A General History of the Pyrates Part 28

_The dying Declarations of_ John Rose Archer _and_ William White, _on the Day of their Execution at_ Boston, June 2, 1724, _for the Crimes of Pyracy._

First, separately, of _Archer._

I Greatly bewail my Profanations of the Lord's Day, and my Disobedience to my Parents.

And my Cursing and Swearing, and my blaspheming the Name of the glorious G.o.d.

Unto which I have added, the Sins of Unchast.i.ty. And I have provoked the Holy One, at length, to leave me unto the Crimes of Pyracy and Robbery; wherein, at last, I have brought my self under the Guilt of Murder also.

But one Wickedness that has led me as much as any, to all the rest, has been my brutish Drunkenness. By strong Drink I have been heated and hardened into the Crimes that are now more bitter than Death unto me.

I could wish that Masters of Vessels would not use their Men with so much Severity, as many of them do, which exposes to great Temptations.

And then of _White._

I am now, with Sorrow, reaping the Fruits of my Disobedience to my Parents, who used their Endeavours to have me instructed in my Bible, and my Catechism.

And the Fruits of my neglecting the publick Worship of G.o.d, and prophaning the holy Sabbath.

And of my blaspheming the Name of G.o.d, my Maker.

But my Drunkenness has had a great Hand in bringing my Ruin upon me. I was drunk when I was enticed aboard the Pyrate.

And now, for all the vile Things I did aboard, I own the Justice of G.o.d and Man, in what is done unto me.

Of both together.

We hope, we truly hate the Sins, whereof we have the Burthen lying so heavy upon our Consciences.

We warn all People, and particularly young People, against such Sins as these. We wish, all may take Warning by us.

We beg for Pardon, for the sake of Christ, our Saviour; and our Hope is in him alone. Oh! _that in his Blood our Scarlet and Crimson Guilt may be all washed away!_

We are sensible of an hard Heart in us, full of Wickedness. And we look upon G.o.d for his renewing Grace upon us.

We bless G.o.d for the s.p.a.ce of Repentance which he has given us; and that he has not cut us off in the Midst and Heighth of our Wickedness.

We are not without Hope, that G.o.d has been savingly at work upon our Souls.

We are made sensible of our absolute Need of the Righteousness of Christ; that we may stand justified before G.o.d in that. We renounce all Dependance on our own.

We are humbly thankful to the Ministers of Christ, for the great Pains they have taken for our Good. The Lord Reward their Kindness.

We don't Despair of Mercy; but hope, through Christ, that when we dye, we shall find Mercy with G.o.d, and be received into his Kingdom.

We wish others, and especially the Sea-faring, may get Good by what they see this Day befalling of us.

_Declared in the Presence of_ J. W. D. M.

CHAP. XVI. OF Captain _SPRIGGS_, And his CREW.

S_Priggs_ sailed with _Low_ for a pretty while, and I believe came away from _Lowther_, along with him; he was Quarter-Master to the Company, and consequently had a great Share in all the Barbarities committed by that execrable Gang, till the Time they parted; which was about _Christmas_ last, when _Low_ took a Ship of 12 Guns on the Coast of _Guiney_, called the _Delight_, (formerly the _Squirrel_ Man of War,) commanded by Captain _Hunt. Spriggs_ took Possession of the Ship with eighteen Men, left _Low_ in the Night, and came to the _West-Indies._ This Separation was occasioned by a Quarrel with _Low_, concerning a Piece of Justice _Spriggs_ would have executed upon one of the Crew, for killing a Man in cold Blood, as they call it, one insisting that he should be hang'd, and the other that he should not.

A Day or two after they parted, _Spriggs_ was chose Captain by the rest, and a black Ensign was made, which they called _Jolly Roger_, with the same Device that Captain _Low_ carried, _viz._ a white Skeliton in the Middle of it, with a Dart in one Hand striking a bleeding Heart, and in the other, an Hour-Gla.s.s; when this was finished and hoisted, they fired all their Guns to salute their Captain and themselves, and then looked out for Prey.

In their Voyage to the _West-Indies_, these Pyrates took a _Portuguese_ Bark, wherein they got valuable Plunder, but not contented with that alone, they said they would have a little Game with the Men, and so ordered them a Sweat, more for the Brutes Diversion, than the poor Men's Healths; which Operation is performed after this Manner; they stick up lighted Candles circularly round the Mizon-Mast, between Decks, within which the Patients one at a Time enter; without the Candles, the Pyrates post themselves, as many as can stand, forming another Circle, and armed with Pen-Knives, Tucks, Forks, Compa.s.ses, _&c._ and as he runs round and round, the Musick playing at the same Time, they p.r.i.c.k him with those Instuments; this usually lasts for 10 or 12 Minutes, which is as long as the miserable Man can support himself. When the Sweating was over, they gave the _Portuguese_ their Boat with a small Quant.i.ty of Provisions, and set their Vessel on Fire.

Near the Island of St. _Lucia_, they took a Sloop belonging to _Barbadoes_, which they plundered, and then burnt, forcing some of the Men to sign their Articles, the others they beat and cut in a barbarous Manner, because they refused to take on with the Crew, and then sent them away in the Boat, who all got safe afterwards to _Barbadoes._

The next was a _Martinico_ Man, which they served as bad as they had done the others, but did not burn their Ship. Some Days afterwards in running down to Leeward, they took one Captain _Hawkins_, coming from _Jamaica_, loaden chiefly with Logwood; they took out of her, Stores, Arms, Ammunition, and several other Things, as they thought fit, and what they did not want they threw over-board or destroy'd; they cut the Cables to pieces, knocked down the Cabins, broke all the Windows, and in short took all the Pains in the World to be Mischievous. They took by Force, out of her, Mr. _Burridge_ and Mr. _Stephens_, the two Mates, and some other Hands; and after detaining the Ship from the 22d of _March_, to the 29th, they let her go. On the 27th they took a _Rhode Island_ Sloop, Captain _Pike_, and all his Men were obliged to go aboard the Pyrate; but the Mate being a grave sober Man, and not inclinable to stay, they told him, he should have his Discharge, and that it should be immediately writ on his Back; whereupon he was sentenced to receive ten Lashes from every Man in the Ship, which was rigorously put in Execution.

The next Day Mr. _Burridge_, Captain _Hawkins_'s Mate, sign'd their Articles, which was so agreeable to them (he being a good Artist and Sailor) that they gave three Huzza's, fir'd all the Guns in the Ship, and appointed him Master: The Day was spent in boysterous Mirth, roaring and drinking of Healths, among which was, by Mistake, that of King _George_ the II. for you must know, now and then the Gentry are provok'd to sudden Fits of Loyalty, by the Expectation of an Act of Grace: It seems Captain _Pike_ had heard at _Jamaica_ that the King was dead, so the Pyrates immediately hoisted their Ensign Half-Mast (the Death Signal) and proclaim'd his Royal Highness, saying, _They doubted not but there would be a general Pardon in a twelve Month, which they would embrace and come in upon, but d.a.m.n 'em if they should be excepted out of it, they would murder every_ Englishman _that should fall into their Hands._

The second of _April_, they spy'd a Sail, and gave her Chace till 12 o'Clock at Night, the Pyrates believed her to be a _Spaniard_, when they came close up to her, they discharged a Broadside, with small and great Shot, which was follow'd by another, but the Ship making a lamentable Cry for Quarters, they ceas'd firing, and ordered the Captain to come aboard, which he did, but how disappointed the Rogues were when they found 'twas their old Friend Captain _Hawkins_, whom they had sent away three Days before, worth not one Penny? This was such a Baulk to them, that they resolved he should suffer for falling in their Way, tho' it was so contrary to his own Inclinations: About 15 of them surrounded the poor Man with sharp Cutlashes, and fell upon him, whereby he was soon laid flat on the Deck; at that Instant _Burridge_ flew amongst the thickest of the Villains, and begg'd earnestly for his Life, upon whose Request 'twas granted. They were now most of 'em drunk, as is usual at this Time of Night, so they unanimously agreed to make a Bonfire of _Hawkins_'s Ship, which was immediately done, and in half an Hour she was all of a Blaze.

After this, they wanted a little more Diversion, and so Captain _Hawkins_ was sent for down to the Cabin to Supper; what should the Provision be, but a Dish of Candles, which he was forced to eat, having a naked Sword and a Pistol held to his Breast all the while; when this was over, they buffeted him about for some Time, and sent him forward amongst the other Prisoners, who had been treated with the same Delicacies.

Two Days afterwards, they anchor'd at a little uninhabited Island, call'd _Rattan_, near the Bay of _Honduras_, and put ash.o.r.e Captain _Hawkins_, and several other Men, (one of them his Pa.s.senger) who dy'd there of the Hardships he underwent. They gave them Powder and Ball, and a Musquet, with which they were to shift as they could, sailing away the next Day for other Adventures.

Captain _Hawkins_, and his unfortunate Companions, staid 19 Days upon this Island, supplying themselves with both Fish and Fowl, such as they were, at which Time came two Men in a Canoe, that had been left upon another marroon Island near _Benacca_, who carry'd the Company at several Times thither, it being more convenient in having a good Well of fresh Water, and Plenty of Fish, _&c._ Twelve Days afterwards they spy'd a Sloop off at Sea, which, upon their making a great Smoke, stood in, and took them off; she was the _Merriam_, Captain _Jones_, lately escaped out of the Bay of _Honduras_, from being taken by the _Spaniards._

At an Island to the Westward, the Pyrates clean'd their Ship, and sail'd towards the Island of St. _Christophers_, to wait for one Captain _Moor_, who commanded the _Eagle_ Sloop, when she took _Lowther_'s upon the Careen, at _Blanco_; _Spriggs_ resolved to put him to Death, whenever he took him, for falling upon his Friend and Brother, but instead of _Moor_, he found a _French_ Man of War from _Martinico_ upon the Coast, which _Spriggs_ not thinking fit to contend with, run away with all the Sail he could make, the _French_ Man crowded after him, and was very likely to speak with Mr.

_Spriggs_, when unfortunately his Main-Top-Mast came by the Board, which obliged him to give over the Chace.

_Spriggs_ then stood to the Northward, towards _Burmudas_, or the _Summer Isles_, and took a Sc.o.o.ner belonging to _Boston_; he took out all the Men and sunk the Vessel, and had the Impudence to tell the Master, that he designed to encrease his Company on the Banks of _Newfoundland_, and then would sail for the Coast of _New-England_ in quest of Captain _Solgard_, who attack'd and took their Consort _Charles Harris, Spriggs_ being then in _Low_'s Sloop, who very fairly run for it. The Pyrate ask'd the Master if he knew Captain _Solgard_, who answering No; he ask'd another the same Question, and then a third, who said he knew him very well, upon which _Spriggs_ ordered him to be sweated, which was done in the Manner before describ'd.

Instead of going to _Newfoundland_ as the Pyrates threat'ned, they came back to the Islands, and to Windward of St. _Christophers_, on the 4th of _June_ last, took a Sloop, _Nicholas Trot_ Master, belonging to St.

_Eustatia_, and wanting a little Diversion, they hoisted the Men as high as the Main and Fore Tops, and let them run down amain, enough to break all the Bones in their Skins, and after they had pretty well crippled them by this cruel Usage, and whipp'd them about the Deck, they gave _Trot_ his Sloop, and let him go, keeping back only 2 of his Men, besides the Plunder of the Vessel.

Within two or three Days they took a Ship coming from _Rhode-Island_ to St.

_Christophers_, loaden with Provisions and some Horses; the Pyrates mounted the Horses and rid them about the Deck backwards and forwards a full Gallop, like Madmen at _New-Market_, cursing, swearing, and hallowing, at such a Rate, that made the poor Creatures wild, and at length, two or three of them throwing their Riders, they fell upon the Ship's Crew, and whipp'd, and cut, and beat them in a barbarous Manner, telling them, it was for bringing Horses without Boots and Spurs, for want of which they were not able to ride them.

This is the last Account we have had of Captain _Spriggs_, I shall only add the two following Relations, and conclude.

A Brigantine belonging to _Bristol_, one _Mr. Rowry_ Master, had been trading at _Gambia_, in _Africa_, and falling as low as Cape _Mount_, to finish the slaving of the Vessel, he had, by a Misfortune usual at that Part of the Coast, his Mate, Surgeon, and two more of his Men, _Panyarr_'d[*] by the Negroes. The Remainder of his Company, which was not above 5 or 6 in Number, took this Opportunity, and seiz'd the Vessel in the Road, making the Master Prisoner.

You will think it prodigious impudent that so small a Number should undertake to proceed a pyrating, especially when neither of them had sufficient Skill in Navigation: Yet this they did, leaving those People, their Ship-Mates abovemention'd, to the Mercy of the barbarous Natives, and sail'd away down the Coast, making them a black Flag, which they merrily said, would be as good as 50 Men more, _i. e._ would carry as much Terror; and that they did not doubt of soon increasing their Crew, to put them in an enterprizing Capacity; but their vain Projection was soon happily frustrated, and after this Manner.

The Master whose Life they had preserved, (perhaps only for supplying their own Unskillfulness in Navigation,) advised them, that since contrary to their Expectations, they had met with no Ship between _Cape Mount_, and the _Bite_ of _Calabar_, to proceed to the Island of St. _Thomas_'s, where they might recruit with Provisions and Water, and sell off the Slaves (about 70 of them) which they perceived would be a useless Lumber, and incommodious to their Design. They arrived there in _August_ 1721, and one Evening, while Part of them were on Sh.o.r.e, applying for this Purpose to the Governor, and the other Part carelesly from the Deck, Mr. _Rowry_ stepp'd into the Boat belonging to the Vessel, and pushed off, very suddenly: They heard the Noise it made, and soon were upon Deck again, but having no other Boat to pursue, nor a Musket, ready to fire, he got safe on Sh.o.r.e, and ran to the Governor with his Complaint, who immediately imprisoned those already there, and sent a Launch off to take the rest out of the Ship.

The _Swallow_ arrived at St. _Thomas_'s the Beginning of _October_ following, where, on Mr. _Rowry_'s Remonstrance, Application was made to the _Portuguese_ Governor of that Island, for a Surrendery of these five _English_ Prisoners then in the Castle; but he not only peremptorily excused himself from it, as a Matter out of his Power, without particular Direction from the Court of _Portugal_; but withal insinuated, that they had only taken Refuge there from the Hardships and Severity they had met with from their Master. The manner of Denial, and the avaritious Temper of the Gentleman, which I had Occasion to be acquainted with, makes it very suspicious, that he proposed considerable Gains to himself; for if Mr.

_Rowry_ had not made such an Escape to him, the Slaves had been his for little or nothing, as a Bribe to silence his Suspicions, which any Man, less acute than he, must have had from the awkward and unskilful Carriage of such Merchants. But enough of this; perhaps he is not the only Governor abroad that finds an Interest in countenancing these Fellows.

[Footnote *: Term for stealing of Men used all over the Coast.]

An Account of the Pyracies and Murders committed by _Philip Roche_, _&c._

P_Hilip Roche_ was born in _Ireland_, and from his Youth had been bred up to the Sea; he was a brisk genteel Fellow, of 30 Years of Age at the Time of his Death; one whose black and savage Nature did no ways answer the Comliness of his Person, his Life being almost one continued Scene of Villany, before he was discovered to have committed the horrid Murders we are now speaking of.