He urged also his Youth in Excuse for his Rashness.—The first time he had been with them (only a Month in all,) and that in no military Employ; but in particular, the Service he had done in discovering the Design the Pyrates had to rise in their Passage on Board theSwallow. Guilty.
But Execution respited till the King’s Pleasure be known, because the Commander of theSwallowhad declared, the first Notice he received of this Design of the Pyrates to rise, was from him.
Benjamin Jefferys
BY the Depositions ofGlasbyandLillburn(acquitted) against this Prisoner, it appeared, that his Drunkenness was what at first detained him from going away in his proper Ship, theNormanGalley; and next Morning, for having been abusive in his Drink, saying to the Pyrates, there was not a Man amongst them, he received for a Welcome, six Lashes from every Person in the Ship, which disordered him for some Weeks, but on Recovery was made Boatswain’s Mate; the serving of which, or any Office on Board a Pyrate, is at their own Option, (tho’ elected,) because others are glad to accept what brings an additional Share in Prize.
The Deponents further say, that atSierraleonevery Man had more especially the Means of escaping; and that this Prisoner, in particular, neglected it, and came off from that Place after their Ship was under Sail, and going out of the River.
The Prisoner, in his Defence, protests, he was at first forc’d; and that the Office of Boatswain’s Mate was imposed on him, and what he would have been glad to have relinquish’d. That the barbarous Whipping he had received from the Pyrates at first, was for telling them, that none who could get their Bread in an honest Way, would be on such an Account. And he had certainly taken the Opportunity which presented atSierraleon, of ridding himself from so distastful a Life, if there had not been three or four of the old Pyrates on Shore at the same Time, who, he imagined, must know of him, and would doubtless have served him the same, if not worse, than they since had doneWilliam Williams; who, for such a Design, being delivered up by the treacherous Natives, had received two Lashes thro’ the whole Ship’s Company.
The Court observed, the Excuses of these Pyrates, about want of Means to escape, was oftentimes as poor and evasive as their Pleas of being forced at first; for here, atSierraleon, every Man had his Liberty on Shore, and it was evident, might have kept it, if he, or they, had so pleased. And such are further culpable, who having been introduced into the Society, by such uncivil Methods, as whipping, or beating, neglect less likely Means of regaining Liberty; it shews strong Inclinations to Dishonesty, and they stand inexcusably,Guilty.
Jo. Mansfield.
IT was proved against this Prisoner, by CaptainTrahernandGeorge Fenn, that he was one of those Voluntiers who was at the Attack and Robberyof the Company’s Ship, called theKing Solomon: That he bully’d well among them who dar’d not make any Reply, but was very easy with his Friends, who knew him; forMoody, on this Occasion, took a large Glass from him, and threatned to blow his Brains out, (a favourite Phrase with these Pyrates) if he muttered at it.
From others acquitted, it likewise appeared, that he was at first a Voluntier among them, from an Island call’dDominico, in theWest-Indies, and had to recommend himself, told them, he was a Deserter from theRoseMan of War, and before that, had been on the High-Way; he was always drunk, they said, and so bad at the Time they met with theSwallow, that he knew nothing of the Action, but came up vapouring with his Cutlash, after theFortunehad struck her Colours, to know who would go on Board the Prize; and it was some Time before they could perswade him into the Truth of their Condition.
He could say little in Defence of himself, acknowledg’d this latter Part of Drunkenness; a Vice, he says, that had too great a Share in insnaring him into this Course of Life, and had been a greater Motive with him than Gold.Guilty.
William Davis.
WIlliam Allendeposed, he knew this Prisoner atSierraleon, belonging to theAnnGalley; that he had a Quarrel with, and beat the Mate of that Ship, for which (as he said) being afraid to return to his Duty, he consorted to the idle Customs and Ways of living among the Negroes, from whom he received a Wife, and ungratefully sold her, one Evening, for some Punch to quench his Thirst. After this, having put himself under the Protection of Mr.Plunket, Governor there for the RoyalAfricanCompany: The Relations andFriends of the Woman, apply’d to him for Redress, who immediately surrendered the Prisoner, and told them, he did not care if they took his Head off; but the Negroes wisely judging it would not fetch so good a Price, they sold him in his Turn again to SeigniorJossee, a Christian Black, and Native of that Place; who expected and agreed for two Years Service from him, on Consideration of what he had disbursed, for the Redemption of the Woman: But long before the Expiration of this Time,Robertscame intoSierraleonRiver, where the Prisoner, (as SeigniorJosseeassured the Deponent,) entered a Voluntier with them.
The Deponent further corroborates this Part of the Evidence; in that he being obliged to call at CapeMount, in his Passage down hither, met there with two Deserters fromRoberts’s Ship, who assured him of the same; and that the Pyrates did design to turnDavisaway the next Opportunity, as an idle good-for-nothing Fellow.
FromGlasbyandLilburn, it was evident, that every Pyrate, while they stay’d atSierraleon, went on Shore at Discretion. ThatRobertshad often assured Mr.Glynand other Traders, at that Place, that he would force no Body; and in short, there was no Occasion for it; in particular, the Prisoner’s Row-Mate went away, and thinks, he might have done the same, if he had pleased.
The Prisoner alledged his having been detained against his Will, and says, that returning with Elephants Teeth forSierraleon, the Pyrate’s Boat pursued and brought him on Board, where he was kept on Account of his understanding the Pilotage and Navigation of that River.
It was obvious to the Court, not only how frivolous Excuses of Constraint and Force were among these People, at their first commencing Pyrates, but also it was plain to them, from thesetwo Deserters, met at CapeMount, and the discretional Manner they lived in, atSierraleon; thro’ how little Difficulty several of them did, and others might, have escaped afterwards, if they could but have obtained their own Consents for it.Guilty.
This is the Substance of the Tryals ofRoberts’s Crew, which may suffice for others, that occur in this Book. The foregoing Lists, shews, by a * before the Names, who were condemn’d; those Names with a † were referred for Tryal to theMarshalsea, and all the rest were acquitted.
The following Pyrates were executed, according to their Sentence, without the Gates of CapeCorso-Castle, within the Flood-Marks,viz.
Mens NamesYears of AgeHabitations.William Magnes35Minehead.Richard Hardy25Wales.David Sympson36North-Berwick.Christopher Moody28Thomas Sutton23Berwick.Valentine Ashplant32Minories.Peter de Vine42Stepney.William Philips29Lower-Shadwell.Philip Bill27St.Thomas's.William Main28William Mackintosh21Canterbury.William Williams40nighPlymouth.Robert Haws31Yarmouth.William Petty30Deptford.John Jaynson22nighLancaster.Marcus Johnson21Smyrna.Robert Crow44Isle of Man.Michael Maer41Ghent.Daniel Harding26CroomsburyinSomersetshire.William Fernon22Somersetshire.Jo. More19MeerinWiltshire.Abraham Harper23Bristol.Jo. Parker22WinfredinDorsetshire.Jo. Philips28AllowayinScotland.James Clement20Jersey.Peter Scvdamore35Bristol.James Skyrm44Wales.John Walden24Somersetshire.Jo. Stephenson40Whitby.Jo. Mansfield30Orkneys.Israel Hynde30Bristol.Peter Lesley21Aberdeen.Charles Bunce26ExcterRobert Birtson30OtherSt.Maries Devonshire.Richard Harris45Cornwall.Joseph Nosuter26SadburyinDevonshire.William Williams30Speechless at Execution.Agge Jacobson30Holland.Benjamin Jefferys21Bristol.Cuthbert Goss21Topsham.John Jessup20Plymouth.Edward Watts22Dunmore.Thomas Giles26Mine-head.William Wood27York.Thomas Armstrong34London,executed on board theWeymouth.Robert Johnson32atWhydah.George Smith25Wales.William Watts23Ireland.James Philips35Antegoa.John Coleman24Wales.Robert Hays20Liverpool.William Davis23Wales.
Mens Names
Years of Age
Habitations.
William Magnes
35
Minehead.
Richard Hardy
25
Wales.
David Sympson
36
North-Berwick.
Christopher Moody
28
Thomas Sutton
23
Berwick.
Valentine Ashplant
32
Minories.
Peter de Vine
42
Stepney.
William Philips
29
Lower-Shadwell.
Philip Bill
27
St.Thomas's.
William Main
28
William Mackintosh
21
Canterbury.
William Williams
40
nighPlymouth.
Robert Haws
31
Yarmouth.
William Petty
30
Deptford.
John Jaynson
22
nighLancaster.
Marcus Johnson
21
Smyrna.
Robert Crow
44
Isle of Man.
Michael Maer
41
Ghent.
Daniel Harding
26
CroomsburyinSomersetshire.
William Fernon
22
Somersetshire.
Jo. More
19
MeerinWiltshire.
Abraham Harper
23
Bristol.
Jo. Parker
22
WinfredinDorsetshire.
Jo. Philips
28
AllowayinScotland.
James Clement
20
Jersey.
Peter Scvdamore
35
Bristol.
James Skyrm
44
Wales.
John Walden
24
Somersetshire.
Jo. Stephenson
40
Whitby.
Jo. Mansfield
30
Orkneys.
Israel Hynde
30
Bristol.
Peter Lesley
21
Aberdeen.
Charles Bunce
26
Excter
Robert Birtson
30
OtherSt.Maries Devonshire.
Richard Harris
45
Cornwall.
Joseph Nosuter
26
SadburyinDevonshire.
William Williams
30
Speechless at Execution.
Agge Jacobson
30
Holland.
Benjamin Jefferys
21
Bristol.
Cuthbert Goss
21
Topsham.
John Jessup
20
Plymouth.
Edward Watts
22
Dunmore.
Thomas Giles
26
Mine-head.
William Wood
27
York.
Thomas Armstrong
34
London,executed on board theWeymouth.
Robert Johnson
32
atWhydah.
George Smith
25
Wales.
William Watts
23
Ireland.
James Philips
35
Antegoa.
John Coleman
24
Wales.
Robert Hays
20
Liverpool.
William Davis
23
Wales.
The Remainder of the Pyrates, whose Names are under mentioned, upon their humble Petition tothe Court, had their Sentence changed from Death, to seven Years Servitude, conformable to our Sentence of Transportation; the Petition is as follows.
To the Honourable the President and Judges of the Court of Admiralty, for trying of Pyrates, sitting atCape Corso-Castle;the20th Day ofApril, 1722.
The humble Petition ofThomas How, Samuel Fletcher, &c.
Humbly sheweth,
THAT your Petitioners being unhappily, and unwarily drawn into that wretched and detestable Crime of Pyracy, for which they now stand justly condemned, they most humbly pray the Clemency of the Court, in the Mitigation of their Sentence, that they may be permitted to serve the RoyalAfricanCompany ofEngland,in this Country for seven Years, in such a Manner as the Court shall think proper; that by their just Punishment, being made sensible of the Error of their former Ways, they will for the future become faithful Subjects, good Servants, and useful in their Stations, if it please the Almighty to prolong their Lives.
And your Petitioners, as in Duty,&c.
The Resolution of the Court was,
THAT the Petitioners have Leave by this Court of Admiralty, to interchange Indentures with the Captain General of theGold Coast,for the RoyalAfricanCompany, for seven Years Servitude, at any of the RoyalAfricanCompany’s Settlements inAfrica,in such Manner as he the said Captain General shall think proper.
OnThursdaythe26th Day ofApril,the Indentures being all drawn out, according to the Grant made to thePetitioners, by the Court held onFridaythe20th of this Instant; each Prisoner was sent for up, signed, sealed and exchanged them in the Presence of
CaptainMungo Herdman,President,James Phipps,Esq;Mr.Edward Hyde,Mr.Charles Fanshaw,And Mr.John Atkins,Register.
A Copy of the Indenture.
The Indenture of a Person condemned to serve abroad for Pyracy, which, upon the humble Petition of the Pyrates therein mentioned, was most mercifully granted by his Imperial Majesty’s Commissioners and Judges appointed to hold a Court of Admiralty, for the Tryal of Pyrates at CapeCorso-Castle, inAfrica, upon Condition of serving seven Years, and other Conditions, are as follows,viz.
The Indenture of a Person condemned to serve abroad for Pyracy, which, upon the humble Petition of the Pyrates therein mentioned, was most mercifully granted by his Imperial Majesty’s Commissioners and Judges appointed to hold a Court of Admiralty, for the Tryal of Pyrates at CapeCorso-Castle, inAfrica, upon Condition of serving seven Years, and other Conditions, are as follows,viz.
THIS Indenture made the twenty sixth Day ofApril, Anno Regni Regis Georgii magnæ Britanniæ,&c.Septimo, Domini, Millessimo, Sepcentessimo viginti duo,betweenRoger Scot,late of the City ofBristolMariner, of the one Part, and the RoyalAfricanCompany ofEngland,their Captain General and Commander in Chief, for the Time being, on the other Part, Witnesseth,that the saidRoger Scot,doth hereby covenant, and agree to, and with, the said RoyalAfricanCompany, their Captain General, and Commander in chief for the Time being, to serve him, or his lawful Successors, in any of the RoyalAfricanCompany’s Settlements on the Coast ofAfrica,from the Day of the Date of these Presents, to the full Term of seven Years, from hence next ensuing, fully to be compleat and ended; there to serve in such Employment, as the said Captain General, or his Successorsshall employ him; according to the Custom of the Country in like Kind.
In Consideration whereof, the said Captain General, and Commander in chief doth covenant and agree, to, and with, the saidRoger Scot,to find and allow him Meat, Drink, Apparel and Lodging, according to the Custom of the Country.
In witness whereof, the Parties aforesaid, to these Presents, have interchangably put their Hands and Seals, the Day and Year first above written.
Signed, sealed and delivered, in the Presence of us,at CapeCorso-Castle,inAfrica,where no stamp’dPaper was to be had.
Mungo Heardman,President, Witness.John Atkins,Register, Witness.
In like Manner was drawn out and exchanged the Indentures of
THomas HowofBarnstable, in the County ofDevon.
Samuel FletcherofEast-Smithfield, London.
John LaneofLombard-Street, London.
David LittlejohnofBristol.
John KingofShadwellParish,London.
Henry DennisofBidiford.
Hugh HarrisofCorf-Castle, Devonshire.
William TaylorofBristol.
Thomas OwenofBristol.
John MitchelofShadwellParish,London.
Joshua LeeofLeverpool.
William ShurenofWappingParish,London.
Robert HartleyofLeverpool.
John GriffinofBlackwall, Middlesex.
James CrombyofLondon, Wapping.
James GreenhamofMarshfield, Gloucestershire.
John Hornof St.James’sParish,London.
John JessopofWisbich, Cambridgshire.
David RiceofBristol.
None of which, I hear, are now living, two others,viz. George WilsonandThomas Oughterlaney, were respited from Execution, till his Majesty’s Pleasure should be known; the former dy’d abroad, and the latter came Home, and received his Majesty’s Pardon; the Account of the whole stands thus,
Acquitted,74Executed,52Respited,2To Servitude,20To theMarshalsea,17Kill'd in theRanger,10Kill'd in theFortune,3Dy'd in the Passage to CapeCorso,15Dy'd afterwards in the Castle,4Negroes in both Ships,70Total, 276
Acquitted,
74
Executed,
52
Respited,
2
To Servitude,
20
To theMarshalsea,
17
Kill'd in theRanger,
10
Kill'd in theFortune,
3
Dy'd in the Passage to CapeCorso,
15
Dy'd afterwards in the Castle,
4
Negroes in both Ships,
70
Total, 276
I am not ignorant how acceptable the Behaviour and dying Words of Malefactors are to the generallity of our Countrymen, and therefore shall deliver what occurr’d, worthy of Notice, in theBehaviour of these Criminals.
The first six that were called to Execution, wereMagnes, Moody, Sympson, Sutton, Ashplant, andHardy; all of them old Standers and notorious Offenders: When they were brought out of the Hold, on the Parade, in order to break off their Fetters, and fit the Halters; none of them, it was observed, appeared the least dejected, unlessSutton, who spoke faint, but it was rather imputed to a Flux that had seiz’d him two or three Days before, than Fear. A Gentleman, who was Surgeon of the Ship, was so charitable at this Time, to offer himself in the room of an Ordinary, and represented to them, as well as he was able, the Heinousness of their Sin, and Necessity which lay on them of Repentance;one particular Part of which ought to be, acknowledging the Justice they had met with. They seem’d heedless for the present, some calling for Water to drink, and others applying to the Soldiers for Caps, but when this Gentleman press’d them for an Answer, they all exclaim’d against the Severity of the Court, and were so harden’d, as to curse, and wish the same Justice might overtake all the Members of it, as had been dealt to them.They were poor Rogues, they said,and so hang’d, while others, no less guilty in another Way, escaped.
When he endeavoured to compose their Minds, exhorting them to dye in Charity with all the World, and would have diverted them from such vain Discourse, by asking them their Country, Age, and the like; some of them answered, ‘What was that to him, they suffered the Law, and should give no Account but to God;’ walking to the Gallows without a Tear, in Token of Sorrow for their past Offences, or shewing as much Concern as a Man would express at travelling a bad Road; nay,Sympson, at seeing a Woman that he knew, said, ‘he had lain with that B—h three times, and now she was come to see him hang’d.’ AndHardy, when his Hands were ty’d behind him, (which happened from their not being acquainted with the Way of bringing Malefactors to Execution,) observed, ‘that he had seen many a Man hang’d, but this Way of the Hands being ty’d behind them, he was a Stranger to, and never saw before in his Life.’ I mention these two little Instances, to shew how stupid and thoughtless they were of their End, and that the same abandoned and reprobate Temper that had carried them thro’ their Rogueries, abided with them to the last.
Samuel Fletcher, another of the Pyrates ordered for Execution, but reprieved, seem’d to have aquicker Sense of his Condition; for when he saw those he was allotted with gone to Execution, he sent a Message by the Provost-Marshal to the Court, to be ‘inform’d of the Meaning of it, and humbly desir’d to know whether they design’d him Mercy, or not? If they did, he stood infinitely oblig’d to them, and thought the whole Service of his Life an incompetent Return for so great a Favour; but that if he was to suffer, the sooner the better,he said, that he might be out of his Pain.’
There were others of these Pyrates the reverse of this, and tho’ destitute of Ministers, or fit Persons to represent their Sins, and assist them with spiritual Advice, were yet always imploying their Time to good Purposes, and behaved with a great deal of seeming Devotion and Penitence; among these may be reckon’dScudamore, Williams, Philips, Stephenson, Jefferys, Lesly, Harper, Armstrong, Bunce, and others.
Scudamoretoo lately discerned the Folly and Wickedness of the Enterprize, that had chiefly brought him under Sentence of Death, from which, seeing there was no Hopes of escaping, he petitioned for two or three Days Reprieve, which was granted; and for that Time apply’d himself incessantly to Prayer, and reading the Scriptures, seem’d to have a deep Sense of his Sins, of this in particular, and desired, at the Gallows, they would have Patience with him, to sing the first Part of the thirty first Psalm; which he did by himself throughout.
Armstrong, having been a Deserter from his Majesty’s Service, was executed on Board theWeymouth, (and the only one that was;) there was no Body to press him to an Acknowledgement of the Crime he died for, nor of sorrowing in particular for it, which would have been exemplary, and made suitable Impressions on Seamen; so that hislast Hour was spent in lamenting and bewailing his Sins in general, exhorting the Spectators to an honest and good Life, in which alone they could find Satisfaction. In the End, he desir’d they would join with him in singing two or three latter Verses of the 140th Psalm; and that being concluded, he was, at the firing of a Gun, tric’d up at the Fore-Yard-Arm.
Buncewas a young Man, not above 26 Years old, but made the most pathetical Speech of any at the Gallows. He first declaim’d against the guilded Bates of Power, Liberty, and Wealth, that had ensnar’d him among the Pyrates, his unexperienc’d Years not being able to withstand the Temptation; but that the Briskness he had shewn, which so fatally had procured him Favour amongst them, was not so much a Fault in Principle, as the Liveliness and Vivacity of his Nature. He was now extreamly afflicted for the Injuries he had done to all Men, and begg’d their’s and God’s Forgiveness, very earnestly exhorting the Spectators to remember their Creator in their Youth, and guard betimes, that their Minds took not a wrong Byass, concluding with this apt Similitude,That he stood there as a Beacon upon a Rock, (the Gallows standing on one)to warn erring Marriners of Danger.
Illustration 329
THOMAS Anstisship’d himself atProvidencein the Year 1718, aboard theBuckSloop, and was one of six that conspired together to go off a pyrating with the Vessel; the rest were,Howel Davis, Roberts’s Predecessor, killed at the Island ofPrinces; Dennis Topping, killed at the taking of the richPortugueseShip on the Coast ofBrasil; Walter Kennedy, hanged atExecution-Dock, and two others, which I forbear to name, because, I understand they are at this Day employ’d in an honest Vocation in the City.
What followed concerningAnstis’s Pyracies, has been included in the two preceeding Chapters; I shall only observe that the Combination of these six Men abovementioned, was the Beginning of that Company, that afterwards proved so formidable under CaptainRoberts, from whomAnstisseparated the 18th ofApril1721, in theGood FortuneBrigantine, leaving his Commadore to pursue his Adventures upon the Coast ofGuiney, whilst he returned to theWest-Indies, upon the like Design.
About the Middle ofJune, these Pyrates met with one CaptainMarston, betweenHispaniolaandJamaica, bound on a Voyage toNew-York; from whom they took all the wearing Apparel they could find, as also his Liquors and Provision, and five of his Men, but did not touch his Cargo; two or three other Vessels were also plundered by them, in this Cruise, out of whom they stocked themselves with Provision and Men; among the rest, I think, was theIrwin, CaptainRoss, fromCorkinIreland; but this I won’t be positive of, because they denied it themselves. This Ship had 600 Barrels of Beef aboard, besides other Provisions, and was taken offMartinico, wherein ColonelDoylyofMontserrat, and his Family were Passengers. The Colonel was very much abused and wounded, for endeavouring to save a poor Woman, that was also a Passenger, from the Insults of that brutish Crew; and the Pyrates prevailing, twenty one of them forced the poor Creature successively, afterwards broke her Back and flung her into the Sea. I say, I will not be positive it wasAnstis’s Crew that acted this unheard of Violence and Cruelty, tho’ the Circumstances of the Place, the Time, the Force of the Vessel, and the Number of Men, do all concur, and I can place the Villany no where else; but that such a Fact was done, there is too much Evidence for it to be doubted of.
When they thought fit to put an End to this Cruize, they went into one of the Islands to clean, which they effected without any Disturbance, and came out again, and stretching away towardsBurmudas, met with a stout Ship, called theMorning Star, bound fromGuineytoCarolina; they made Prize of her, and kept her for their own Use. In a Day or two, a Ship fromBarbadoesbound toNew-York, fell into their Hands, and taking out her Gunsand Tackle, mounted theMorning Starwith 32 Pieces of Cannon, mann’d her with a 100 Men, and appointed oneJohn FennCaptain; for the Brigantine being of far less Force, theMorning Starwould have fallen toAnstis, as elder Officer, yet he was so in Love with his own Vessel, (she being an excellent Sailor,) that he made it his Choice to stay in her, and letFenn, who was, before, his Gunner, Command the great Ship.
Now, that they had two good Ships well mann’d, it may be supposed they were in a Condition to undertake something bold: But their Government was disturbed by Malecontents, and a Kingdom divided within it self cannot stand; they had such a Number of new Men amongst them, that seem’d not so violently enclined for the Game; that whatever the Captain proposed, it was certainly carried against him, so that they came to no fix’d Resolution for the undertaking any Enterprize; therefore there was nothing to be done, but to break up the Company, which seemed to be the Inclination of the Majority, but the Manner of doing so, concerned their common Safety; to which Purpose various Means were proposed, at length it was concluded to send home a Petition to his Majesty (there being then no Act of Indemnity in Force) for a Pardon, and wait the Issue; at the same Time oneJones, Boatswain of theGood Fortune, proposed a Place of safe Retreat, it being an uninhabited Island nearCuba, which he had been used to in the late War, when he went a privateering against theSpaniards.
This being approved of, it was unanimously resolved on, and the underwritten Petition drawn up and signed by the whole Company in the Manner of what they call aRound Robin, that is, the Names were writ in a Circle, to avoid all Appearanceof Pre-eminence, and least any Person should be mark’d out by the Government, as a principal Rogue among them.
The humble PETITION of the Company, now belonging to the ShipMorning Star, and BrigantineGood Fortune, lying under the ignominious Name and Denomination of PYRATES.
Humbly sheweth,
THAT we your Majesty’s most loyal Subjects, have, at sundry Times, been taken byBartholomew Roberts,the then Captain of the abovesaid Vessels and Company, together with another Ship, in which we left him; and have been forced by him and his wicked Accomplices, to enter into, and serve, in the said Company, as Pyrates, much contrary to our Wills and Inclinations: And we your loyal Subjects utterly abhoring and detesting that impious way of Living, did, with an unanimous Consent, and contrary to the Knowledge of the saidRoberts,or his Accomplices, on, or about the18th Day ofApril 1721,leave, and ran away with the aforesaid ShipMorning Star,and BrigantineGood Fortune,with no other Intent and Meaning than the Hopes of obtaining your Majesty’s most gracious Pardon. And, that we your Majesty’s most loyal Subjects, may with more Safety return to our native Country, and serve the Nation, unto which we belong, in our respective Capacities, without Fear of being prosecuted by the Injured, whose Estateshave suffered by the saidRobertsand his Accomplices, during our forcible Detainment, by the said Company: We most humbly implore your Majesty’s most royal Assent, to this our humble Petition.
And your Petitioners shall ever pray.
This Petition was sent home by a Merchant Ship bound toEngland, fromJamaica, who promised to speak with the Petitioners, in their Return, about 20 Leagues to Windward of that Island, and let them know what Success their Petition met with. When this was done, the Pyrates retires to the Island before proposed, with the Ship and Brigantine.
This Island (which I have no Name for) lies off the Southwest End ofCuba, uninhabited, and little frequented. On the East End is a Lagune, so narrow, that a Ship can but just go in, tho’ there’s from 15 to 22 Foot Water, for almost a League up: On both Sides of the Lagune grows red Mangrove Trees, very thick, that the Entrance of it, as well as the Vessels laying there, is hardly to be seen. In the Middle of the Island are here and there a small thick Wood of tall Pines, and other Trees scattered about in different Places.
Here they staid about nine Months, but not having Provision for above two, they were forced to take what the Island afforded, which was Fish of several Sorts, particularly Turtle, which latter was the chiefest Food they lived on, and was found in great Plenty on the Coasts of this Island; whether there might be any wild Hogs, Beef, or other Cattle, common to several Islands of theWest-Indies, or that the Pyrates were too idle to hunt them, or whether they preferr’d other Provisions to that sort of Diet, I know not; but I was informed by them, that for the whole Time they eat not a Bit of any kind of Flesh-Meat, nor Bread; the latter wassupply’d by Rice, of which they had a great Quantity aboard: This was boyl’d and squeez’d dry, and so eat with the Turtle.
There are three or four Sorts of these Creatures in theWest-Indies, the largest of which will weight 150 or 200 Pound Weight or more, but those that were found upon this Island were of the smallest Kind, weighing 10 or 12 Pounds each, with a fine natural wrought Shell, and beautifully clouded; the Meat sweet and tender, some Part of it eating like Chicken, some like Veal,&c.so that it was no extraordinary Hardship for them to live upon this Provision alone, since it affords variety of Meats to the Taste, of it self. The manner of catching this Fish is very particular; you must understand, that in the Months ofMay, JuneandJuly, they lay their Eggs in order to hatch their Young, and this three times in a Season, which is always in the Sand of the Sea-shore, each laying 80 or 90 Eggs at a time. The Male accompanies the Female, and come ashore in the Night only, when they must be watch’d, without making any Noise, or having a Light; as soon as they land, the Men that watch for them, turn them on their Backs, then haul them above high Water Mark, and leave them till next Morning, where they are sure to find them, for they can’t turn again, nor move from the Place. It is to be observ’d, that besides their laying time, they come ashore to feed, but then what’s very remarkable in these Creatures, they always resort to different Places to breed, leaving their usual Haunts for two or three Months, and ’tis thought they eat nothing in all that Season.
They pass’d their Time here in Dancing, and other Diversions, agreeable to these sort of Folks; and among the rest, they appointed a Mock Court of Judicature to try one another for Pyracy, and he that was a Criminal one Day was made Judge another.—I had an Account given me of one of these merry Tryals, and as it appeared diverting, I shall give the Readers a short Account of it.
The Court and Criminals being both appointed, as also Council to plead, the Judge got up in a Tree, and had a dirty Taurpaulin hung over his Shoulders; this was done by Way of Robe, with a Thrum Cap on his Head, and a large Pair of Spectacles upon his Nose: Thus equipp’d, he settled himself in his Place, and abundance of Officers attending him below, with Crows, Handspikes,&c.instead of Wands, Tipstaves, and such like.— The Criminals were brought out, making a thousand sour Faces; and one who acted as Attorney-General opened the Charge against them; their Speeches were very laconick, and their whole Proceedings concise. We shall give it by Way of Dialogue.
Attorn. Gen.An’t please your Lordship, and you Gentlemen of the Jury, here is a Fellow before you that is a sad Dog, a sad sad Dog; and I humbly hope your Lordship will order him to be hang’d out of the Way immediately.—He has committed Pyracy upon the High Seas, and we shall prove, an’t please your Lordship, that this Fellow, this sad Dog before you, has escap’d a thousand Storms, nay, has got safe ashore when the Ship has been cast away, which was a certain Sign he was not born to be drown’d; yet not having the Fear of hanging before his Eyes, he went on robbing and ravishing Man, Woman and Child, plundering Ships Cargoes fore and aft, burning and sinking Ship, Bark and Boat, as if the Devil had been in him. But this is not all, my Lord, he has committed worse Villanies than all these, for we shall prove, that he has been guilty of drinking Small-Beer; and your Lordship knows, there never was a sober Fellow but what was a Rogue.—My Lord, I should have spoke much finer than I do now, but that, as yourLordship knows our Rum is all out, and how should a Man speak good Law that has not drank a Dram.—However, I hope, your Lordship will order the Fellow to be hang’d.
Judge.—Hearkee me, Sirrah,—you lousy, pittiful, ill-look’d Dog; what have you to say why you should not be tuck’d up immediately, and set a Sun-drying like a Scare-crow?—Are you guilty, or not guilty?
Pris.Not guilty, an’t please your Worship.
Judge.Not guilty! say so again, Sirrah, and I’ll have you hang’d without any Tryal.
Pris.An’t please your Worship’s Honour, my Lord, I am as honest a poor Fellow as ever went between Stem and Stern of a Ship, and can hand, reef, steer, and clap two Ends of a Rope together, as well as e’er a He that ever cross’d salt Water; but I was taken by oneGeorge Bradley[the Name of him that sat as Judge,] a notorious Pyrate, a sad Rogue as ever was unhang’d, and he forc’d me, an’t please your Honour.
Judge.Answer me, Sirrah,—How will you be try’d?
Pris.By G— and my Country.
Judge.The Devil you will.—Why then, Gentlemen of the Jury, I think we have nothing to do but to proceed to Judgment.
Attor. Gen.Right, my Lord; for if the Fellow should be suffer’d to speak, he may clear himself, and that’s an Affront to the Court.
Pris.Pray, my Lord, I hope your Lordship will consider—
Judge.Consider!—How dare you talk of considering? —Sirrah, Sirrah, I never consider’d in all my Life. —I’ll make it Treason to consider.
Pris.But, I hope, your Lordship will hear some Reason.
Judge.D’ye hear how the Scoundrel prates?—What have we to do with Reason?—I’d have you to know, Raskal, we don’t sit here to hear Reason;—we go according to Law.—Is our Dinner ready?
Attor. Gen.Yes, my Lord.
Judge.Then heark’ee, you Raskal at the Bar; hear me, Sirrah, hear me.—You must suffer, for three Reasons; first, because it is not fit I should sit here as Judge, and no Body be hang’d.—Secondly, you must be hang’d, because you have a damn’d hanging Look:—And thirdly, you must be hang’d, because I am hungry; for know, Sirrah, that ’tis a Custom, that whenever the Judge’s Dinner is ready before the Tryal is over, the Prisoner is to be hang’d of Course.—There’s Law for you, ye Dog.—So take him away Goaler.
This is the Tryal just as it was related to me; the Design of my setting it down, is only to shew how these Fellows can jest upon Things, the Fear and Dread of which, should make them tremble.
The beginning ofAugust1722, the Pyrates made ready the Brigantine, and came out to Sea, and beating up to Windward, lay in the Track for their Correspondant in her Voyage toJamaica, and spoke with her; but finding nothing was done inEnglandin their Favour, as ’twas expected, they return’d to their Consorts at the Island with the ill News, and found themselves under a Necessity, as they fancied, to continue that abominable Course of Life they had lately practis’d; in order thereto, they sail’d with the Ship and Brigantine to the Southward, and the next Night, by intolerable Neglect, they run theMorning Starupon theGrand Caimanes, and wreck’d her; the Brigantine seeing the Fate of her Consort, hall’d off in Time, and so weather’d the Island. The next Day CaptainAnstisput in,and found that all, or the greatest part of the Crew, were safe ashore, whereupon she came to an Anchor, in order to fetch them off; and having broughtFennthe Captain,Philipsthe Carpenter, and a few others aboard, two Men of War came down upon them,viz.theHectorandAdventure, so that the Brigantine had but just Time to cut their Cable, and get to Sea, with one of the Men of War after her, keeping within Gun-shot for several Hours.Anstisand his Crew were now under the greatest Consternation imaginable, finding the Gale freshen, and the Man of War gaining Ground upon them, so that, in all Probability, they must have been Prisoners in two Hours more; but it pleased God to give them a little longer Time, the Wind dying away, the Pyrates got out their Oars, and row’d for their Lives, and thereby got clear of their Enemy.
TheHectorlanded her Men upon the Island, and took 40 of theMorning Star’s Crew, without any Resistance made by them; but on the contrary, alledging, they were forc’d Men, and that they were glad of this Opportunity to escape from the Pyrates; the rest hid themselves in the Woods, and could not be found.George Bradleythe Master, and three more, surrender’d afterwards to aBurmudasSloop, and were carried to that Island.
The Brigantine, after her Escape, sail’d to a small Island near the Bay ofHonduras, to clean and refit, and, in her Way thither, took aRhode IslandSloop, CaptainDurfey, Commander, and two or three other Vessels, which they destroy’d, but brought all the Hands aboard their own.
While she was cleaning, a Scheme was concerted between CaptainDurfey, some other Prisoners, and two or three of the Pyrates, for to seize some of the Chiefs, and carry off the Brigantine; but the same being discovered before she was fit for sailing, their Design was prevented: However, CaptainDurfey, and four or five more, got ashore with some Arms and Ammunition; and when the Pyrates Canoe came in for Water, he seiz’d the Boat with the Men; upon whichAnstisordered another Boat to be mann’d with 30 Hands and sent ashore, which was accordingly done; but CaptainDurfey, and the Company he had by that Time got together, gave them such a warm Reception, that they were contented to betake themselves to their Vessel again.
About the beginning ofDecember, 1722,Anstisleft this Place and return’d to the Islands, designing to accumulate all the Power and Strength he could, since there was no looking back. He took in the Cruise a good Ship, commanded by CaptainSmith, which he mounted with 24 Guns, andFenn, a one handed Man, who commanded theMorning-Starwhen she was lost, went aboard to command her. They cruis’d together, and took a Vessel or two, and then went to theBahama Islands, and there met with what they wanted,viz.a Sloop loaded with Provisions, fromDublin, called theAntelope.
It was time now to think of some Place to fit up and clean their Frigate lately taken, and put her in a Condition to do Business; accordingly they pitch’d upon the Island ofTobago, where they arrived the beginning ofApril, 1723, with theAntelopeSloop and her Cargo.
They fell to work immediately, got the Guns, Stores, and every Thing else out upon the Island, and put the Ship upon the Heel; and just then, as ill Luck would have it, came in theWinchelseaMan of War, by Way of Visit, which put the Marooners into such a Surprize, that they set Fire to the Ship and Sloop, and fled ashore to the Woods.Anstis, in the Brigantine, escap’d, by having a light Pair of Heels, but it put his Company into such a Disorder, that their Government could never beset to rights again; for some of the New-Comers, and those who had been tir’d with the Trade, put an End to the Reign, by shootingTho. Anstisin his Hammock, and afterwards the Quarter-Master, and two or three others; the rest submitting, they put into Irons, and surrender’d them up, and the Vessel, atCuracco, aDutchSettlement, where they were try’d and hang’d; and those concerned in delivering up the Vessel, acquitted.
But to return to CaptainFenn, he was taken stragling with his Gunner and three more, a Day or two after their Misfortune, by the Man of War’s Men, and carry’d toAntegoa, where they were all executed, andFennhang’d in Chains. Those who remain’d, staid some Time in the Island, keeping up and down in the Woods, with a Hand to look out; at length Providence so order’d it, that a small Sloop came into the Harbour, which they all got aboard of, except two or three Negroes, and those they left behind. They did not think fit to pursue any further Adventures, and therefore unanimously resolved to steer forEngland, which they accordingly did, and inOctoberlast came intoBristolChannel, sunk the Sloop, and getting ashore in the Boat, dispersed themselves to their Abodes.