Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period Part 8

[Footnote 2: Deputy-governor of Ma.s.sachusetts 1665-1671.]

Thus donne and pa.s.sed at London aforesaid in the presence of Captaine John Tailor of London, merchant,[3] and Mr. Nicholas Corsellis alsoe of London, merchant, as witnesses hereunto required.

[Footnote 3: Willoughby's father-in-law. Waters, _Genealogical Gleanings_, pp. 970-977. Corsellis was a Dutch merchant in London.]

JOHN TAYLOR. WILLIAM DAVIDSON.

NICOLAS CORSELLIS.

In testimonium veritatis WM. ALLEN, Not's Pub'cus, 1664

THE _PROVIDENCE_.

_28. Certificate of Cornelius de Lincourt. April 12/22, 1673._[1]

[Footnote 1: Suffolk Court Files, Boston, no. 1257, paper 11. There was war between England and the United Provinces, 1672-1674. The Dutch privateer _'s Landswelvaren_ (Commonweal) captures the _Providence_ on April 4/14, 1673, and puts on board her a prize crew. The two vessels become separated. On April 11/21 the _'s Landswelvaren_ makes prize of the ketch mentioned in this doc.u.ment, in which Captain de Lincourt presents the ketch, by way of consolation, to the master of the _Providence_. On April 12/22 the prize crew of the _Providence_, by a ruse, possesses itself of the _Little Barkley_, but presently both English crews separately recover possession of their vessels, and they separately make their way to Boston. Raddon, master of the _Providence_, arrives there later.]

Lett it bee knowne to all kings, princes and potentates in Christendom and to all those that it may Concerne, how that upon the 21th day of aprill 1673 before the River of Virginia have taken and overmastered Under the Comition of his highness my lord prince William the third of Oringe, taken a Cetch called _Dergens_ [?] Coming from Boston out of new england, goeing to the River of Virginia, whearof was skiper John c.o.x, which ketch I was intended for to burne or to sinck, but after severall Considerations I doe give the same ketch and all that belongs unto her freely and liberaly unto the honorable Capt. Thomas Raddon and Mr. Joseph Fox, whoe both likewise weare taken by mee, to have and to hold as their owne Ketch and to dispose thereof to their owne Content.

Signed by mee in the Ship Called _Slanswelvarn_ at sea the 22th day of Aprill 1673.

CORNELIS DE LINCOURT.

Stierman, JAN CORNELISSE.

Stierman, PIETER GERRITSZ.

bootsman,[2] THOMAS SEVERS.

Constapel,[3] ANTONI FERO.

Schyman,[4] JACOB WALLE.

[Footnote 2: Boatswain.]

[Footnote 3: Gunner.]

[Footnote 4: Boatswain's mate.]

I the underwritten do acknowledge that this above mentioned act is done and signed in the presence of my officers and signed by them before skiper c.o.x, Master of the above mentioned ketch, dated as above.

CORNELIOUS DELINCOURT.

Copia vera. G. SWERINGEN.

_29. Deposition of John Johnson and Henry Harris. April 26, 1673._[1]

[Footnote 1: Suffolk Court Files, Boston, no. 1257, paper 19.]

The depositions of John Johnson, aged 18 yeers, steersman, and Henry Harris, aged about 24 yeers:

These depon'ts testifie and say that they these deponts together with severall other seamen belonging unto Flushing, under the comand of Capt. Cornelious Lincort, Comand'r of the shipp _Slandt Welvaeren_, in English the _Comonwelth_, by vertu of a Comisson from his highness the prince of orange, we came up with the _Providence_ of Falmouth (who was bound to Virginia) in the Lat.i.tude of 36: and 40: and tooke her, which when taken these depon'ts and ten more were put on bord her to Keepe and secure her, and after wee had been on bord some hours, in the night wee lost our own shipp and saw them no more, and about seven dayes after wee came up with a Londoner and thinking to take him, four of our company went on bord in the night but never returned, and the next day after the English that belonged to the sd Ship _Providence_, and some of the other ship before mencioned that wee had on bord with us prisoners, rose and retook her and suppressed us and have brought sd shipp and us into Piscattay River.

Grt Island[2] the 26th April 1673. taken upon oath by the persons above named before me

[Footnote 2: Great Island, lying in the mouth of the Piscataqua River; at that time a part of Portsmouth, now New Castle, N.H.]

ELIAS STILEMAN, Comisr.[3]

[Footnote 3: From 1658 to 1679, under the Ma.s.sachusetts government of New Hampshire, Elias Stileman was a magistrate and county commissioner for Portsmouth.]

_30. Pet.i.tion of Edward Bant. About April 28, 1673._[1]

[Footnote 1: Suffolk Court Files, Boston, no. 1257, paper 1.]

To the Honorable County Court now sitting in Boston The humble pet.i.tion of Edward Bant on the Behalf of himself and the rest of the Company belonging unto the Ship called the _Little Barklay_, being five men in number, Humbly sheweth

That they your Hon'rs pet.i.tioners, with the sd ship, were taken about Eighty Leagues East and by North from the Capes of Virginia by a Prize formerly taken by Capt. Cornelius Lincoint, commander of a ship belonging to Flushing called in English the _Commonwealth_. And the next day following the Commander of the said prize went on board the said _Barkley_, intending to have taken out her goods to put them on board his own vessell, whilst wee your pet.i.t'rs were on board his vessell as prisoners held in the Hold. And then the English Company remaining on board the sd. _Barkley_ surprized them, the sd. Commander and his Company, and sailed away with them. And about six hours after, your pet.i.tioners, together with the other English men belonging to the aforesd prize (when in possession of the English), made an Insurrection and took the ship by violence from the Dutch men and have brought her into the harbour at Puscataqua with eight Dutch men prisoners in her, and her goods and Loading secured in the wearhouse of Mr. Nathaniell Fryer.[2]

[Footnote 2: Merchant and county commissioner in Portsmouth.]

Whereupon your Hon'rs serious wise Consideration of the premises your pet.i.tioners humbly pray your Hon'rs be pleased to order what salvage they shall have out of the said ship and cargo now in Puscataqua, and that with all expedition that may be, because they are all Strangers and willing[3] to returne to their hoames, And lying here upon great Charges, having nothing but what they borrow and cloathes on their back. And as in duty bound they shall pray for your prosperity, etc.

[Footnote 3: _I.e._, desirous.]

8 May 1673. At a Court of a.s.sistants on adjourmt.

In ans'r to the pet.i.tion of Edward Bant in behalfe of himself and fower seamen, the Court judgeth it meet to order that Mr. Nathaniel Fryer allow and pay the sum of fiveteene pounds for their salvage, taking their receipts for the same.

past. EDW. RAWSON, Secre'ty.

_31. Order of the Suffolk County Court. April 29, 1673._[1]

[Footnote 1: Suffolk Court Files, no. 1257, paper 6.]

At a County Court held at Boston Aprill 29th 1673.

In answer to the pet.i.tion presented to this Court by Henry King and Edward Bant who lately brought into the River of Piscataquay the Ship _Providence_ of Falmoth, whereof said King was Mate in a voiadge from England to Virginia, in which voiadge they were surprized by a Dutch man of War,[2] and by the Pet.i.tioners and Company rescued out of theire hands: who have since Surrendred the said Ship and her loading into the hands of Mr. Nathaniel Fryer for the Securing and looking after both in behalf of the Owners.

[Footnote 2: The term then included privateers. The _'s Landswelvaren_ was not a public vessel.]

This Court doe order and Empower Mr. Elias Stileman and Mr. Henry Deering, together with said Fryer, or any two of them, to take a particular acco't of the state of said ship, and to Inventory the Goods brought in by and belonging to her, and to make provition for the Securing of both for the right Owners, making a return thereof to the present Dept. Govr. by the 7th of May next, and the said Fryer is further ordered to disburse for the Company arrived in the said Ship what may bee for the Supply of theire present necessities, and also order that hee take care that the 8 Dutch men brought in prisoners in the saide Ship bee forthwith brought to Boston before Authority, to be disposed of as the matter may require, and for the other parts of the pet.i.tion's, touching Salvage or wages, The Court refers them to the Counsell at theire next meeting.

Copia vera per ISAAC ADDINGTON, Cler.[3]

[Footnote 3: Afterward speaker 1685, a.s.sistant 1686, councillor and secretary of the province 1692-1715.]

_32. Pet.i.tion of Henry King. April 30, 1673._[1]