Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period Part 48

Then the Court ordered That all Persons should depart but the Judges and Register; and having Maturely weighed the Evidences unanimously found John Baptist and Peter Taffry not Guilty. Then the Prisoners were brought to the Bar and the President declared That the Court had found them not Guilty.

Then the Court Adjourned till the Morrow Morning.

And the Court being met according to Adjournment, Francisco, Pedro, and Pierro, three negros, were brought to the Bar and Arraigned, but no Evidences appearing to alledge any Acts of Pyracy against them, but all [alledging] that they were Imployed in Cooking the Kettle, The Court [unanimously] found them not [Guilty].[3]

[Footnote 3: But apparently John Baptis's new lease of life was not long. "November 2 [1726]. John Battis, a Frenchman, his son, and 3 Indians were hanged at Charlestown ferry." Diary of Jeremiah b.u.mstead, _N.E. Hist. Gen. Reg._, XV. 311. The crime was piracy.]

And then after pa.s.sing [some necessary orders] relating to [the]

Execution of the Pyrates, etc. [The Court adjourned without] Day.[4]

[Footnote 4: Archer and White were executed on June 2, 1724. Cotton Mather ministered to them in their last days, adding, one would think, a new horror to death. The sermon he preached at them was forthwith printed by him, _The Converted Sinner ... A Sermon Preached in Boston, May 31, 1724, In the Hearing and at the Desire of certain Pirates_ [Archer and White], _a little before their Execution, To which there is added, A more private Conference of a Minister with them_ (Boston, 1724). With his usual insufferable vanity, he indicates that the capture of the pirates was widely attributed to his public prayer against pirates on Sunday, Apr. 26: "Behold, before the week was out, there comes in a Vessel wherein" were the captive pirates. But the victorious mutiny against the pirates occurred on Apr. 18, and without disparaging Dr. Mather's influence in the councils of Heaven, it seems doubtful if the rising could have been caused by prayers publicly offered by him on the 26th. After the trial he adds: "One of the first Things which the Pyrates, who are now so much the Terror of them that haunt the Sea, impose on their poor Captives, is, to curse Dr. M----r.

The Pyrates now strangely fallen into the Hands of Justice here, make me the first Man, whose Visits and Counsils and Prayers they beg for.

Some of them under Sentence of Death, chuse to hear from me the Last Sermon they hear in the world. The Sermon is desired for Publication".

_Diary of Cotton Mather_ (Ma.s.s. Hist. Soc.), II. 722, 729.]

_123. Bill of Robert Dobney. June 2, 1724._[1]

[Footnote 1: Ma.s.s. Archives, vol. 63, p. 399. Dobney was a newcomer, admitted in 1715.]

The Province of the Ma.s.sachusetts Bay by Order of Edward Stanbridge is Dr

1724 June 2d

To Makeing of the Chaines for John Rose archer one of the Pyrats and the hire of a man to help fix him on the Gebbet att Brid [Bird] Island[2] 12.10

per me

ROBERT DOBNEY

[Footnote 2: "On Tuesday the 2d instant, were executed here, for Piracy, John Rose Archer, Quarter Master, aged about 27 years, and William White, aged about 22 years. After their Death they were conveyed in Boats down to an Island, where White was buried, and the Quarter Master was hung up in Irons, to be a Spectacle, and so a Warning to others." _Boston Gazette_, June 8, 1724. Bird Island, which has now disappeared, was a small island in Boston harbor, lying between Noddle's Island (East Boston) and Governor's Island, about a mile and a half from the town. Six days after the execution, Jeremiah b.u.mstead records in his diary, "My wife and Jery and Betty [a boy of 16 and a girl of 17], David Cunningham and his wife, and 6 more, went to the castle to Governors Island, and to see the piratte in Gibbits att Bird Island." _N.E. Hist. Gen. Reg._, XV. 202.]

_124. Bill of Edward Stanbridge. June 2, 1724._[1]

[Footnote 1: Ma.s.s. Archives, vol. 63, p. 402. Edward Stanbridge was the provost marshal; see doc. no. 119.]

June 2d The Province of the Ma.s.sachusetts Bay to 1724 Edwd. Stanbridge, Dr

for Sundrys by him Expended being Marshall And by Order of A Speciall Cort of Admiralty for the Execution of John Rose Archer and William White two Pirates, Viz.

To the Executoner for his Service I paid him[2] 12.00. 0

To Mr Joseph Parsons[3] for Cordage I paid his Bill 2.17. 6

To Boat hire and Labourers to help Sett the Gibet And there attendance at the Execution and Diging the Grave for White 3.10. 8

To Expences on the Sheriefs officers and Cunstables after the Exicution att Mrs.

Mary Gilberts her Bill[4] 3.15. 8 -------- 22. 3.10

To Georg Mayo, Blockmaker, his Bill 1. 5.00 -------- 23. 8.10

E: Excepted.[5]

per EDWARD STANBRIDG.

[Footnote 2: Apparently represented by the preceding bill, doc. no.

123.]

[Footnote 3: One of the constables of Boston.]

[Footnote 4: July 6, 1719, the selectmen of Boston licensed Mary Gilbert to sell strong drink as an innholder at the north end of Fish Street. Boston Record Commissioners, _Reports_, XIII. 55. This considerable item represents what was necessary to restore the nerves of the provost marshal's attendants after an uncomfortable piece of work.]

[Footnote 5: Errors excepted.]

_125. Pet.i.tion of Nicholas Simons. May, 1725._[1]

[Footnote 1: Ma.n.u.script room, New York Public Library.]

To the Honourable Samuel Cranston Esqr Governour of his Majestys Colony of Rhode Island etc. And the Hon'ble a.s.sistants and the Hon'ble Generall a.s.sembly of the Said Colony,

The Pet.i.tion of Nicholas Simons Mariner Humbly Sheweth

That Whereas the Ship _John and Mary_ belonging to Boston whereof Thomas Glen was late Master was Taken by Shipton a Pirate in the month of December last in the Bay of Hondoras And the Said Nicolas Simons haveing been aforeced[2] man for Some time on board the Said Pirate was Ordered by the said Shipton to take the Command of the Said Ship _John and Mary_ as navigator and two Pirates with him and follow the Said Pirate--But after the Said Simmons Parted with the Pirate Shipton he released the men that were bound on board the Said Ship _John and Mary_ and Consulted with them about the destroying the three Pirates which the said Simons and Barlow aforced man and Perry mate of the Said Merchant Ship Effected And they lately carried the Said Ship into Rhod Island whereby the Owners have Recovered their Said Ship and her Cargoe,[3]

[Footnote 2: A forced.]

[Footnote 3: A vote of the general a.s.sembly in May, 1725, _Records of the Colony of R.I._, IV. 361, mentions three quite other persons as claiming to have effected the recapture. No action on Simons's pet.i.tion is noted in the records.]

And in as much as the Said Nicholas Simons is now under a necessity to leave off his Employment of a Mariner for fear of the Sd. Pirates And has a new Employment to Seek for his Support he being in but low Circ.u.mstances,

He therefore most humbly prays your Honours would be pleased to take the premisses into your most just and wise consideration and bestow of your Bounty upon him as in your accustomed goodness you Shall See meet.

And your Peti'r as in Duty Bound Shall ever pray etc

Boston May NICHOLAS SIMONS.

1725

The above pet.i.tioner was the principle person in Resqueing the Ship out of the hands of the pirats, and had Incouragem't of a gratuity by this a.s.sembly for his good Service.

SAM'L CRANSTON Go'r

Past to the house of Deputys by order RICHD. WARD Record'r

_126. Instructions of George II. to Captains of Privateers. November 30, 1739._[1]

[Footnote 1: Opening pages of "vol. V." (1739-1745) of the ma.n.u.script records of the vice-admiralty court held at Boston. These five volumes of records are now deposited with the Suffolk Court Files. They are described by Mr. John n.o.ble in _Pubs. Col. Soc. Ma.s.s._, VIII. 169. A summary of all the cases in this particular volume, wrongly declared then to be the only one extant, is presented in the appendix to B.R.