Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period Part 36

[Footnote 1: Bodleian Library, MS. Rawlinson C. 933, f. 12. An enclosure in no. 93.]

The Deposition of William Fletcher, Master of the ship _Barbadoes merchant_ of Leverpoole, Sworne the Second Day of May 1700, Saith

That about 30 Leagues from the Capes upon the 23th Day of Aprill A pink[2] of about 100 tons bound from Barbadoes to virginia, no great guns, and between 50 or 60 men, most french and Dutch and some Irish men[3] lately taken by Pyrates, Seized his ship, rifled her, and barberously used him and a Merchant belonging to him, by whom they had accot. that the Cheif Pirate[4] was about 24 Guns and about 140 Tons, and another about the same burthen but what force he could not learn, and a Sloope of Six Guns: in all 4 pirates. Designing to get some good Ships and more Company as they Could, [they favored (?)] this Deponant and used much kindness to his men and persuaded them to goe with them, which when they refused the Pirates used them Cruelly, cut away all his Masts, Sailes and Rigging and bolespritt,[5] and threw all over Board, tooke all their Candles, broke their Compases, and Disabled them soe as they Supposed the ship would perish and never give Intelligence: and all 4 of the Pirates would pa.s.s by them and in a way of Deriding ask why they Cut away their Masts, and soe left them, Supposeing they had left them nothing to help themselves, for they threw over Board a Spare topmast which lay upon the Deck, but by providence their foremast and Sailes and Rigging thereof hung by their Side unknown to the Pirates, wherewith they fitted Jewry Masts[6] and found a Compa.s.s under some old Oakc.u.m, with which on Sunday night the 28th Day of Aprill they got into the Capes and are now in Accomack:[7]

but took away all Letters, Papers, Bookes, Certificates and Cocquits,[8] and would not leave any manner of writings, soe as they have no thing to Shew, tooke away his Carpenter, and another man, and took away his Long boat, and Complained for want of Powder and tobacco, and beat this Depont. after they had Stript him, that if an Irishmen had not Interceeded he beleves they would have kild him with the flat of their Curtle-axes,[9] the Cruelty being used to them by french men, and saw no Englishmen, all which and much more barbarity this Depont. affirmeth to be truth

WM. FLETCHER.

Sworn the second Day of May 1700 before Cha. Scarburgh.

[Footnote 2: A pink was a vessel having a narrow stern, bulging sides, and a flattish bottom.]

[Footnote 3: The crew of _La Paix_ is reported in the trial to comprise three Dutchmen, one Swede, one Norwegian, one Englishman, the rest French or from the French islands.]

[Footnote 4: _La Paix._]

[Footnote 5: Bowsprit.]

[Footnote 6: A jury-mast is a temporary mast set up as a subst.i.tute.]

[Footnote 7: On the Eastern Sh.o.r.e of Virginia, across the Chesapeake.]

[Footnote 8: A ship's c.o.c.ket was a custom-house certificate that the merchandise had been duly entered and had paid duty.]

[Footnote 9: A perversion of "cutla.s.ses".]

_93. Charles Scarburgh to Governor Nicholson. May 3, 1700._[1]

[Footnote 1: Bodleian Library, MS. Rawlinson A. 271, f. 48. Col.

Charles Scarburgh or Scarborough was the chief magnate of the Eastern Sh.o.r.e, and a member of the governor's council.]

_Excellent Sir_

I have Enclosed sent you the Deposition of Wm. Fletcher, which I suppose may be a more particular accot. then any your Excell'y may receive. he ad's that the Pirates boasted much of their great strength by sea, and that there were sufficient of them to repell any force that would be sent against them, and used many enticements to perswade his men to goe with them: and I Doubt it will be impossible to secure the Navigation to and from this Country, and stop their Piraticall Invations, without a greater force. Capt. Fletcher haveing lost his Certificate, Cocquetts, and Register, cannot be entered and suffered to Load without your Excellys order. the ship hath used this Place many Years: and this Master in her last Year produced his Certificates, Cocquets, and Register, all which are in my booke of Entryes:[2] he hath the same Owners and [as?] the ships here. his Townsmen will refitt him and hath his Loading and Tobacco ready: and it would be severe if his misfortune should Doubly injure him. besides it would prejudice his Majestys revenue to forbid him to Load, therefore suppose if he gives Security to unload in England he may be permitted to trade: if your Excellency think fitt. I lay wind bound and [at (?)] Mr. Mekennies at Elizabeth River, and on Sunday last afternoon we saw a ship come in: and imediatly the _Sh.o.r.eham_ loosed and went to turn out of the River, when we Crossing over to Castle point[3] Mr. Makennie spoke with Capt. Pa.s.senger, who told him a Pirat had pursued that ship and taken others and desired we would not adventure into the Bay but lye at the Poynt. next morning early we saw Cap. Pa.s.senger on the back of the horshooe,[4] standing Down towards 3 ships in Lyn haven bay, who when he came up with them fired upon him, and the Pyrate imediately gott to sail and stood directly with Capt.

Pa.s.senger, who got the weather gage, and Imediatly followed as sharp a Dispute as (I thinke) could be betwixt two ships, of which we were full spectators Dureing the whole engagement: and in my Judgment Capt.

Pa.s.senger behaved himself with much Courage and good Conduct, haveing to Deal with an Enemy under a Desperate choice of killing or hanging, and I believe few men in their circ.u.mstances but would elect the first. the Conflict briskly maintained from soon after sunrise untill about 4 afternoon. on thursday May the second Fletcher gott in here and gave the inclosed accot.,[5] which I beleive much Imports his Maj'tes service and Interest, least thinking the Pirate aforesaid might be all, security would Endanger many ships. Fletcher further saies these are not of them who tooke Burgis last Year but others, and perhaps more may come upon the same accot. as these doe. I suppose your Excelly will think fitt to lay on a Gen'll Embargoe untill some a.s.sureance that the Coast is Clear: and believe York River will be more Convenient then James River, in Regard ships must goe to the Cape to Clear the horshooe before they can gett into James River, and soe may be Endangered. I wait your Excellys Order and Directions and withall to favour me with a true relation of the success of the Action betwixt Capt. Pa.s.senger and the Pirate:[6] I humbly take leave to subscribe Right Excellent

Your Excellencies Faithful and most Obliged servant

CHA. SCARBURGH.

May 3d 1700

[Footnote 2: Colonel Scarborough was also collector of customs in his district.]

[Footnote 3: Old Point Comfort? It is just possible that "Mr.

Mekennie", p. 264, or "Mr. Makennie", here, may mean the celebrated pioneer of Presbyterianism, Rev. Francis Makemie, who is sometimes said to have lived in Lynnhaven parish before settling down in Accomac, on the Eastern Sh.o.r.e.]

[Footnote 4: The Horseshoe is a sandy shoal running from the sh.o.r.e north of Old Point Comfort eastwardly toward the channel between Cape Charles and Cape Henry.]

[Footnote 5: Doc. no. 92.]

[Footnote 6: For Captain Pa.s.senger's own account, see _Cal. St. P.

Col._, 1700, p. 311. Governor Nicholson accompanied him in person, aboard the _Sh.o.r.eham_. During most of the fight the two ships were within pistol-shot of each other. Finally the pirate, with all masts and sails shattered, drifted aground. Then, having laid a train to thirty barrels of gunpowder, he threatened to blow the ship up, and the governor, to save the lives of the forty or fifty English prisoners, gave quarter, promising to refer the pirates to the king's mercy if they should surrender quietly. So 111 of them were sent to England in the _Ess.e.x Prize_ and the fleet of merchantmen convoyed by her, June 9. The trial was of three who were brought in without having been included in the surrender. It was held, in accordance with the Virginian act, by a commission of oyer and terminer, appointed by the governor. All three of them were hanged, although "One of them, Cornelius Frank, said, Must I be hanged that can speake all Languages"? Another curious pa.s.sage in the trial deserves to be quoted: "_Mr. Atty. Gen._ Did the Pyrates talk of blowing their Shipp up? _Ed. Ashfeild._ Yes, they did, and went to prayers upon it." Nor less the picture, in the evidence of either this or an adjoining trial, of the pirate captain "with a gold chain around his neck, and a gold Tooth-picker hanging from it"--_nouveau riche_!]

_94. John and Adam Thorowgood to Captain Pa.s.senger. May 3, 1700._[1]

[Footnote 1: Bodleian Library, MS. Rawlinson A. 272, f. 89. An enclosure in doc. no. 95. The Thorowgoods were substantial planters of Princess Anne County, dwelling near Lynnhaven Bay.]

_Sir_

This Day 7 men which had been taken by a Pirate in a Pink without any great Guns, only small Armes, and very litle Ammunition, came on sh.o.r.e and informed us this News, which we thought convenient to Inform you, that you may act according as the Necessity requires. Also Adam Hayes, a man who lives on the Sea side, Informes us, he Yesterday saw a Pink and Brigantine rideing at Anchor in sight of his house, 8 or 10 miles to the soward of Cape Henry. the Brigantine he suppose came out of the Capes. about 3 of the Clock in the afternoon he saw a boat goe from on board the Brigantine, to the Pink. after that two boats were Pa.s.sing and repa.s.sing from one vessel to the other till near night, at which time the Pink weighed and stood of to sea. the Brigantine remained there till within Night, but this morning Neither of them to be seen.

The abovesaid 7 men informed us the Pink which took them hath but 16 men which belonged to the Pyrate and 9 Prisoners. they say she belonged (before taken) to Biddeford[2] and is an Extraordinary good sailer. they also tell us they were put into a Boat and turned a Drift, they think because they were to many to be kept on board, being then 16 men Prisoners, and now as abovesaid but 9. likewise on tuesday last they tooke a Bristol man and Cut down their Masts and Boltspritte and left them as a wreck in the sea, as also another they tooke and Cut a hole in her bottom and let her sink in the sea, and that they were Ordered by the Pyrate You took last munday[3] to Cruise in the Latt.i.tude of the Capes till they came out to them. Sir, this is all we think materiall at present to be Informed you by

Your Humble servants

JNO. THOROWGOOD, sher.[4]

ADAM THORWGOOD

PRINCESS ANN COUNTY the 3d of May being Fryday, 1700.

[Footnote 2: In Devonshire, England.]

[Footnote 3: April 29. _La Paix_, Capt. Louis Guittar.]

[Footnote 4: Sheriff. Adam was sheriff the next year.]

_95. Benjamin Harrison, jr., to Governor Nicholson. May 4, 1700._[1]

[Footnote 1: Bodleian Library, MS. Rawlinson A. 272, f. 89 b. Benjamin Harrison, jr. ("Benjamin Harrison of Berkeley") was the son of a member of the council ("Benjamin Harrison of Surry") and was himself attorney-general of the colony. He was great-grandfather of President William Henry Harrison.]

_May it Please your Excell'y_,

Last night about six of the Clock the inclosed letter[2] came to Capn.

Pa.s.sengers hand whilest we were on board, and he desired me to transmitt it to your Excelly. he had not time to write wee being Just comeing away, and much Company with him. About the same time came in from sea the Brigantine mencioned in the inclosed letter, and the Master of gives a relacion pretty agreable to the letter in everything only he sayes there were about 50 men on board the Pinke when he was taken, so that 'tis Probable they will lye there, to watch for other ships. as far as I can understand by this Master the litle ship mencioned in the letter to be sunk was wheeler, who brought the Brandy and wine into York River; I am

your Excellys

most Obliged Humble serv't

B. HARRISON Jnr

WILLIAMS BURGH, May 4, 1700, 10 at Night.

[Footnote 2: Doc. no. 94.]