Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period Part 54

[Footnote 3: Of Newport, the chief owner.]

[Footnote 4: A height at the southwestern extremity of Newport, on which the colony had just erected a watch-tower.]

_Sat.u.r.day 6th._ Weighd from Under Connanicutt att 4 AM. with a Small Breeze of wind. Mett severall Vessells bound to Newport and Boston.

att 7 PM. Anch.o.r.ed Under Block Island over against the 10000 Pear.[5]

Bought 10s. worth of Codfish for the people.

[Footnote 5: In 1735 the Rhode Island a.s.sembly had appropriated 1200 for building a new pier at the harbor of Block Island (_R.I. Col.

Recs._, IV. 502, 508, 512), and had not appropriated more since; but since the progress made had not been great, the quartermaster may be speaking in the vein of sarcastic prophecy.]

_Sunday 7th._ About 4 AM. Weighd from Block Island mett a Conneticutt Sloop bound to York. kept Compa. with him all that day and Night and Munday the 8th Instant att 9 PM. Anchord in Huntington Bay.[6]

[Footnote 6: On the north sh.o.r.e of Long Island.]

_Munday 9th [8th]._ Weigh'd from Huntington Bay att 3 PM.[7] Saw the Same Sloop who had Sail'd all the Night. att 11 Came to the white Stone[8] fired a Gun and beat the Drum to lett them know what we was.

the Ferry boat Came off and told Us that we Cou'd not Gett hands att York for the Sloops fitted by the Country[9] had Gott them all. att 12 Came to anchor att the 2 brothers.[10] att 4 took an Acct. of all the provisions on Board with the Cost together with a List of all the people on Board, as on the other Side.[10a]

[Footnote 7: Error for 3 A.M., probably.]

[Footnote 8: Whitestone Point, on the south side of the East River.]

[Footnote 9: _I.e._, by the province of New York; see under June 10.]

[Footnote 10: North Brother and South Brother islands, in the East River, just outside of h.e.l.l Gate.]

[Footnote 10a: See p. 384.]

Price a hand that Came with Us from Rhode Island askt Leave to Go to York to See his Wife. Sett a ---- Crazy fellow a sh.o.a.r not thinking him fitt to proceed that Voyage, his name Unknown to me.

_Wednesday 10th._ This Morning about 5 AM. Capt. Freebody went up to York in the pinnace to Gett provisions and Leave to beat about for more hands. att 1 PM. the Pinnace Returned and brought word to the Capt. from Mr. Freebody that he had waited on his Honour the Govr.[11]

and that he wou'd not Give him leave to beat up for Voluntiers. the Chief Reason he Gave was that the City was thined of hands by the 2 Country Sloops that were fitted out by the Council to Crueze after the Spanish privateers on the Coast and that his Grace the Duke of Newcastle had wrote him word[12] that if Admiral Vernon or Genl.

Wentworth shoud writte for more Recruits to Use his Endeavours to Gett them, so that he could not Give Encouragem't to any privateers to take their men away. Three of the hands that went up to York left us, Viz.

George Densey, John Holmes and William Webster. Att 4 PM. Edward Sampford our Pilott went a sh.o.a.r in a Conoe with four more hands without Leave from the Capt. when he Came on Board again the Capt.

talkt to him and found that he was a Mutineous Quarelsome fellow so Ordered him to bundle up his Clothes and Go a sh.o.a.re for Good. he Carryed with him 5 more hands, Viz. Duncan McKenley, Foelix Burn, John Smith, Humphry Walters and John Taylor (poor Encouragement to Gett hands when they leave Us so fast). After they were Gone I read the Articles to those on Board who Readily Signed So hope we shall Lead a peaceable Life. Remains out of the 41 hands that Came with Us from Rhode Island, 29 hands.

[Footnote 11: George Clarke, lieutenant-governor 1736-1743.]

[Footnote 12: Newcastle's letter of Dec. 4, 1740, which Clarke had received May 7, 1741. _N.Y. Col. Docs._, VI. 187. It was doubtless similar to the letter of the same date to the governor of Rhode Island, printed in Miss Kimball's _Correspondence of the Colonial Governors of Rhode Island_, I. 187. Newcastle was secretary of state.

Vernon and Wentworth had already failed to capture Cartagena, but this was not yet known in New York.]

_Account of the Provisions taken on Board the Sloop Revenge att Rhode Island, Viz._

Beef 50 bb. at 7. 10 per bb. 375 Pork 18 bb. 12 per bb. 216 Flowr 64 bb. 8 per bb. 512 Bread 50 C. 4 per C. 200 Beans 10 bus. 8 Rum 100 Gall. 10s. per Ga. 50 Sugar 1C.2[13] 8 per C. 12 Hogs fatt a Cagg[14] 7 ----- 1380 =====

[Footnote 13: _I.e._, one hundred (112 lbs.) and two quarters (56 lbs.).]

[Footnote 14: Keg.]

_List of People on Board the Sloop Revenge who Saild with us from Rhode Island._

------------------+---------------+ Names Quality ------------------+---------------+ John Freebody Pa.s.senger Benjn. Norton Commander Elisha Luther Master Peter Vezian Capt. Qr. Mr. John Gillmore Mate James Avery Boatswain John Griffith Gunner Edwd. Sampford Pilott Robert Little Carpenter Humphry Walters Marriner Duncan McKinley Do. James Barker Do. Thos. Colson Do. John Holmes Do. James Ogleby Do. Andrew Wharton Do. Saml. Webster Do. Joseph Frisle Do. John Swan Do. Benj. Blanchard Mariner Alexr. Henry Do. Jno. Brown Do. James Mackon Do. Timothy Northwood Do. George Densey Do. John Smith Do. Gideon Potter Do. John Bennett Do. John Taylor Do. Foelix Burn Do. Joseph Ferrow Do. William Austin Do. William Frisle Do. William Higgins Do. John Wright Do. Richard Norton Capt. Negro Edward Almy Cook Saml. Kerby Mate Negro Danl. Walker Negro ------------------+---------------+

_Thursday 11th._ Att 6 AM. I went to York by Order of the Capt. to wait on Capt. Freebody. he wrote to Our Capt. to know if he thought proper to Come to York or Return back again thro the Narrows. he left it Intirely with him to determine. Returned about 2 PM. brought some fresh provisions on board.

_Friday 12._ Went to York with a Letter from the Capt. to Mr. Freebody who Ordered the Vessell up to York. Three of Our hands left me to See some Negroes burnt, Viz. Joseph Ferrow, John Wright and Benjn.

Blanchard.[15] took a pilott in to bring the Vessell up and so Returned on board att 3 PM.

[Footnote 15: The _Revenge_ arrived at New York at the very height of the trials for the "Negro Conspiracy", for which, after extraordinary public excitement, thirteen negroes were burned at the stake, eighteen hanged, and seventy transported. On this day, June 12, the three white princ.i.p.als, John Hughson, his wife, and Margaret Kerry, were hanged, and three negroes, Albany, Curacao d.i.c.k, and Francis, were burned.

Daniel Horsmanden, _Journal of the Proceedings in the Detection_, etc.

(New York, 1744).]

_Sat.u.r.day 13._ Att 5 AM. weighd from the 2 Brothers and went to York att 7. Anchor'd off the Town. Saluted it with 7 Guns. Shipt 7 hands to proceed the voyage, Viz. Geo. Benson, Indian, George Tallady, Jackson, McKenney, Marshall.

_Sunday 14th._ Between 6 and 7 AM. Came in a Brigt. from Aberdeen with 40 Servants[16] but brings no News. Shipt a hand Woodell by Name.

[Footnote 16: Indented servants.]

_Munday 15._ Nothing Remarkable these 24 hours.

_Tuesday 16._ Sent the pinnace a Sh.o.a.r and brought off 6 bb. of Beef.

_Wednesday 17._ Att 10 AM. the Pilott Came on board weighd Anchor and fell down to the Narrows between Stratton Island[17] and Long Island.

Att 3 PM. went up to York and brought down with me 3 hands, Ralph Gouch, John Taylor and Andrew Fielding.

[Footnote 17: Staten.]

_Thusday 18th._ Att 11 AM. Our Pilott Came on Board with 4 of Our Men that had Left us when the Capt. Turned Edward Sampford a Sh.o.a.r, George Densey, Foelix Burn, Duncan McKenley and John Holmes, who promised faithfully to proceed the Voyage. Att 2 PM. the Capt. Ordered Our Gunner to deliver Arms to them that had none. 25 hands fitted themselves. Great fireing att Our Buoy Supposing him a Spaniard. I hope to G.o.d that their Courage may be as Good if Ever they meet with any.

_Friday 19th._ Came in a Brigt. from Ireland Capt. Long with pa.s.sengers but brings no Strange News. Went to York. Shipt 2 hands, M.

Dame and Jackson.

_Sat.u.r.day 20th._ Att 10 AM. Came in the _Squirill_ Man of Warr Capt.

Warren Come from Jamaica[18] who Inform'd us that Amiral Vernon had taken all the Forts att Carthagena Except one and the Town. We Saluted him with 3 Guns having no more Loaded. he Return'd us one. We Gave three Chears which was Returned by the Ship. he further told the Capt.

that if he wou'd Come up to York he'd put him in a Route which wou'd be of Service to his Voyage. Att 3 PM. Came on Board Capt. Wright to demand his Servant Andw. Fielding, which he had Seen. The Master went up to York to Gett some hands that had promist to Come away by night and Carry'd With him Andw. Fielding.

[Footnote 18: The _Squirrel_ had gone down to Jamaica with reinforcements. _N.Y. Col. Docs._, VI. 170. The news brought was unduly favorable, as the event proved. Captain Warren, afterward Vice-Adm. Sir Peter Warren, commanded in 1745 all the naval forces that took part in the reduction of Louisbourg. He was a brother-in-law of Chief-justice James DeLancey, and uncle of Sir John Johnson.]

_Sunday 21._ About 4 AM. The Master Came on board who had been att York to Gett hands but mett with no Success, farr from it for he Carry'd 4 hands with him but brought back but two.

_Munday 22d._ The Capt. went up to York to wait on Capt. Warren who was as Good as his Word. Att 4 Came on Board again and brought 2 bb.

of beef and a fresh hand, Quinton Somerwood. Att 9 PM. hailed a Sloop that Came from the Jerseys, Bennett Mast., On Board of w'ch was Capt.

Potter of Rhode Island.[19]

[Footnote 19: Presumably Simeon Potter of Bristol, a noted sea-captain; on him and the _Prince Charles of Lorraine_, see docs.