent ofVirginia, or within the Provinces ofVirginia, orNorth-Carolina, upon the Conviction, or making due Proof of the killing of all, and every such Pyrate, and Pyrates, before the Governor and Council, shall be entitled to have, and receive out of the publick Money, in the Hands of the Treasurer of this Colony, the several Rewards following; that is to say, forEdward Teach, commonly call’d CaptainTeach, orBlack-Beard, one hundred Pounds, for every other Commander of a Pyrate Ship, Sloop, or Vessel, forty Pounds; for every Lieutenant, Master, or Quarter-Master, Boatswain, or Carpenter, twenty Pounds; for every other inferior Officer, sixteen Pounds, and for every private Man taken on Board such Ship,Sloop, or Vessel, ten Pounds; and, that for every Pyrate, which shall be taken by any Ship, Sloop or Vessel, belonging to this Colony, orNorth-Carolina, within the Time aforesaid, in any Place whatsoever, the like Rewards shall be paid according to the Quality and Condition of such Pyrates. Wherefore, for the Encouragement of all such Persons as shall be willing to serve his Majesty, and their Country, in so just and honourable an Undertaking, as the suppressing a Sort of People, who may be truly called Enemies to Mankind: I have thought fit, with the Advice and Consent of his Majesty’s Council, to issue this Proclamation, hereby declaring, the said Rewards shall be punctually and justly paid, in current Money ofVirginia, according to the Directions of the said Act. And, I do order and appoint this Proclamation, to be published by the Sheriffs, at their respective County-Houses, and by all Ministers and Readers, in the several Churches and Chappels, throughout this Colony.
Given at our Council-Chamber atWilliamsburgh,this 24th Day ofNovember, 1718,in the fifth Year of his Majesty’s Reign.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
A. SPOTSWOOD.
The 17th ofNovember, 1718, the Lieutenant sail’d fromKicquetan, inJamesRiver inVirginia, and, the 21st in the Evening, came to the Mouth ofOkerecockInlet, where he got Sight of the Pyrate. This Expedition was made with all imaginable Secrecy, and the Officer manag’d with all the Prudence that was necessary, stopping all Boats and Vessels he met with, in the River, from going up, and thereby preventing any Intelligence from reachingBlack-Beard, and receiving at the same time an Account from them all, of the Place where the Pyrate was lurking; but notwithstanding this Caution,Black-beardhad Information of the Design, from his Excellency of the Province; and his Secretary, Mr.Knight, wrote him a Letter, particularly concerning it, intimating,That he had sent him four of his Men, which were all he could meet with, in or about Town, and so bid him be upon his Guard.These Men belonged toBlack-beard, and were sent fromBath-TowntoOkerecockInlet, where the Sloop lay, which is about 20 Leagues.
Black-beardhad heard several Reports, which happened not to be true, and so gave the less Credit to this, nor was he convinced till he saw the Sloops: Whereupon he put his Vessel in a Posture of Defence; he had no more than twenty five Men on Board, tho’ he gave out to all the Vessels he spoke with, that he had 40. When he had prepared for Battle, he set down and spent the Night in drinking with the Master of a trading Sloop, who, ’twas thought, had more Business withTeach, than he should have had.
LieutenantMaynardcame to an Anchor, for the Place being shoal, and the Channel intricate, there was no getting in, whereTeachlay, that Night; but in the Morning he weighed, and sent his Boat a-head of the Sloops to sound; and coming within Gun-Shot of the Pyrate, received his Fire; whereuponMaynardhoisted the King’s Colours, and stood directly towards him, with the best Way that his Sails and Oars could made.Black-beardcut his Cable, and endeavoured to make a running Fight, keeping a continual Fire at his Enemies, with his Guns; Mr.Maynardnot having any, kept a constant Fire with small Arms, while some of his Men laboured at their Oars. In a little TimeTeach’s Sloop ran a-ground, and Mr.Maynard’s drawing more Water than that of the Pyrate, he could not come near him; so he anchored within half Gun-Shot of the Enemy, and, in order tolighten his Vessel, that he might run him aboard, the Lieutenant ordered all his Ballast to be thrown over-board, and all the Water to be staved, and then weigh’d and stood for him; upon whichBlack-beardhail’d him in this rude Manner:Damn you for Villains, who are you? And, from whence came you?The Lieutenant made him Answer,You may see by our Colours we are no Pyrates.Black-beardbid him send his Boat on Board, that he might see who he was; but Mr.Maynardreply’d thus;I cannot spare my Boat, but I will come aboard of you as soon as I can, with my Sloop.Upon this,Black-beardtook a Glass of Liquor, and drank to him with these Words:Damnation seize my Soul if I give you Quarters, or take any from you.In Answer to which, Mr.Maynardtold him,That he expected no Quarters from him, nor should he give him any.
By this timeBlack-beard’s Sloop fleeted, as Mr.Maynard’s Sloops were rowing towards him, which being not above a Foot high in the Waste, and consequently the Men all exposed, as they came near together, (there being hitherto little or no Execution done, on either Side,) the Pyrate fired a Broadside, charged with all Manner of small Shot. ——A fatal Stroke to them! The Sloop the Lieutenant was in, having twenty Men killed and wounded, and the other Sloop nine. This could not be help’d, for there being no Wind, they were oblig’d to keep to their Oars, otherwise the Pyrate would have got away from him, which, it seems, the Lieutenant was resolute to prevent.
After this unlucky Blow,Black-beard’s Sloop fell Broadside to the Shore; Mr.Maynard’s other Sloop, which was called theRanger, fell a-stern, being, for the present, disabled; so the Lieutenant finding his own Sloop had Way, and would soon be on Board ofTeach, he ordered all his Mendown, for fear of another Broadside, which must have been their Destruction, and the loss of their Expedition. Mr.Maynardwas the only Person that kept the Deck, except the Man at the Helm, whom he directed to lye down snug, and the Men in the Hold were ordered to get their Pistols and their Swords ready for close fighting, and to come up at his Command; in order to which, two Ladders were placed in the Hatch-Way for the more Expedition. When the Lieutenant’s Sloop boarded the other, CaptainTeach’s Men threw in several new fashioned sort of Grenadoes,viz.Case Bottles fill’d with Powder, and small Shot, Slugs, and Pieces of Lead or Iron, with a quick Match in the Mouth of it, which being lighted without Side, presently runs into the Bottle to the Powder, and as it is instantly thrown on Board, generally does great Execution, besides putting all the Crew into a Confusion; but by good Providence, they had not that Effect here; the Men being in the Hold, andBlack-beardseeing few or no Hands aboard, told his Men,That they were all knock’d on the Head, except three or four; and therefore, says he, let’s jump on Board, and cut them to Pieces.
Whereupon, under the Smoak of one of the Bottles just mentioned,Black-beardenters with fourteen Men, over the Bows ofMaynard’s Sloop, and were not seen by him till the Air cleared; however, he just then gave a Signal to his Men, who all rose in an Instant, and attack’d the Pyrates with as much Bravery as ever was done upon such an Occasion:Black-beardand the Lieutenant fired the first Pistol at each other, by which the Pyrate received a Wound, and then engaged with Swords, till the Lieutenant’s unluckily broke, and stepping back to cock a Pistol,Black-beard, with his Cutlash, was striking at that Instant, that one ofMaynard’sMen gave him a terrible Wound in the Neck and Throat, by which the Lieutenant came off with a small Cut over his Fingers.
They were now closely and warmly engaged, the Lieutenant and twelve Men, againstBlack-beardand fourteen, till the Sea was tinctur’d with Blood round the Vessel;Black-beardreceived a Shot into his Body from the Pistol that LieutenantMaynarddischarg’d, yet he stood his Ground, and fought with great Fury, till he received five and twenty Wounds, and five of them by Shot. At length, as he was cocking another Pistol, having fired several before, he fell down dead; by which Time eight more out of the fourteen dropp’d, and all the rest, much wounded, jump’d over-board, and call’d out for Quarters, which was granted, tho’ it was only prolonging their Lives for a few Days. The SloopRangercame up, and attack’d the Men that remain’d inBlack-beard’s Sloop, with equal Bravery, till they likewise cry’d for Quarters.
Here was an End of that couragious Brute, who might have pass’d in the World for a Heroe, had he been employ’d in a good Cause; his Destruction, which was of such Consequence to the Plantations, was entirely owing to the Conduct and Bravery of LieutenantMaynardand his Men, who might have destroy’d him with much less Loss, had they had a Vessel with great Guns; but they were obliged to use small Vessels, because the Holes and Places he lurk’d in, would not admit of others of greater Draught; and it was no small Difficulty for this Gentleman to get to him, having grounded his Vessel, at least, a hundred times, in getting up the River, besides other Discouragements, enough to have turn’d back any Gentleman without Dishonour, who was less resolute and bold than this Lieutenant. The Broadside that did so much Mischief before they boarded, in all Probability savedthe rest from Destruction; for before thatTeachhad little or no Hopes of escaping, and therefore had posted a resolute Fellow, a Negroe whom he had bred up, with a lighted Match, in the Powder-Room, with Commands to blow up when he should give him Orders, which was as soon as the Lieutenant and his Men could have entered, that so he might have destroy’d his Conquerors: and when the Negro found how it went withBlack-beard, he could hardly be perswaded from the rash Action, by two Prisoners that were then in the Hold of the Sloop.
What seems a little odd, is, that some of these Men, who behaved so bravely againstBlack-beard, went afterwards a pyrating themselves, and one of them was taken along withRoberts; but I do not find that any of them were provided for, except one that was hanged; but this is a Digression.
The Lieutenant causedBlack-beard’s Head to be severed from his Body, and hung up at the Bolt-sprit End, then he sailed toBath-Town, to get Relief for his wounded Men.
It must be observed, that in rummaging the Pyrate’s Sloop, they found several Letters and written Papers, which discovered the Correspondence betwixt GovernorEden, the Secretary and Collector, and also some Traders atNew-York, andBlack-beard. It is likely he had Regard enough for his Friends, to have destroyed these Papers before the Action, in order to hinder them from falling into such Hands, where the Discovery would be of no Use, either to the Interest or Reputation of these fine Gentlemen, if it had not been his fixed Resolution to have blown up together, when he found no possibility of escaping.
When the Lieutenant came toBath-Town, he made bold to seize in the Governor’s Store-House, thesixty Hogsheads of Sugar, and from honest Mr.Knight, twenty; which it seems was their Dividend of the Plunder taken in theFrenchShip; the latter did not long survive this shameful Discovery, for being apprehensive that he might be called to an Account for these Trifles, fell sick with the Fright, and died in a few Days.
After the wounded Men were pretty well recover’d, the Lieutenant sailed back to the Men of War inJames River, inVirginia, withBlack-beard’s Head still hanging at the Bolt-sprit End, and fiveteen Prisoners, thirteen of whom were hanged. It appearing upon Tryal, that one of them,viz.Samuel Odell, was taken out of the trading Sloop, but the Night before the Engagement. This poor Fellow was a little unlucky at his first entering upon his new Trade, there appearing no less than 70 Wounds upon him after the Action, notwithstanding which, he lived, and was cured of them all. The other Person that escaped the Gallows, was oneIsrael Hands, the Master ofBlack-beard’s Sloop, and formerly Captain of the same, before theQueen Ann’s Revengewas lost inTopsailInlet.
The aforesaidHandshappened not to be in the Fight, but was taken afterwards ashore atBath-Town, having been sometime before disabled byBlack-beard, in one of his savage Humours, after the following Manner.—One Night drinking in his Cabin withHands, the Pilot, and another Man;Black-beardwithout any Provocation privately draws out a small Pair of Pistols, and cocks them under the Table, which being perceived by the Man, he withdrew and went upon Deck, leavingHands, the Pilot, and the Captain together. When the Pistols were ready, he blew out the Candle, and crossing his Hands, discharged them at his Company;Hands, the Master, was shot thro’ the Knee, and lam’d for Life; the other Pistol did no Execution.—Being asked the meaning of this, he only answered, by damning them, thatif he did not now and then kill one of them, they would forget who he was.
Handsbeing taken, was try’d and condemned, but just as he was about to be executed, a Ship arrives atVirginiawith a Proclamation for prolonging the Time of his Majesty’s Pardon, to such of the Pyrates as should surrender by a limited Time therein expressed: Notwithstanding the Sentence,Handspleaded the Pardon, and was allowed the Benefit of it, and is alive at this Time in London, begging his Bread.
Now that we have given some Account ofTeach’s Life and Actions, it will not be amiss, that we speak of his Beard, since it did not a little contribute towards making his Name so terrible in those Parts.
Plutarch, and other grave Historians have taken Notice, that several great Men amongst theRomans, took their Sir-Names from certain odd Marks in their Countenances; asCicero, from a Mark or Vetch on his Nose; so our Heroe, CaptainTeach, assumed the Cognomen ofBlack-beard, from that large Quantity of Hair, which, like a frightful Meteor, covered his whole Face, and frightenedAmericamore than any Comet that has appeared there a long Time.
This Beard was black, which he suffered to grow of an extravagant Length; as to Breadth, it came up to his Eyes; he was accustomed to twist it with Ribbons, in small Tails, after the Manner of our Ramilies Wiggs, and turn them about his Ears: In Time of Action, he wore a Sling over his Shoulders, with three brace of Pistols, hanging in Holsters like Bandaliers; and stuck lighted Matches under his Hat, which appearing on each Side of his Face, his Eyes naturally looking fierce andwild, made him altogether such a Figure, that Imagination cannot form an Idea of a Fury, from Hell, to look more frightful.
If he had the look of a Fury, his Humours and Passions were suitable to it; we shall relate two or three more of his Extravagancies, which we omitted in the Body of his History, by which it will appear, to what a Pitch of Wickedness, human Nature may arrive, if it’s Passions are not checked.
In the Commonwealth of Pyrates, he who goes the greatest Length of Wickedness, is looked upon with a kind of Envy amongst them, as a Person of a more extraordinary Gallantry, and is thereby entitled to be distinguished by some Post, and if such a one has but Courage, he must certainly be a great Man. The Hero of whom we are writing, was thoroughly accomplished this Way, and some of his Frolicks of Wickedness, were so extravagant, as if he aimed at making his Men believe he was a Devil incarnate; for being one Day at Sea, and a little flushed with drink:—Come, says he,let us make a Hell of our own, and try how long we can bear it; accordingly he, with two or three others, went down into the Hold, and closing up all the Hatches, filled several Pots full of Brimstone, and other combustible Matter, and set it on Fire, and so continued till they were almost suffocated, when some of the Men cried out for Air; at length he opened the Hatches, not a little pleased that he held out the longest.
The Night before he was killed, he set up and drank till the Morning, with some of his own Men, and the Master of a Merchant-Man, and having had Intelligence of the two Sloops coming to attack him, as has been before observed; one of his Men asked him, in Case any thing should happen to him in the Engagement with the Sloops,whether his Wife knew where he had buried his Money? He answered,That no Body but himself and the Devil, knew where it was, and the longest Liver should take all.
Those of his Crew who were taken alive, told a Story which may appear a little incredible; however, we think it will not be fair to omit it, since we had it from their own Mouths. That once upon a Cruize, they found out that they had a Man on Board more than their Crew; such a one was seen several Days amongst them, sometimes below, and sometimes upon Deck, yet no Man in the Ship could give an Account who he was, or from whence he came; but that he disappeared little before they were cast away in their great Ship, but, it seems, they verily believed it was the Devil.
One would think these Things should induce them to reform their Lives, but so many Reprobates together, encouraged and spirited one another up in their Wickedness, to which a continual Course of drinking did not a little contribute; for inBlack-beard’s Journal, which was taken, there were several Memorandums of the following Nature, sound writ with his own Hand.—Such a Day, Rum all out:—Our Company somewhat sober:—A damn’d Confusion amongst us!—Rogues a plotting;—great Talk of Separation.—So I look’d sharp for a Prize;—such a Day took one, with a great deal of Liquor on Board, so kept the Company hot, damned hot, then all Things went well again.
Thus it was these Wretches passed their Lives, with very little Pleasure or Satisfaction, in the Possession of what they violently take away from others, and sure to pay for it at last, by an ignominious Death.
The Names of the Pyrates killed in the Engagement, are as follow.
Edward Teach, Commander.
Phillip Morton, Gunner.
Garrat Gibbens, Boatswain.
Owen Roberts, Carpenter.
Thomas Miller, Quarter-Master.
John Husk,
Joseph Curtice,
Joseph Brooks, (1)
Nath. Jackson.
All the rest, except the two last, were wounded and afterwards hanged inVirginia.
John Carnes, Joseph Philips,
Joseph Brooks,(2)James Robbins,
James Blake, John Martin,
John Gills, Edward Salter,
Thomas Gates, Stephen Daniel,
James White, Richard Greensail.
Richard Stiles, Israel Hands,pardoned.
Cæsar, Samuel Odel, acquited.
There were in the Pyrate Sloops, and ashore in a Tent, near where the Sloops lay, 25 Hogsheads of Sugar, 11 Teirces, and 145 Bags of Cocoa, a Barrel of Indigo, and a Bale of Cotton; which, with what was taken from the Governor and Secretary, and the Sale of the Sloop, came to 2500l.besides the Rewards paid by the Governor ofVirginia, pursuant to his Proclamation; all which was divided among the Companies of the two Ships,LimeandPearl, that lay inJamesRiver; the brave Fellows that took them coming in for no more than their Dividend amongst the rest, and was paid it within these three Months.
THE Major was a Gentleman of good Reputation in the Island ofBarbadoes, was Master of a plentiful Fortune, and had the Advantage of a liberal Education. He had the least Temptation of any Man to follow such a Course of Life, from the Condition of his Circumstances. It was very surprizing to every one, to hear of the Major’s Enterprize, in the Island were he liv’d; and as he was generally esteem’d and honoured, before he broke out into open Acts of Pyracy, so he was afterwards rather pitty’d than condemned, by those that were acquainted with him, believing that this Humour of going a pyrating, proceeded from a Disorder in his Mind, which had been but too visible in him, some Time before this wicked Undertaking; and which is said to have been occasioned by some Discomforts he found in a married State; be that as it will, the Major was but ill qualify’d for the Business, as not understanding maritime Affairs.
However, he fitted out a Sloop with ten Guns and 70 Men, entirely at his own Expence, and in the Night-Time sailed fromBarbadoes. He called his Sloop theRevenge; his first Cruize was off the Capes ofVirginia, where he took several Ships, and plundered them of their Provisions, Cloaths,Money, Ammunition,&c.in particular theAnne, CaptainMontgomery, fromGlascow; theTurbetfromBarbadoes, which for Country sake, after they had taken out the principal Part of the Lading, the Pyrate Crew set her on Fire; theEndeavour, CaptainScot, fromBristol, and theYoungfromLeith. From hence they went toNew-York, and off the East End ofLong-Island, took a Sloop bound for theWest-Indies, after which they stood in and landed some Men atGardner’sIsland, but in a peaceable Manner, and bought Provisions for the Company’s Use, which they paid for, and so went off again without Molestation.
Some Time after, which was inAugust1717,Bonnetcame off the Bar ofSouth-Carolina, and took a Sloop and a Brigantine bound in; the Sloop belonged toBarbadoes, Joseph PalmerMaster, laden with Rum, Sugar and Negroes; and the Brigantine came fromNew-England, Thomas PorterMaster, whom they plundered, and then dismiss’d; but they sailed away with the Sloop, and at an Inlet inNorth-Carolinacareened by her, and then set her on Fire.
After the Sloop had cleaned, they put to Sea, but came to no Resolution what Course to take; the Crew were divided in their Opinions, some being for one Thing, and some another, so that nothing but Confusion seem’d to attend all their Schemes.
The Major was no Sailor as was said before, and therefore had been obliged to yield to many Things that were imposed on him, during their Undertaking, for want of a competent Knowledge in maritime Affairs; at length happening to fall in Company with another Pyrate, oneEdward Teach, (who for his remarkable black ugly Beard, was more commonly calledBlack-Beard:) This Fellow was a good Sailor, but a most cruel hardened Villain, bold and daring to the last Degree, and would not stick at the perpetrating the most abominable Wickedness imaginable;for which he was made Chief of that execrable Gang, that it might be said that his Post was not unduly filled,Black-beardbeing truly the Superior in Roguery, of all the Company, as has been already related.
To himBonnet’s Crew joined in Consortship, andBonnethimself was laid aside, notwithstanding the Sloop was his own; he went aboardBlack-beard’s Ship, not concerning himself with any of their Affairs, where he continued till she was lost inTopsailInlet, and oneRichardswas appointed Captain in his Room. The Major now saw his Folly, but could not help himself, which made him Melancholy; he reflected upon his past Course of Life, and was confounded with Shame, when he thought upon what he had done: His Behaviour was taken Notice of by the other Pyrates, who liked him never the better for it; and he often declared to some of them, that he would gladly leave off that Way of Living, being fully tired of it; but he should be ashamed to see the Face of anyEnglishMan again; therefore if he could get toSpainorPortugal, where he might be undiscovered, he would spend the Remainder of his Days in either of those Countries, otherwise he must continue with them as long as he lived.
WhenBlack-beardlost his Ship atTopsailInlet, and surrendered to the King’s Proclamation,Bonnetreassumed the Command of his own Sloop,Revenge, goes directly away toBath-TowninNorth-Carolina, surrenders likewise to the King’s Pardon, and receives a Certificate. The War was now broke out between theTrippleAllies andSpain; so MajorBonnetgets a Clearence for his Sloop atNorth-Carlina, to go to the Island of St.Thomas, with a Design (at least it was pretended so) to get the Emperor’s Commission, to go a Privateering upon theSpaniards. WhenBonnetcame back toTopsailInlet, he found thatTeachand his Gang were gone, and thatthey had taken all the Money, small Arms and Effects of Value out of the great Ship, and set ashore on a small sandy Island above a League from the Main, seventeen Men, no doubt with a Design they should perish, there being no Inhabitant, or Provisions to subsist withal, nor any Boat or Materials to build or make any kind of Launch or Vessel, to escape from that desolate Place: They remained there two Nights and one Day, without Subsistance, or the least Prospect of any, expecting nothing else but a lingering Death; when to their inexpressable Comfort, they saw Redemption at Hand; for MajorBonnethappening to get Intelligence of their being there, by two of the Pyrates who had escapedTeach’s Cruelty, and had got to a poor little Village at the upper End of the Harbour, sent his Boat to make Discovery of the Truth of the Matter, which the poor Wretches seeing, made a signal to them, and they were all brought on BoardBonnet’s Sloop.
MajorBonnettold all his Company, that he would take a Commission to go against theSpaniards, and to that End, was going to St.Thomas’s therefore if they would go with him, they should be welcome; whereupon they all consented, but as the Sloop was preparing to sail, a Bom-Boat, that brought Apples and Sider to sell to the Sloop’s Men, informed them, that CaptainTeachlay atOcricockInlet, with only 18 or 20 Hands.Bonnet, who bore him a mortal Hatred for some Insults offered him, went immediately in pursuit ofBlack-beard, but it happened too late, for he missed of him there, and after four Days Cruize, hearing no farther News of him, they steered their Course towardsVirginia.
In the Month ofJuly, these Adventurers came off the Capes, and meeting with a Pink with a Stock of Provisions on Board, which they happened tobe in Want of, they took out of her ten or twelve Barrels of Pork, and about 400 Weight of Bread; but because they would not have this set down to the Account of Pyracy, they gave them eight or ten Casks of Rice, and an old Cable, in lieu thereof.
Two Days afterwards they chased a Sloop of sixty Ton, and took her two Leagues off of CapeHenry; they were so happy here as to get a Supply of Liquor to their Victuals, for they brought from her two Hogsheads of Rum, and as many of Molosses, which, it seems, they had need of, tho’ they had not ready Money to purchase them: What Security they intended to give, I can’t tell, butBonnetsent eight Men to take Care of the Prize Sloop, who, perhaps, not caring to make Use of those accustom’d Freedoms, took the first Opportunity to go off with her, andBonnet(who was pleased to have himself called CaptainThomas,) saw them no more.
After this, the Major threw off all Restraint, and though he had just before received his Majesty’s Mercy, in the Name ofStede Bonnet, he relaps’d in good Earnest into his old Vocation, by the Name of CaptainThomas, and recommenced a down-right Pyrate, by taking and plundering all the Vessels he met with: He took off CapeHenry, two Ships fromVirginia, bound toGlascow, out of which they had very little besides an hundred Weight of Tobacco. The next Day they took a small Sloop bound fromVirginiatoBermudas, which supply’d them with twenty Barrels of Pork, some Bacon, and they gave her in return, two Barrels of Rice, and a Hogshead of Molossus; out of this Sloop two Men enter’d voluntarily. The next they took was anotherVirginiaMan, bound toGlascow, out of which they had nothing of Value, save only a few Combs, Pins and Needles, andgave her instead thereof, a Barrel of Pork, and two Barrels of Bread.
FromVirginiathey sailed toPhiladelphia, and in the Latitude of 38 North, they took a Scooner, coming fromNorth-Carolina, bound toBoston, they had out of her only two Dozen of Calf-Skins, to make Covers for Guns, and two of their Hands, and detained her some Days. All this was but small Game, and seem’d as if they design’d only to make Provision for their Sloop against they arrived at St.Thomas’s; for they hitherto had dealt favourably with all that were so unhappy as so fall into their Hands; but those that came after, fared not so well, for in the Latitude of 32, off ofDelawareRiver, nearPhiladelphia, they took two Snows bound toBristol, out of whom they got some Money, besides Goods, perhaps to the Value of 150 Pounds; at the same Time they took a Sloop of sixty Tons bound fromPhiladelphiatoBarbadoes, which after taking some Goods out, they dismissed along with the Snows.
The 29th Day ofJuly, CaptainThomastook a Sloop of 50 Tons, six or seven Leagues offDelawareBay, bound fromPhiladelphiatoBarbadoes, Thomas ReadMaster, loaden with Provisions, which they kept, and put four or five of their Hands on Board her. The last Day ofJuly, they took another Sloop of 60 Tons, commanded byPeter Manwaring, bound fromAntegoatoPhiladelphia, which they likewise kept with all the Cargo, consisting chiefly of Rum, Molosses, Sugar, Cotton, Indigo, and about 25 Pound in Money, valued in all to 500 Pound.
The last Day ofJuly, our Rovers with the Vessels last taken, leftDelawareBay, and sailed to CapeFearRiver, where they staid too long for their Safety, for the Pyrate Sloop which they now new named theRoyal James, proved very leaky, so thatthey were obliged to remain here almost two Months, to refit and repair their Vessel: They took in this River a small Shallop, which they ripped up to mend the Sloop, and retarded the further Prosecution of their Voyage, as before mentioned, till the News came toCarolina, of a Pyrate Sloop’s being there to carreen with her Prizes.
Upon this Information, the Council ofSouth-Carolinawas alarmed, and apprehended they should receive another Visit from them speedily; to prevent which, ColonelWilliam Rhet, of the same Province, waited on the Governor, and generously offered himself to go with two Sloops to attack this Pyrate; which the Governor readily accepted, and accordingly gave the Colonel a Commission and full Power, to fit such Vessels as he thought proper for the Design.
In a few Days two Sloops were equipped and manned: TheHenrywith 8 Guns and 70 Men, commanded by CaptainJohn Masters, and theSea Nymph, with 8 Guns and 60 Men, commanded by CaptainFayrer Hall, both under the entire Direction and Command of the aforesaid ColonelRhet, who, on the 14th ofSeptember, went on Board theHenry, and, with the other Sloop, sailed fromCharles-TowntoSwillivantsIsland, to put themselves in order for the Cruize. Just then arrived a small Ship fromAntigoa, oneCockMaster, with an Account, that in Sight of the Bar he was taken and plundered by oneCharles Vane, a Pyrate, in a Brigantine of 12 Guns and 90 Men; and who had also taken two other Vessels bound in there, one a small Sloop, CaptainDillMaster, fromBarbadoes; the other a Brigantine, CaptainThompsonMaster, fromGuiney, with ninety odd Negroes, which they took out of the Vessel, and put on Board another Sloop then under the Command of oneYeats, his Consort, with 25 Men. This prov’dfortunate to the Owners of theGuineyMan, forYeatshaving often attempted to quit this Course of Life, took an Opportunity in the Night, to leaveVaneand to run intoNorth-EdistoRiver, to the Southward ofCharles-Town, and surrendered to his Majesty’s Pardon. The Owners got their Negroes, andYeatsand his Men had Certificates given them from the Government.
Vanecruised some Time off the Bar, in hopes to catchYeats, and unfortunately for them, took two Ships coming out, bound toLondon, and while the Prisoners were aboard, some of the Pyrates gave out, that they designed to go into one of the Rivers to the Southward. ColonelRhet, upon hearing this, sailed over the Bar the 15th ofSeptember, with the two Sloops before mentioned; and having the Wind Northerly, went after the PyrateVane, and scoured the Rivers and Inlets to the Southward; but not meeting with him, tacked and stood for CapeFearRiver, in Prosecution of his first Design. On the 26th following, in the Evening, the Colonel with his small Squadron, entered the River, and saw, over a Point of Land, three Sloops at an Anchor, which were MajorBonnetand his Prizes; but it happened that in going up the River, the Pilot run the Colonel’s Sloops aground, and it was dark before they were on Float, which hindered their getting up that Night. The Pyrates soon discovered the Sloops, but not knowing who they were, or upon what Design they came into that River, they manned three Canoes, and sent them down to take them, but they quickly found their Mistake, and returned to the Sloop, with the unwelcome News. MajorBonnetmade Preparations that Night for engaging, and took all the Men out of the Prizes. He shewed CaptainManwaring, one of his Prisoners, a Letter, he had just wrote, which he declared he would send to the GovernorofCarolina; the Letter was to this Effect,viz. That if the Sloops, which then appeared, were sent out against him, by the saidGovernor, and he should get clear off, that he would burn and destroy all Ships or Vessels going in or coming out ofSouth-Carolina. The next Morning they got under Sail, and came down the River, designing only a running Fight. ColonelRhet’s Sloops got likewise under Sail, and stood for him, getting upon each Quarter of the Pyrate, with Intent to board him; which he perceiving, edged in towards the Shore, and being warmly engaged, their Sloop ran a-ground: TheCarolinaSloops being in the same shoal Water, were in the same Circumstances; theHenry, in which ColonelRhetwas, grounded within Pistol shot of the Pyrate, and on his Bow; the other Sloop grounded right a-head of him, and almost out of Gun-Shot, which made her of little Service to the Colonel, while they lay a-ground.
At this Time the Pyrate had a considerable Advantage; for their Sloop, after she was a-ground, listed from ColonelRhet’s, by which Means they were all covered, and the Colonel’s Sloop listing the same Way, his Men were much exposed; notwithstanding which, they kept a brisk Fire the whole Time they lay thus a-ground, which was near five Hours. The Pyrates made a Wiff in their bloody Flag, and beckoned several Times with their Hats in Derision to the Colonel’s Men, to come on Board, which they answered with chearful Huzza’s, and said,that they would speak with them by and by; which accordingly happened, for the Colonel’s Sloop being first a float, he got into deeper Water, and after mending the Sloop’s Rigging, which was much shattered in the Engagement, they stood for the Pyrate, to give the finishing Stroke, and designed to go directly on Board him; which he prevented, by sending a Flag of Truce, andafter some Time capitulating, they surrendered themselves Prisoners. The Colonel took Possession of the Sloop, and was extreamly pleased to find that CaptainThomas, who commanded her, was the individual Person of MajorStede Bonnet, who had done them the Honour several Times to visit their own Coast ofCarolina.
There were killed in this Action, on Board theHenry, ten Men, and fourteen wounded; on Board theSea Nymph, two killed and four wounded. The Officers and Sailors in both Sloops behaved themselves with the greatest Bravery; and had not the Sloops so unluckily run a-ground, they had taken the Pyrate with much less loss of Men; but as he designed to get by them, and so make a running Fight, theCarolinaSloops were obliged to keep near him, to prevent his getting away. Of the Pyrates there were seven killed and five wounded, two of which died soon after of their Wounds. ColonelRhetweigh’d the 30th ofSeptember, from CapeFearRiver, and arrived atCharles-Townthe 3d ofOctober, to the great Joy of the whole Province ofCarolina.
Bonnetand his Crew, two Days after, were put ashore, and there not being a publick Prison, the Pyrates were kept at the Watch-House, under a Guard of Militia; but MajorBonnetwas committed into the Custody of the Marshal, at his House; and in a few Days after,David Hariotthe Master, andIgnatius Pellthe Boatswain, who were designed for Evidences against the other Pyrates, were removed from the rest of the Crew, to the said Marshal’s House, and every Night two Centinals set about the said House; but whether thro’ any Corruption, or want of Care in guarding the Prisoners, I can’t say; but on the 24th ofOctober, the Major andHariotmade their Escape, the Boatswain refusing to go along with them. This madea great Noise in the Province, and People were open in their Resentments, often reflecting on the Governor, and others in the Magistracy, as tho’ they had been brib’d, for conniving at their Escape. These Invectives arose from their Fears, thatBonnetwould be capable of raising another Company, and prosecute his Revenge against this Country, for what he had lately, tho’ justly, suffered: But they were in a short Time made easy in those Respects; for as soon as the Governor had the Account ofBonnet’s Escape, he immediately issued out a Proclamation, and promised a Reward of 700 Pounds to any that would take him, and sent several Boats with armed Men, both to the Northward and Southward, in pursuit of him.
Bonnetstood to the Northward, in a small Vessel, but wanting Necessaries, and the Weather being bad, he was forced back, and so return’d with his Canoe, toSwillivantsIsland, nearCharles-Town, to fetch Supplies; but there being some Information sent to the Governor, he sent for ColonelRhet, and desired him to go in pursuit ofBonnet; and accordingly gave him a Commission for that Purpose: Wherefore the Colonel, with proper Craft, and some Men, went away that Night forSwillivant’s Island, and, after a very diligentSearch, discoveredBonnetandHariottogether; the Colonel’s Men fired upon them, and killedHariotupon the Spot, and wounded one Negro and anIndian. Bonnetsubmitted, and surrender’d himself; and the next Morning, beingNovemberthe 6th, was brought by ColonelRhettoCharles-Town, and, by the Governor’s Warrant, was committed into safe Custody, in order for his being brought to his Tryal.
On the 28th ofOctober, 1718, a Court of Vice-Admiralty was held atCharles-Town, inSouth-Carolina, and, by several Adjournments, continued toWednesday, the 12th ofNovemberfollowing, forthe Tryal of the Pyrates taken in a Sloop formerly calledthe Revenge, but afterwardsthe Royal James, beforeNicholas Trot, Esq; Judge of the Vice-Admiralty, and Chief Justice of the said Province ofSouth-Carolina, and other Assistant Judges.
The King’s Commission to JudgeTrotwas read, and a Grand Jury sworn, for the finding of the several Bills, and a learned Charge given them by the said Judge, wherein he 1st shewed,That the Sea was given by God, for the Use of Men, and is Subject to Dominion and Property, as well as the Land.
2dly, He particularly remark’d to them,the Sovereignty of the King ofEnglandover theBritishSeas.
3dly, He observed,that as Commerce and Navigation could not be carried on without Laws; so there have been always particular Laws, for the better ordering and regulating marine Affairs; with an historical Account or those Laws, and Origine.
4thly, He proceeded to shew,that there have been particular Courts and Judges appointed; to whose Jurisdiction maritime Causes do belong, and that in Matters both Civil and Criminal.
And then 5thly, He particularly shewed them,the Constitution and Jurisdiction of that Court of Admiralty Sessions.
And lastly,the Crimes cognizable therein; and particularly enlargedupon the Crime of Pyracy, which was then brought before them.
The Indictments being found, a petit Jury was sworn, and the following Persons arraigned and tried.
Stede Bonnet, aliasEdwards, aliasThomas, late ofBarbadoes, Mariner.
Robert Tucker, late of the Island ofJamaica, Mariner.
Edward Robinson, late ofNew-CastleuponTine, Mariner.
Neal Paterson, late ofAberdeen, Mariner.
William Scot, late ofAberdeen, Mariner.
William Eddy, aliasNeddy, late ofAberdeen, Mariner.
Alexander Annand, late ofJamaica, Mariner.
George Rose, late ofGlascow, Mariner.
George Dunkin, late ofGlascow, Mariner.
*Thomas Nicholas, late ofLondon, Mariner.
John Ridge, late ofLondon, Mariner.
Matthew King, late ofJamaica, Mariner.
Daniel Perry, late ofGuernsey, Mariner.
Henry Virgin, late ofBristol, Mariner.
James Robbins, aliasRattle, late ofLondon, Mariner.
James Mullet, aliasMillet, late ofLondon, Mariner.
Thomas Price, late ofBristol, Mariner.
James Wilson, late ofDublin, Mariner.
John Lopez, late ofOporto, Mariner.
Zachariah Long, late of the Province ofHolland, Mariner.
Job Bayly, late ofLondon, Mariner.
John-William Smith, late ofCharles-Town, Carolina, Mariner.
Thomas Carman, late ofMaidstoneinKent, Mariner.
John Thomas, late ofJamaica, Mariner.
William Morrison, late ofJamaica, Mariner.
Samuel Booth, late ofCharles-Town, Mariner.
William Hewet, late ofJamaica, Mariner.
John Levit, late ofNorth-Carolina, Mariner.
William Livers, aliasEvis.
John Brierly, aliasTimberhead, late ofBath-TowninNorth Carolina, Mariner.
Robert Boyd, late ofBath-Townaforesaid, Mariner.
*Rowland Sharp, ofBath-Town, Mariner.
*Jonathan Clarke, late ofCharles-Town, South Carolina, Mariner.
*Thomas Gerrard, late ofAntegoa, Mariner.
And all, except the three last, andThomas Nicholas, were found Guilty, and received Sentence of Death.
They were most of them try’d upon two Indictments, as follows.
THE Jurors for our Sovereign Lord the King, do upon their Oath present, thatStede Bonnet,late ofBarbadoes,Mariner, Robert Tucker, &c. &c.The2d Day ofAugust,in the fifth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign LordGeorge, &c.By Force of Arms upon the High-Sea, in a certain Place called CapeJames, &c.did pyratically, andfelloniously set upon, break,board, and enter, a certain Merchant Sloop, called theFrances, Peter ManwaringCommander, by Force, &c.upon the High-Sea, in a certain Place, called CapeJames, aliasCapeInlopen,about two Miles distant from the Shore, in the Lattitude of39,or thereabouts; and within the Jurisdiction of the Court of Vice-Admiralty, ofSouth-Carolina,being a Sloop of certain Persons, (to the Jurors, unknown)and then, and there, pyratically, and felloniously did make an Assault, in, and upon the saidPeter Manwaring,and others his Mariners, (whose Names to the Jurors aforesaid, are unknown,) in the same Sloop, against the Peace of God, and of our said now Sovereign Lord the King, then, and there being, pyratically and felloniously, did put the aforesaidPeter Manwaring,and others, his Mariners, of the same Sloop, in the Sloop aforesaid, then being, in corporal Fear of their Lives, then and there, in the Sloop aforesaid, upon theHigh-Sea,in the Place aforesaid, called CapeJames, aliasCapeInlopen,about two Miles from the Shore, in the Lattitude of39,or thereabouts, as aforesaid, and within the Jurisdiction aforesaid; pyratically, and felloniously, did steal,take, and carry away the said Merchant Sloop, called theFrances,and also twenty six Hogsheads, &c. &c. &c.being found in the aforesaid Sloop, in the Custody and Possession of the saidPeter Manwaring,and others, his Mariners of the said Sloop, and from their Custody and Possession, then and there, upon the High-Sea aforesaid, called CapeJames, aliasCapeInlopen,as aforesaid, and within the Jurisdiction aforesaid, against the Peace of our now Sovereign Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity.
This was the Form of the Indictments they were arraigned upon, and tho’ they might have proved several more Facts upon the major Part of the Crew, the Court thought fit to prosecute but two; the other was for seizing in a pyratical and felonious Manner, the SloopFortune, Thomas ReadCommander; which Indictment running in the same Form with the above-mentioned, it will be unnecessary to say more of it.
All the Prisoners arraigned, pleaded Not Guilty, and put themselves upon their Tryals, exceptJames Wilson, andJohn Levit, who pleaded Guilty to both Indictments, andDaniel Perry, to one only. The Major would have gone through both the Indictments at once, which the Court not admitting, he pleaded Not Guilty to both Indictments, but being convicted of one, he retracted his former Plea to the second Indictment, and pleaded Guilty to it.
The Prisoners made little or no Defence, every one pretending only that they were taken off a Maroon Shore, and were shipped with MajorBonnetto go to St.Thomas’s; but being out at Sea, and wanting Provisions, they were obliged to do what they did by others; and so did MajorBonnethimself, pretend that ’twas Force, not Inclination, that occasioned what had happened. However,the Facts being plainly proved, and that they had all shared ten or eleven Pounds a Man, excepting the three last, andThomas Nichols, they were all but they, found Guilty. The Judge made a very grave Speech to them, setting forththe Enormity of their Crimes, the Condition they were now in, and the Nature and Necessity of an unfeigned Repentance; and then recommended them to the Ministers of the Province, for more ample Directions, to fit them for Eternity,for(concluded he)the Priest’s Lips shall keep Knowledge, and you shall seek the Law at their Mouths; for they are the Messengers of the Lord. Mat. II. 57.And the Ambassadors of Christ, and unto them is committed the Word[or Doctrine]of Reconciliation, 2 Cor. V. 19. 20. And then pronounced Sentence of Death upon them.
OnSaturday Novemberthe 8th, 1711.Robert Tucker, Edward Robinson, Neal Paterson, William Scot, Job Bayley, John-William Smith, John Thomas, William Morrison, Samuel Booth, William Hewit, William Eddy, aliasNeddy, Alexander Annand, George Ross, George Dunkin, Matthew King, Daniel Perry, Henry Virgin, James Robbins, James Mullet, aliasMillet, Thomas Price, John Lopez, andZachariah Long, were executed at theWhite-PointnearCharles-Town, pursuant to their Sentence.
As for the Captain, his Escape protracted his Fate, and spun out his Life a few Days longer, for he was try’d the 10th, and being found Guilty, received Sentence in like Manner as the former; before which JudgeTrot, made a most excellent Speech to him, rather somewhat too long to be taken into our History, yet I could not tell how to pass by so good and useful a Piece of Instruction, not knowing whose Hands this Book may happen to fall into.