CAPTAIN TEACH
Two ships, the smaller one apparently being burned
Edward Teachwas aBristolMan, and had served many years in the late wars, in a Privateer fitted out fromJamaica, in which he had often distinguished himself for his boldness. He was never thought fit to be entrusted with any Command, till he went a-pirating in the Year 1716, when CaptainBenjamin Hornigoldput him into a Prize Sloop, with whom he kept company tillHornigoldsurrendered.
In 1727,TeachandHornigoldsailed fromProvidenceforAmerica, where, in their way,they took a vessel with above 100 Barrels of Flour, as also a Sloop fromBermudas, and a Ship bound toCarolina; from which they had a good plunder. After cleaning atVirginia, they returned to theWest-Indies, and made Prize of aFrench GuineaMan bound toMartinico, whichTeachwas made Captain of; butHornigoldwith his Sloop returned toProvidence, and surrendered to mercy. Aboard theFrench GuineaShip,Teachmounted 46 guns, and called herQueen Anne’s Revenge. Not long after he fell in with theScarboroughMan-of-War, who, after a long fight finding she could do no good withTeach, left him, and returned toBarbadoes, whileTeachsailed toSpanish America. In his way, he met with MajorBonneta Gentleman, formerly of a good estate inBarbadoes, in a small Sloop with which he had turned Pirate: ButTeachfindingBonnetknew nothing of the matter, took him into his own Ship, and put oneRichardsCaptain in his room, telling the Major,That he had not been us’d to the Fatigues of the Sea, he had better decline it, and take hispleasure aboard his Ship. AtTurnissithey took in fresh water; but seeing a Sloop coming in, they ran to meet her, which struck her sail, upon the sight of the Black Flag, toTeach, who took the Captain and his men aboard, and putIsrael Handsto mann the Sloop: From thence they sailed to the Bay, where they found a ship and four Sloops.Teachhoisted his Black Colours, at the Sight of which, the Captain and his men left the Ship, and ran into the woods.Teach’sQuarter-Master, with some of his Men, took possession of her, andRichardssecured the Sloops: One of which they burnt, because she belonged toBoston, where some of his Men had been hanged; but the others they let go after plundering them.
From hence they sailed to theGrand Canaries, then to theBahamaWrecks, and then toCarolina, where they took a Brigantine and two Sloops, lying off the Bar ofCharles Town; as also a Ship bound forLondon, with some passengers aboard. The next Day they took another Vesselcoming out, and two Pinks going in, and a Brigantine with negroes, in the Face of the Town; which put the Inhabitants into a sad fright, being in no condition to help themselves.
A silhouette of a figure, possibly a slave
Teach, aliasBlackbeard, sentRichardsalong with Mr.Mark, one of the Prisoners, to demand a chest of medicines of the Governor, several of his Men being sick aboard; threatening otherwise to burn the Ships, and destroy all the prisoners, among whom was Mr.Samuel Wrag, one of his Council. Altho’ this went very much against the inhabitants, yet they were forced to comply with it to save the lives of the many souls had in his custody. So sending him a chest worth about 3 or 4 hundred Pounds,Richardswent back safe to the ships with his booty; which as soon asBlackbeardhad received, (for so I shall call him for the future) he let the ships and the prisoners go, having first taken 1500l.Sterling, and some provisions out of her. From thence theysailed to NorthCarolina, where he had thoughts of breaking up the company, and securing the money and the best of the effects for himself and friends. Accordingly he ran a-ground, as if it had been by accident, and callingIsrael Handsto his assistance, he ran the Sloop ashore near the other, and so they were both lost. This doneBlackbeardgoes into theRevengeand maroons 17 men upon a desert island; where they must inevitably have perished, ifBonnethad not after taken them up.
Blackbeardgoes straight to the Governor ofNorth Carolina, with Twenty of his Men, and pleads his Majesty’s Pardon, and receives Certificates thereupon. He went to his Sloop which lay atOkere-CockInlet, and set out for Sea upon another expedition, steering his Ship towardsBermudas. Meeting with one or twoEnglish Vesselsin his way, he robb’d them only of provisions for his present occasion; but meeting with aFrenchShip laden with sugar and cocoa, he brought her home with her cargoe toNorth Carolina, where the Governor and the Pirates shared the plunder. He had no sooner arrived there, but he and four of his Men made affidavit, That they found theFrenchShip at Sea, without ever a Man on board; upon which she was condemned. The Governor had sixty hogheads of sugar for his dividend, his Secretary twenty, and the rest were shared amongst the other Pirates. And for fear the ship might be discovered by some that might come into the River,Blackbeard, under pretence that she was leaky, and might sink, obtained an order from the Governor to bring her out into the River, and burn her; which they did, and sunk her bottom.
The Sloops trading in the River, being so often pillaged byBlackbeard, consulted with the traders what course to take, knowing it was in vain to make any application to the Governor; therefore they sent a deputation to the Governor ofVirginia, to sollicit a force from the Men-of-War to destroy this Pirate. Accordingly the Governor consulted with the Captains of thePearlandLimeMen-of-War, which lay inSt. James’sRiver; whereupon it was agreed, That the Governor should have a couple of small Sloops, and they should be mann’d out of the Men of War, the Command of which was given to Mr.Robert Maynard, first Lieutenant of thePearl. But before they sailed, it was agreed in Council, to offer a reward of 100l.forany one that should takeEdward Teach, commonly calledBlackbeard; for everyLieutenant, Master, Quarter-Master, Boatswain,orCarpenter Twenty Pounds; For every inferior Officer, Fifteen Pounds; And for every Man taken on Board each Sloop, Ten Pounds.
Upon this, the Lieutenant sailed fromJames’sRiver inVirginia, the 17th ofNovember, 1718, and the 21st in the evening came toOkere-cockInlet, where he had fight of the Pirate: And altho’ this Expedition was made with all the Secrecy imaginable, yetBlackbeardhad notice of it from the Governor of NorthCarolinaand his Secretary: But having heard several false reports before, he gave the less creditto this, till he saw the Sloops; and then he put himself in a Posture of defence, with his 25 Men.
LieutenantMaynardcame to an anchor that night, because the Channel was so intricate that there was no getting in, in the dark. In the Morning, coming within gun-shot of the Pirate, he received his fire: whereupon theMaynardstood directly towards him, endeavouring to make a running fight.Maynard’smen being most expos’d, he lost twenty at one broadside; upon which he ordered his men under deck, and bid them get ready for close fighting upon the first signal. ThenBlackbeard’smen pour’d in grenadoes; after which, seeing no Hands aboard, he told his men they were all kill’d;Let’s jump in, and fall to Plunder: Which they had no sooner done, but the Lieutenant and his men gave them as unwelcome a reception as ever they met with before. The Lieutenant andBlackbeardfired first at each other, and then they went to it sword in hand, whilst the men on each side were as warmly engaged as theirCaptains, until the vessel was all over blood.Blackbeardstood it till he had received above twenty wounds, five of them being shots, before he fell down dead. Eight of his fourteen men being kill’d, and the other six being much wounded, they call’d for quarters; which was granted, and then the Lieutenant attacked with equal bravery the men that remained in the Sloop and took them.
The Lieutenant causedBlackbeard’shead to be cut off, and hung at the bowsprit end; with which he sailed toBath Townto get his wounded men cured, and then began to rummage the Pirate Sloop, aboard which they found several Letters of Correspondence betwixt the Governor ofNorth Carolina, his Secretary, and some Traders ofNew YorkandBlackbeard. Thereupon going toBath TowninNorth Carolina, he seized in the Governors Store-house, the Sixty Hogsheads of Sugar, and Mr.Knighthis Secretary’s 20, which was their dividend of the plunder taken in theFrenchShip before-mentioned.
After his Men were a little recovered, he returned to the Men-of-War inJames’sRiver inVirginia, withBlackbeard’shead hanging at his bowsprit, and 15 prisoners, 13 of whom were hanged, one of them being taken but the night before out of a trading Sloop: The other, not being in the fight, was taken atBath Town, being just before disabled byBlackbeardin one of his drunken humours.
The night before he was killed, being ask’d if he should chance to be killed, whether his wife knew where his money was; he answered,That no-body but himself and the Devil, knew where it was, and the longest Liver should take all.
The Names of the Pirates killed in the engagement wereEdward Blackbeard, Commander;Philip Morton, Gunner;Garnet Gibbons, Boatswain;Owen Roberts, Carpenter;Thomas Miller, Quarter-Master;John Husk,Joseph Curtice,Joseph Brooks,Nath. Jackson.
The following, except the two last, were hanged, viz.:John Carnes,Jo. Brookes, jun.,James Blake,John Gibbs,Thomas Gates,James White,Richard Styles,Cesar,Joseph Philip,James Robbins,John Martyn,Edward Salter,Stephen Daniel,Richard Greensarl,Israel Hands, andSamuel Odel.
Sketch portrait of a pirate
MAJOR STEDE BONNET
A single-masted ship, with a flock of seabirds circling overhead
The Major was a Gentleman of Fortune and Distinction in the Island ofBarbadoes, who before his Piracy bore the character of a worthy honestman, and no-body could ever account for this his undertaking, for he wanted neither learning nor understanding. He fitted out a Sloop with ten guns and sixty men, which he named theRevenge, at his own expence, and sailed fromBarbadoesfor the Cape ofVirginia, where he took theAnnefromGlasgow, theTurbetfromBarbadoes, theEndeavourfromBristol, theYoungfromLeith, and many others. From thence he went toNew York,and there took a Sloop, and then stood in atGardiner’sIsland where he bought provisions, and went off.August, 1717, he came off at the Bar ofSouth Carolina, and took a Sloop and Brigantine, which they plundered, and then he dismissed the Brigantine, but took the Sloop with him to an Inlet inNorth-Carolina, where he careened, and set her on fire.
Afterwards he put to sea, but could not agree with the men what course to take; for the Major being no sailor, was obliged to submit to many things his men imposed upon him, when falling in withEdward Teach, aliasBlackbeard, who was a good sailor, but a hardened villain,Bonnet’sCrew joined with him, and putBonnetaboardBlackbeard’sShip.
ButBlackbeardlosing his Ship atTopsailInlet, surrendered to the King’s Proclamation; whenBonnetre-assumed the command of his own Sloop, and sailed directly forBathTown inNorth-Carolina, where he also surrenders himself, and receives a certificate. There getting a clearance for hisSloop, he pretended to sail for the Island ofSt. Thomas, to get the Emperor’s Commission to go a-Privateering upon theSpaniards. But returning toTopsailInlet, he found thatBlackbeardand his gang were gone, with their effects; and that they had set on shore, on a small sandy island about a league from the continent, seventeen men, without any provisions, or vessel to escape. There they had been two nights and one day without any sustenance, when, to their inexpressible joy, they saw MajorBonnet, who had been informed of their being there by two ofBlackbeard’screw, who had escaped to avoid his cruelty.
Then he steered his course towardsVirginia, where meeting with a Pink having Provisions on board, and they being in want, he took out of her ten barrels of pork, and five hundredweight of bread, and gave her, in exchange, ten casks of Rice, and an old cable.
Two days after they took a Sloop of sixty tons, from which they took two hogsheads of rum, and two of molasses,and then put in her eight men, to take care of the Prize; but they not liking her new acquaintance took the first opportunity to get off with her.
After this the Major threw off all restraint, and became a downright Pirate, by the name of CaptainThomas, taking and plundering all the vessels he met with. He took off CapeHenry, two Ships fromVirginia, bound toGlasgow; the next day a small Sloop fromVirginiabound toBermudas; from which they took twenty barrels of pork, and gave her in return, two barrels of rice, and as much molasses. The next day they took anotherVirginiaman, bound toGlasgow, out of which they took two men, and a few small things, and gave her a barrel of pork, and another of bread. From thence they sailed toPhiladelphia, where they took a Schooner coming fromNorth CarolinatoBoston, from which they took two men, and two dozen of calves skins, to make covers for guns. In the latitude of 32°, off ofDelawareRiver, nearPhiladelphia, they took two Snows bound toBristol, from which they took money and goods to the value of two hundred pounds; as also a Sloop of sixty tons, fromPhiladelphiatoBarbadoes, from which they took a few goods, and let her go. The 29th ofJuly, they took a Sloop of fifty tons, bound fromPhiladelphiatoBarbadoes, laden with provisions, which they kept; as also another of sixty tons, fromAntegoatoPhiladelphia, having on board, rum, molasses, sugar, cotton and indigo, to the value of five hundred Pounds, all of which they kept. Then they leftDelawareBay, and sailed to CapeFearRiver, where they staid almost two months to repair their Sloop, which proved very leaky, till news came toCarolinaof a Pirate’s Sloop, with her Prizes, being there a-careening.
Whereupon ColonelWilliam Rhetoffered to go with two Sloops to attack them; which being by the Governor and Council approved of, he was commissioned on board theHenry, with eight guns and seventy men, commanded by CaptainJohn Masters; and theSea Nymph, commanded byCaptain Farier-Hall, with as many guns and men; both under the Direction of the Colonel, who went on board theHenrythe 14th ofSeptember, and sailed fromCharlesTown toSwillivant’sIsland, in order to cruise: where he was informed, by a small ship fromAntegoa, which in sight of the Bar, was taken and plundered byCharles Vane, in a Brigantine of sixteen guns, and a hundred men; that he had taken two Sloops, one CaptainDill, Master, fromBarbadoes; the other CaptainThompson, fromGuinea, with seventy negroes, which they put on board oneYeatshis consort, being a small Sloop with twenty-five men, who being weary of this course of life, ran intoEdistoRiver, and surrender’d to his Majesty’s Pardon, by which the owners got their negroes again, andYeatsand his men had their certificates sign’d.
Vanecruised for some time thereabouts, in hopes to takeYeats, and be revenged on him; during which time, he took a ship bound to London, to whom he gave out, that he designed to go to the southward;which ColonelRhethearing, sailed over the Bar the 15th with the two Sloops, and went after the PirateVane; but not meeting with him, tack’d and stood for CapeFear, according to his first Design; and on the 26th following he entered the River, where he sawBonnet, and the three Sloops his Prizes, at anchor; but the Pilot running the Sloops a-ground, hindered their getting up that Night. The Pirates seeing the Sloops, and not knowing who they were, mann’d three canoes, and sent them down to take them; but finding their mistake,Bonnettook all the men out of the Prizes to engage them. ColonelRhet’sSloops the next morning getting under sail, stood for the Pirates, who designed only to make a running fight; but the Colonel getting upon his quarters, he edged in upon the shore, and ran his Sloop a-ground. The Colonel’s Sloops were soon in the same condition: TheHenrygrounded within pistol-shot of the Pirate, on his bow; the other, right a-head of him, almost out of gun-shot, which made it of but very little use to the Colonel. By this timethe Pirate had a very great advantage: For his Sloop lifted from ColonelRhet’s, which converted them all over; and the Colonel’s Sloop lifting the same way, was much exposed for about five hours, whilst they lay a-ground. The Colonel’s Sloop being first a-float, he got into deeper water, and after mending his rigging, he stood for the Pirate, to go directly on board him; which they prevented, by hoisting a flag of truce, and surrendering soon after. The Colonel lost in this action ten men, and had fourteen wounded. TheSea Nymphhad two killed, and four wounded. Among the Pirates were none killed, and three were wounded. The next day the Colonel weighed from CapeFear, and arrived atCharles Townthe 3d ofOctober, to the no small joy of the people ofCarolina.
There being no publick prison,Bonnetwas committed into the custody of the marshal, and his Men were kept at the Watch-house under a strict guard; a little before the trial,David Harriotthe Master, andIgnatius RatheBoatswain, the evidences,were removed from the Crew, to the Marshal’s house, from whence on the 24thBonnetandHarriottmade their escape; which as soon as the Governor heard of, he published a Proclamation, promising a reward of 700l.to any one that would take him, and also sent several boats with armed men in pursuit of him.
Bonnetstood to the northward, in a small vessel; but through stress of weather, and want of necessaries, he was forced toSwillivant’sIsland. Of which information being given to the Governor, he sent for ColonelRhet, and desired him once more to go in pursuit of him; which the Colonel readily accepted of; and having got all Things ready, went that Night forSwillivant’sIsland, where, after a long search, he discovered them. After the Colonel’s men had fired upon them, and killedHarriott,Bonnetimmediately surrendered himself, and was, next Morning, brought back toCharles Town, and confined under a strong guard till his trial, which was hastened for fear he should give them the slip again.
On the 28th ofOctober, 1718, a Court of Vice-Admiralty was held atCharles Town, and, by several adjournments continued to the 12th ofNovemberfollowing, byNicholas Trot, Esq; Judge of the Vice-Admiralty, and Chief Judge ofCarolina, and other Assistant Judges; where, after the King’s Commission was read, and a Grand Jury sworn,Judge Trotgave them a learned Charge: And then theGrand Jurywent out, and found the Bills; upon which, aPetit-Jurywas sworn, and the following Persons were arraingn’d and try’d.
Stede Bonnet, aliasEdwards, aliasThomas, late ofBarbadoes, Merchant.Robert Tucker, late ofJamaica, Merchant.Edward Robinson, late ofNewcastle-upon-Tine, Mariner.Neal Peterson, late ofAberdeen, Mariner.William Scot, late ofAberdeen, Mariner.William Eddy, aliasNeddy, late ofAberdeen, Mariner.Alexander Annand, late ofJamaica, Mariner.George Rose, late ofGlasgow, Mariner.George Dubin, late ofGlasgow, Mariner.John Ridge, late ofLondon, Mariner.Matthew King, late ofJamaica, Mariner.Daniel Perry, late ofGuernsey, Mariner.Henry Virgin, late ofBristol, Mariner.James Rattle, aliasRobbins, late ofLondon, Merchant.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. Barley, late ofLondon, Mariner.John William Smith, late ofCharlesTown inCarolina, Mariner.Thomas Carman, late ofMaidstoneinKent, Mariner.John Thomas, late ofJamaica, Mariner.William Morrison, late ofJamaica, Mariner.Samuel Booth, late ofCharlesTown, Mariner.William Howet, late ofJamaica, Mariner.John Kent, late ofNorth Carolina, Mariner.William Livres, aliasEvis, late ofCarolina, Mariner.John Brierly, aliasTimberhead, late ofBathTown inNorth Carolina, Mariner.Robert Boyd, late ofBathTown in NorthCarolina, Mariner.Thomas Nicholas, late ofLondon, Mariner.Rowland Sharp, late ofBathTown, Mariner.Jonathan Clark, late ofCharlesTown, Mariner.Thomas Gerrard, late ofAntegoa, Mariner.
Stede Bonnet, aliasEdwards, aliasThomas, late ofBarbadoes, Merchant.
Robert Tucker, late ofJamaica, Merchant.
Edward Robinson, late ofNewcastle-upon-Tine, Mariner.
Neal Peterson, late ofAberdeen, Mariner.
William Scot, late ofAberdeen, Mariner.
William Eddy, aliasNeddy, late ofAberdeen, Mariner.
Alexander Annand, late ofJamaica, Mariner.
George Rose, late ofGlasgow, Mariner.
George Dubin, late ofGlasgow, Mariner.
John Ridge, late ofLondon, Mariner.
Matthew King, late ofJamaica, Mariner.
Daniel Perry, late ofGuernsey, Mariner.
Henry Virgin, late ofBristol, Mariner.
James Rattle, aliasRobbins, late ofLondon, Merchant.
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. Barley, late ofLondon, Mariner.
John William Smith, late ofCharlesTown inCarolina, Mariner.
Thomas Carman, late ofMaidstoneinKent, Mariner.
John Thomas, late ofJamaica, Mariner.
William Morrison, late ofJamaica, Mariner.
Samuel Booth, late ofCharlesTown, Mariner.
William Howet, late ofJamaica, Mariner.
John Kent, late ofNorth Carolina, Mariner.
William Livres, aliasEvis, late ofCarolina, Mariner.
John Brierly, aliasTimberhead, late ofBathTown inNorth Carolina, Mariner.
Robert Boyd, late ofBathTown in NorthCarolina, Mariner.
Thomas Nicholas, late ofLondon, Mariner.
Rowland Sharp, late ofBathTown, Mariner.
Jonathan Clark, late ofCharlesTown, Mariner.
Thomas Gerrard, late ofAntegoa, Mariner.
All of whom, except the four last, were found Guilty, and received Sentence of Death, upon two Indictments, for Robbing upon the High Sea theFrancis,Peter Manwaring, Commander; and for seizing, in a Piratical Manner, the SloopFortune,Thomas Read, Commander: To which they all pleaded Not Guilty, exceptJames WilsonandJohn Levit, who pleaded Guilty to bothIndictments, andDaniel Piercyto one only.Bonnetmoved to go through both the Indictments at once; but the Court overruling it, he was found Guilty of one, and retracted his Plea to the other. They made but little Defence, pretending they were taken off aMaroonShore, and were shipped with MajorBonnetto go toSt. Thomas’s, but wanting provisions they were obliged to do what they did; and the Major himself pretended it wasNecessityand notInclinationthat compelled them to do it. But that not appearing, they having all shared ten or eleven Pounds a man, except the four last, they were all found Guilty. After which the Judge set forth the enormity of their Crimes: And then pronounced Sentence of Death upon the persons aforesaid, except MajorBonnet, who not being brought back in time, was not tried till the 10th ofNovember; and being then also found Guilty, he received Sentence in like manner as the others; before whom JudgeTrotmade an excellent speech, saying afterwards.
And now, having discharged my Duty as aChristian, I must do my Office as a Judge, which is
You the saidStede Bonnetshall go from hence, to the Place from whence you came, and from thence to the Place of Execution, where you shall be hanged by the Neck till you are dead.
Sketch portrait of a pirate
CAPTAIN WILLIAM KID
Sketch portrait of a pirate
We are now going to give an account of one whose name is better known inEngland, than most of those whose histories we have already related; the person we mean is CaptainKid, whose public Trial and Execution here, rendered him the subject of all conversation.
In the beginning of KingWilliam’sWar, CaptainKidcommanded a Privateer in theWest-Indies, and by several adventurous actions acquired the reputation of a brave man, as well as an experienced seaman. About this time the Pirates were very troublesome in those parts, wherefore CaptainKidwas recommended by theLordBellamont, then Governor ofBarbadoes, as well as by several other persons, to the Government here, as a person very fit to be entrusted with the command of a Government Ship, and to be employed in cruising upon the Pirates, as knowing those Seas perfectly well, and being acquainted with their lurking places; but what reasons governed the politics of those times, I cannot tell, but this proposal met with no encouragement here, though it is certain it would have been of great consequence to the subject, our merchants suffering incredible damages by those robbers.
Upon this neglect the LordBellamont, and some others who knew what great captures had been made by the Pirates, and what a prodigious wealth must be in their possession, were tempted to fit out a ship at their own private charge, and to give the command of it to CaptainKid; and to give the thing a greater reputation, as well as to keep their seamen under the better command, they procured the King’s Commission for the said CaptainKid.
CaptainKidhad also another Commission, which was called a Commission of Reprisals; for it being then War time, this Commission was to justify him in the taking ofFrenchMerchant Ships, in case he should meet with any. He sail’d out ofPlymouthinMay1696, in theAdventureGalley of thirty guns, and eighty men; the place he first design’d for wasNew York; in his Voyage thither he took a FrenchBanker, but this was no Act of Piracy, he having a Commission for that purpose, as we have just observed.
When he arrived atNew Yorkhe put up Articles for engaging more Hands, it being necessary to his Ship’s crew, since he proposed to deal with a desperate enemy: The terms he offered were, that every man should have a share of what was taken, reserving for himself and Owners forty shares. Upon this encouragement he soon increas’d his company to a hundred and fifty five men.
With this company he first sail’d forMaderas, where he took in wine and some other necessaries; from thence heproceeded toBonavist, one of theCape de Verd Islands, to furnish the ship with salt, and from thence went immediately toSt. Jago, another of theCape de Verd Islands, in order to stock himself with provisions. When all this was done, he bent his course toMadagascar, the known rendezvous of Pirates; in this way he fell in with CaptainWarren, Commodore of three Men-of-War; he acquainted them with his design, kept them company two or three days, and then leaving them, made the best way forMadagascar, where he arrived inFebruary1696, just nine months from his departure fromPlymouth.
Sketch portrait of a pirate
It does not appear all this while that he had the least design of turning Pirate; for nearMahalaandJoannaboth he met with severalIndianships richly laden, to which he did not offer the least violence, tho’ he was strong enough to have done what he pleas’d with them; and the first outrage or depredation I find he committed upon mankind, was after hisrepairing his ship, and leavingJoanna; he touch’d at a place call’dMabbee, upon theRed Sea, where he took someGuineaCorn from the natives, by force.
After this he sail’d toBab’s Key, a Place upon a little Island at the entrance of theRed Sea; here it was that he first began to open himself to his ship’s company, and let them understand that he intended to change his measures; for, happening to talk of theMocaFleet, which was to sail that way, he saidWe have been unsuccessful hitherto, but courage, my Boys, we’ll make our fortunes out of this Fleet: And finding that none of them appear’d averse to it, he order’d a boat out, well mann’d, to go upon the coast to make discoveries, commanding them to take a prisoner and bring to him, or get intelligence any way they could. The boat return’d in a few days, bringing him word, that they saw fourteen or fifteen ships ready to sail, some withEnglish, some withDutch, and some withMoorishColours. He therefore order’d a man continually to watch at the mast-head, least this Fleet should goby them; and about four days after, towards evening, it appear’d in sight, being convoy’d by oneEnglishand oneDutchMan-of-War.Kidsoon fell in with them, and getting into the midst of them, fir’d at aMoorishship which was next him; but the Men-of-War taking the Alarm, bore down uponKid, and firing upon him, obliged him to sheer off, he not being strong enough to contend with them. Now he had begun hostilities, he resolv’d to go on, and therefore he went and cruis’d along the coast ofMalabar; the first Prize he met was a small vessel belonging toAden, the vessel wasMoorish, and the Owners wereMoorishMerchants, but the Master was anEnglishman, his name wasParker.Kidforc’d him and aPortuguezethat was call’dDon Antonio, which were all theEuropeanson Board, to take on with them; the first he design’d as a pilot, and the last as an interpreter. He also used the men very cruelly, causing them to be hoisted up by the arms, and drubb’d with a naked cutlass, to force them to discover whether they had money on board, and where itlay; but as they had neither gold nor silver on board, he got nothing by his cruelty; however, he took from them a bale of pepper, and a bale of coffee, and so let them go.
Soon after this he came up with aMoorishShip, the Master whereof was aDutchman, call’dSchipper Mitchel, and chased her underFrenchColours, which they observing, hoistedFrenchColours too: When he came up with her, he hail’d her inFrench, and they having aFrenchmanon board, answer’d him in the same language; upon which he order’d them to send their boat on board; they were oblig’d to do so, and having examin’d who they were, and from whence they came; he ask’d theFrenchman, who was a passenger, if he had aFrenchpass for himself? TheFrenchmangave him to understand that he had. Then he told theFrenchmanhe must pass for Captain,and by God, says he,you are the Captain: TheFrenchmandurst not refuse doing as he would have him: The meaning of this was, that he would seize the Ship as fair Prize,and as if she belonged toFrenchSubjects, according to a commission he had for that purpose; tho’, one would think, after what he had already done, that he need not have recourse to a quibble to give his actions a colour.
In short, he took the cargoe and sold it some time after, yet still he seem’d to have some fears upon him least these proceedings should have a bad end; for, coming up with aDutchShip some time, when his men thought of nothing but attacking her,Kidoppos’d it; upon which a mutiny arose, and the majority being for taking the said ship, and arming themselves to man the boat to go and seize her, he told them, such as did, never should come on Board him again; which put an end to the design, so that he kept company with the said ship some time, without offering her any violence: However, this dispute was the occasion of an accident, upon which an indictment was afterwards grounded againstKid; forMoor, the Gunner, being one day upon deck, and talking withKidabout thesaidDutchShip, some words arose betwixt them, andMoortoldKid, that he had ruin’d them all; upon which,Kid, calling himDog, took up a bucket and struck him with it, which breaking his skull, he died the next day.
ButKid’spenitential fit did not last long, for coasting alongMalabar, he met with a great number of boats, all which he plunder’d. Upon the same Coast he also lit upon aPortuguezeShip, which he kept possession of a week, and then having taking out of her some chests ofIndiangoods, thirty jars of butter, and some wax, iron, and a hundred bags of rice, he let her go.
TheAdventureGalley was now so old and leaky, that they were forced to keep two pumps continually going, whereforeKidshifted all the guns and tackle out of her into theQuedaMerchant, intending her for his Man-of-War; and as he had divided the Money before, he now made a division of the remainder of the cargo: Soon after which, the greatest part of the companyleft him, some going on board CaptainCulliford, and others absconding in the Country, so that he had not above forty men left.
He put to sea and happened to touch atAmboyna, one of theDutchSpice Islands, where he was told, that the news of his Actions had reach’dEngland, and that he was there declared a Pirate.
The truth on’t is, his Piracies so alarmed our Merchants, that some motions were made in Parliament, to enquire into the commission that was given him, and the persons who fitted him out: These proceedings seem’d to lean a little hard upon the LordBellamont, who thought himself so much touch’d thereby, that he published a Justification of himself in a pamphlet afterKid’sexecution. In the mean time, it was thought advisable, to publish a Proclamation, offering the King’s free Pardon to all such Pirates as should voluntarily surrender themselves, whatever Piracies they had been guilty of at any time, before the last day ofApril, 1699—That is to say, for allPiracies committed Eastward of theCape of GoodHope, to the Longitude and Meridian ofSocatora, andCape Camorin. In which Proclamation,AveryandKidwere excepted by Name.
WhenKidleftAmboynahe knew nothing of this Proclamation, for certainly had he had notice of his being excepted in it, he would not have been so infatuated, to run himself into the very jaws of danger; but relying upon his interest with the LordBellamont, and fancying, that aFrenchPass or two he found on board some of the ships he took, would serve to countenance the matter, and that part of the booty he got would gain him new friends—I say, all these things made him flatter himself that all would be hushed, and that justice would but wink at him. Wherefor he sail’d directly forNew York, where he was no sooner arrived, but by the LordBellamont’sorders, he was secured with all his papers and effects. Many of his fellow-adventurers who had forsook him atMadagascar, came over from thence passengers, some toNewEnglandand some toJersey; where hearing of the King’s Proclamation for pardoning of Pirates, they surrendered themselves to the Governor of those places: At first they were admitted to bail, but soon after were laid in strict confinement, where they were kept for some time, till an opportunity happened of sending them with their Captain over toEnglandto be tried.
Accordingly a Sessions of Admiralty being held at theOld Baily, inMay, 1701,Captain Kid,Nicholas Churchill,James How,Robert Lumley,William Jenkins,Gabriel Loff,Hugh Parrot,Richard Barlicorn,Abel Owens, andDarby Mullins, were arraingn’d for Piracy and Robbery on the High Seas, and all found guilty, except three; these wereRobert Lumley,William Jenkins, andRichard Barlicorn, who proving themselves to be apprentices to some of the officers of the ship, and producing their Indentures in Court, were acquitted.
Kidwas tried upon an indictment of Murder also,viz.for killingMoorthe Gunner, and found guilty of the same.Nicholas ChurchillandJames Howpleaded the King’s Pardon, as having surrendered themselves within the time limited in the Proclamation, and ColonelBass, Governor ofWest Jersey, to whom they surrendered, being in Court, and called upon, proved the same; however, this plea was over-ruled by the Court, because there being four Commissioners named in the Proclamation, it was adjudged no other person was qualified to receive their surrender, and that they could not be intitled to the benefit.
As to CaptainKid’sDefence, he insisted much upon his own innocence, and the villany of his men; he said he went out in a laudable employment and had no occasion, being then in good circumstances, to go a-Pirating; that the men often mutinied against him, and did as they pleas’d; that he was threatened to be shot in his cabin, and that ninety five left him at one time, and set fire to his boat, so that he was disabled from bringing his ship home, or the Prizes he took, to have them regularly condemn’d, which he said were taken byvirtue of a commission under the broad seal, they havingFrenchPasses—The Captain called one Col.Hewsonto his Reputation, who gave him an extraordinary character, and declared to the Court, that he had served under his command, and been in two engagements with him against theFrench, in which he fought as well as any man he ever saw; that there were onlyKid’sShip and his own against Monsieurdu Cass, who commanded a squadron of six sail, and they got the better of him, but this being several years before the facts mentioned in the Indictment were committed, prov’d of no manner of service to the Prisoner on his Trial.
As to the friendship shown toCulliford, a notorious Pirate,Kiddenied, and said, he intended to have taken him, but his men being a parcel of rogues and villains refused to stand by him, and several of them ran away from his ship to the said Pirate.—But the evidence being full and particular against him, he was found Guilty as before mentioned.
WhenKidwas asked what he had to say why Sentence should not pass against him, he answered, Thathe had nothing to say, but that he had been sworn against by perjured wicked People. And when Sentence was pronounced, he said,My Lord it is a very hard Sentence. For my part I am the innocentest Person of them all, only I have been sworn against by perjured Persons.
Wherefore about a week after, Capt.Kid,Nicholas Churchill,James How,Gabriel Loff,Hugh Parrot,Abel Owen, andDarby Mullins, were executed atExecution Dock, and afterwards hung up in Chains, at some distance from each other, down the river, where their Bodies hung exposed for many years.
Two figures swinging from the gallows
CAPTAIN EDWARD ENGLAND