CAPTAIN KIDD, HIS TREASURE[1]
"You captains brave and bold, hear our cries, hear our cries,
You captains brave and bold, hear our cries.
You captains brave and bold, though you seem uncontrolled,
Don't for the sake of gold lose your souls, lose your souls,
Don't for the sake of gold lose your souls."
(_From the old Kidd ballad._)
The negotiations between Kidd and the Earl of Bellomont were no more
creditable to the royal governor than to the alleged pirate. Already
the noble partners in England were bombarded with awkward questions
concerning the luckless enterprise, and Bellomont, anxious to clear
himself and his friends, was for getting hold of Kidd and putting him
in Boston jail at the earliest possible moment. He dared not reveal
the true status of affairs to Kidd by means of correspondence lest that
wary bird escape him, and he therefore tried to coax him nearer in a
letter sent back in care of Emmot, that experienced legal adviser of
pirates in distress. This letter of Bellomont was dated June 19, 1699,
and had this to say:
_Captain Kidd:_
Mr. Emmot came to me last Tuesday night late, telling me he came from
you, but was shy of telling me where he parted with you, nor did I
press him to it. He told me you came to Oyster Bay in Nassau Island
and sent for him to New York. He proposed to me from you that I would
grant you a pardon. I answered that I had never granted one yet, and
that I had set myself a safe rule not to grant a pardon to anybody
whatsoever without the King's express leave or command. He told me you
declared and protested your innocence, and that if your men could be
persuaded to follow your example, you would make no manner of scruple
of coming to this port or any other within her Majestie's Dominions;
that you owned there were two ships taken but that your men did it
violently against your will and had us'd you barbarously in imprisoning
you and treating you ill most part of the Voyage, and often attempting
to murder you.
Mr. Emmot delivered me two French passes taken on board the two ships
which your men rifled, which passes I have in my custody and I am apt
to believe they will be a good Article to justifie you if the peace
were not, by the Treaty between England and France, to operate in that
part of the world at the time the hostility was committed, as I almost
confident it was not to do! Mr. Emmot also told me that you had to
about the value of 10,000 pounds in the Sloop with you, and that you
had left a Ship somewhere off the coast of Hispaniola in which there
was to the Value of 30,000 pounds more which you had left in safe hands
and had promised to go to your people in that Ship within three months
to fetch them with you to a safe harbour.
These are all the material particulars I can recollect that passed
between Mr. Emmot and me, only this, that you showed a great sense of
Honour and Justice in professing with many asseverations your settled
and serious design all along to do honor to your Commission and never
to do the least thing contrary to your duty and allegiance to the King.
And this I have to say in your defense that several persons at New York
who I can bring to evidence it, if there be occasion, did tell me that
by several advices from Madagascar and that part of the world, they
were informed of your men revolting from you in one place, which I am
pretty sure they said was at Madagascar; and that others of them
compelled you much against your will to take and rifle two Ships.
I have advised with his Majesty's Council and showed them this letter
this afternoon, and they are of opinion that if your case be so clear
as you (or Mr. Emmot for you) have said, that you may safely come
hither, and be equipped and fitted out to go and fetch the other Ship,
and I make no manner of doubt but to obtain the King's pardon for you
and those few men you have left, who I understand have been faithful to
you and refused as well as you to dishonor the Commission you had from
England.
I assure you on my word and on my honor I will performe nicely what I
have now promised, tho' this I declare before hand that whatever
treasure of goods you bring hither, I will not meddle with the least
bit of them, but they shall be left with such trusty persons as the
Council will advise until I receive orders from England how they shall
be disposed of. Mr. Campbell will satisfie you that this that I have
now written is the Sense of the Council and of
YOUR HUMBLE SERVANT.
(Not signed but endorsed, "A true copy, Bellomont.")
These were fair words but not as sincere as might have been. Governor
Bellomont was anxious to lay hands on Kidd by fair means or foul, and
in the light of subsequent events this letter appears as a disingenuous
decoy. It was carried back to Narragansett Bay by Emmot, and with him
Bellomont sent one Duncan Campbell, postmaster of Boston, as an
authorized agent to advance the negotiations. Campbell was a Scotchman
who had been a friend of Kidd. He is mentioned in John Dunton's
"Letter Written from New England, A. D. 1686."
"I rambled to the Scotch book-seller, one Campbell. He is a brisk
young fellow that dresses All-a-mode, and sets himself off to the best
Advantage, and yet thrives apace. I am told (and for his sake I wish
it may be true) that a Young Lady of Great Fortune has married him."
In reply to Bellomont's letter, thus delivered, Captain Kidd replied as
follows:
FROM BLOCK ISLAND ROAD, ON BOARD THE SLOOP ST. ANTONIO,
June 24th, 1699.
_May It please your Excellencie_:
I am hon'rd with your Lordship's kind letter of ye 19th., Current by
Mr. Campbell which came to my hands this day, for which I return my
most hearty thanks. I cannot but blame myself for not writing to your
Lordship before this time, knowing it was my duty, but the clamorous
and false stories that has been reported of me made me fearful of
writing or coming into any harbor till I could hear from your Lordship.
I note the contents of your Lordship's letter as to what Mr. Emmot and
Mr. Campbell Informed your Lordship of my proceedings. I do affirm it
to be true, and a great deal more may be said of the abuses of my men
and the hardships I have undergone to preserve the Ship and what goods
my men had left. Ninety-five men went away from me in one day and went
on board the _Moca Frigott_, Captain Robert Cullifer, Commander, who
went away to the Red Seas and committed several acts of pyracy as I am
informed, and am afraid that because of the men formerly belonging to
my Galley, the report is gone home against me to the East India
Companee.
A Sheet of paper will not contain what may be said of the care I took
to preserve the Owners' interest and to come home to clear up my own
Innocency. I do further declare and protest that I never did in the
least act Contrary to the King's Commission, nor to the Reputation of
my honorable Owners, and doubt not but I shall be able to make my
Innocency appear, or else I had no need to come to these parts of the
world, if it were not for that, and my owners' Interest.
There is five or six passengers that came from Madagascar to assist me
in bringing the Ship home, and about ten of my own men that came with
me would not venture to go into Boston till Mr. Campbell had Ingaged
body for body for them that they should not be molested while I staid
at Boston, or till I returned with the ship. I doubt not but your
Lordship will write to England in my favor and for these few men that
are left. I wish your Lordship would persuade Mr. Campbell to go home
to England with your Lordship's letters, who will be able to give
account of our affairs and diligently forward the same that there may
be speedy answer from England.
I desired Mr. Campbell to buy a thousand weight of rigging for the
fitting of the Ship, to bring her to Boston, that I may not be delay'd
when I come there. Upon receiving your Lordship's letter I am making
the best of my way for Boston. This with my humble duty to your
Lordship and the Countess is what offers from,
My Lord, Your Excellency's
Most humble and dutyfull Servant,
WM. KIDD.
Notwithstanding these expressions of confidence, Kidd suspected
Bellomont's intentions and decided to leave his treasure in safe hands
instead of carrying it to Boston with him. Now follows the documentary
narrative of the only authenticated buried treasure of Captain Kidd and
the proofs that he had no other booty of any account. At the eastern
end of Long Island Sound is a beautiful wooded island of three thousand
acres which has been owned by the Gardiner family as a manor since the
first of them, Lionel Gardiner, obtained a royal grant almost three
centuries ago. In June of 1699, John Gardiner, third of the line of
proprietors, sighted a strange sloop anchored in his island harbor, and
rowed out to make the acquaintance of Captain William Kidd who had
crossed from Narragansett Bay in the San Antonio. What happened
between them and how the treasure was buried and dug up is told in the
official testimony of John Gardiner, dated July 17th, 1699.
"THE NARRATIVE OF JOHN GARD(I)NER OF GARD(I)NER ISLAND, ALIAS ISLE OF
WIGHT, RELATING TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM KIDD.
That about twenty days ago Mr. Emmot of New York came to the Narrator's
house and desired a boat to go to New York, telling the Narrator he
came from my Lord at Boston, whereupon the Narrator furnished Mr. Emmot
with a boat and he went for New York. And that evening the Narrator
saw a Sloop with six guns riding an Anchor off Gardiner's Island and
two days afterwards in the evening the Narrator went on board said
Sloop to enquire what she was.
And so soon as he came on board, Capt. Kidd (then unknown to the
Narrator) asked him how himself and family did, telling him that he,
the said Kidd, was going to my Lord at Boston, and desired the Narrator
to carry three Negroes, two boys and a girl ashore to keep till he, the
said Kidd, or his order should call for them, which the Narrator
accordingly did.
That about two hours after the Narrator had got the said Negroes
ashore, Capt. Kidd sent his boat ashore with two bales of goods and a
Negro boy; and the morning after, the said Kidd desired the Narrator to
come immediately on board and bring six Sheep with him for his voyage
for Boston, which the Narrator did. Kidd asked him to spare a barrel
of Cyder, which the Narrator with great importunity consented to, and
sent two of his men for it, who brought the Cyder on board said Sloop.
Whilst the men were gone for the Cyder, Capt. Kidd offered the Narrator
several pieces of damnified[2] Muslin and Bengali as a present to his
Wife, which the said Kidd put in a bagg and gave the Narrator. And
about a quarter of an hour afterwards the said Kidd took up two or
three (more) pieces of damnified Muslin and gave the Narrator for his
proper use.
And the Narrator's men then coming on board with the said barrel of
Cyder as aforesaid, Kidd gave them a piece of Arabian gold for their
trouble and also for bringing him word. Then the said Kidd, ready to
sail, told this Narrator he would pay him for the Cyder, to which the
Narrator answered that he was already satisfied for it by the Present
made to his wife. And it was observed that some of Kidd's men gave to
the Narrator's men some inconsiderable things of small value which were
Muslins for neck-cloths.
And then the Narrator tooke leave of the said Kidd and went ashore and
at parting the said Kidd fired four guns and stood for Block Island.
About three days afterwards, said Kidd sent the Master of the Sloop and
one Clark in his boat for the Narrator who went on board with them, and
the said Kidd desired him to take ashore with him and keep for him a
Chest and a box of Gold and a bundle of Quilts and four bales of Goods,
which box of Gold the said Kidd told the Narrator was intended for my
Lord. And the Narrator complied with the request and took on Shore the
said Chest, box of Gold, quilts and bales goods.
And the Narrator further saith that two of Kidd's crew who went by the
names of Cooke and Parrat delivered to him, the Narrator, two baggs of
Silver which they said weighed thirty pound weight, for which he gave
receipt. And that another of Kidd's men delivered to the Narrator a
small bundle of gold and gold dust of about a pound weight to keep for
him, and did present the Narrator with a sash and a pair of wortsed
stockins. And just before the Sloop sailed, Capt. Kidd presented the
Narrator with a bagg of Sugar, and then took leave and sailed for
Boston.
And the Narrator further saith he knew nothing of Kidd's being
proclaimed a Pyrate, and if he had, he durst not have acted otherwise
than he had done, having no force to oppose them and for that he hath
formerly been threatened to be killed by Privateers if he should carry
unkindly to them.
The within named Narrator further saith that while Capt. Kidd lay with
his Sloop at Gardner's Island, there was a New York Sloop whereof one
Coster is master, and his mate was a little black man, unknown by name,
who as it is was said, had been formerly Capt. Kidd's quartermaster,
and another Sloop belonging to New Yorke, Jacob Fenick, Master, both
which lay near to Kidd's Sloop three days together. And whilst the
Narrator was on board with Capt. Kidd, there was several bales of Goods
put on board the other two Sloops aforesaid, and the said two Sloops
sailed up the Sound. After which Kidd sailed with his sloop for Block
Island; and being absent by the space of three days, returned to
Gardner's Island again in Company of another Sloop belonging to New
York, Cornelius Quick, Master, on board of which were one Thomas Clarke
of Setauket, commonly called Whisking Clarke, and one Harrison of
Jamaica, father to a boy that was with Capt. Kidd, and Capt. Kidd's
Wife was then on board his own Sloop.
And Quick remained with his Sloop there from noon to the evening of the
same day, and took on board two Chests that came out of Kidd's Sloop,
under the observance of this Narrator, and he believes several Goods
more and then Sailed up the Sound. Kidd remained there with his Sloop
until next morning, and then set sail intending, as he said, for
Boston. Further the Narrator saith that the next day after Quick
sailed with his Sloop from Gardner's Island he saw him turning out of a
Bay called Oyster Pan Bay, altho' the wind was all the time fair to
carry him up the Sound. The Narrator supposes he went in thither to
land some Goods.
JOHN GARDINER.
Boston, July 17th, 1699.
The Narrator, John Gardiner, under Oath before his Excellency and
Council unto the truth of his Narrative in this sheet of paper.
ADDINGTON, Sec'ry."
This artless recital has every earmark of truth, and it was confirmed
in detail by other witnesses and later events. Before we fall to
digging up the treasure of Gardiner's Island, carried ashore in the
"Chest and box of Gold," it is well to follow those other goods which
were carried away in the sloops about which so much has been said by
John Gardiner. No more is heard of that alluring figure, "the little
black man, unknown by name, who as it was said had been formerly Capt.
Kidd's Quarter-Master," but "Whisking" Clarke was duly overhauled. All
of the plunder transferred from Kidd's sloop to those other craft was
consigned to him, and some of it was put ashore at Stamford, Conn., in
charge of a Major Sellick who had a warehouse hard by the Sound.
Clarke was arrested by order of Bellomont and gave a bond of L12,000
that he would deliver up all to the government. This he did, without
doubt, but legend has been busy with this enterprising "Whisking"
Clarke.
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[Illustration: John Gardiner's sworn statement of the goods and
treasure left with him by Kidd.]
Governor Bellomont's endorsement of the official inventory of Kidd's
treasure found on Gardiner's Island.
======================================================================
In the Connecticut River off the "upper end of Pine Meadow," near
Northfield, Mass., is Clarke's Island which was granted by the town to
William Clarke in 1686, and confirmed to his heirs in 1723, It then
contained ten and three-fourth acres, and was a secluded spot, well
covered with trees. Later, what with cutting off the woods and the
work of the freshets, a large part of the island was washed away. It
was here, tradition has it, that some of Kidd's treasure was hidden by
"Whisking" Clarke.
The local story is that Kidd and his men ascended the river, though how
they got over the series of falls is not explained, and made a landing
at Clarke's Island. Here, having placed the chest in a hole, they
sacrificed by lot one of their number and laid his body on top of the
treasure in order that his ghost might forever defend it from
fortune-seekers. One Abner Field, after consulting a conjurer who
showed him precisely where the chest was buried resolved to risk a
tussle with the pirate's ghost, and with two friends waited in fear and
trembling for the auspicious time when the moon should be directly
overhead at midnight.
They were to work in silence, and to pray that no cock should crow
within earshot and break the spell. At length, one of them raised his
crow-bar for a mighty stroke, down it went, and clinked against metal.
"You've hit it," cried another, and alas, instantly the chest sank out
of reach, and the ghost appeared, and very angry it was. A moment
later, the devil himself popped from under the bank, ripped across the
island like a tornado and plunged into the river with a prodigious,
hissing splash. The treasure hunters flew for home, and told their
tale, but village rumor whispered it about that one Oliver Smith and a
confederate had impersonated the ghost and the energetic Evil One.
On October 20, 1699, Bellomont wrote in a letter to England:
"I have prevailed with Governor Winthrop of Connecticut to seize and
send Thomas Clarke of N. York prisoner hither. He has been on board
Kidd's sloop at the east end of Long Island and carried off to the
value of about 5000 pounds in goods and treasure (that we know of and
perhaps a great deal more) into Connecticut Colony; and thinking
himself safe from under our power, writ my Lt. Governor of New York a
very saucy letter and bade us defiance. I have ordered him to be
safely kept prisoner in the fort, because the gaol of New York is weak
and insufficient. And when orders come to me to send Kidd and his men
to England (which I long for impatiently), I will also send Clarke[3]
as an associate of Kidd."
Three days later, the Lieutenant Governor of New York wrote Bellomont
as follows:
"Clarke proffers 12,000 pounds good Security and will on oath deliver
up all the goods he hath been entrusted with from Kidd, provided he may
go and fetch them himself, but says he will rather die or be undone
than to bring his friends into a Predicament. I told him if he would
let me know where I might secure these goods or Bullion, I would
recommend his case to your Lordship's favour. He answered 'twas
impossible to recover anything until he went himself."
After leaving the bulk of his treasure on Gardiner's Island, Kidd
received another friendly message from Lord Bellomont, and was by now
persuaded that he could go to Boston without danger. With his wife on
board his sloop, and she stood by him staunchly, he laid a course
around Cape Cod and made port on the first day of July. Captain and
Mrs. William Kidd found lodgings in the house of their friend, Duncan
Campbell, and he walked unmolested for a week, passing some of the time
in the Blue Anchor tavern. "Being a very resolute fellow," wrote
Hutchinson, "when the officer arrested him in his lodgings, he
attempted to draw his sword, but a young gentleman who accompanied the
officer, laying hold of his arm, prevented him and he submitted."
In the letters of Lord Bellomont to the Lords of Plantations and
Colonies are fully related the particulars of Kidd's downfall and of
the finding of his treasure. On July 26th, he stated:
"_My Lords:_
"I gave your Lordships a short account of my taking Capt. Kidd in my
letter of the 8th. Inst. I shall in this letter confine myself wholly
to an account of my proceedings with him. On the 13th, of last month
Mr. Emmot, a lawyer of N. York came to me late at night and told me he
came from Capt. Kidd who was on the Coast with a Sloop, but would not
tell me where; that Kidd had brought 60 pounds weight of gold, about
100 weight of silver, and 17 bales of East India goods (which was less
by 24 bales than we have since got out of the sloop). That Kidd had
left behind him a great Ship near the coast of Hispaniola that nobody
but himself could find out, on board whereof there were in bale goods,
saltpetre, and other things to the value of at least 30,000 pounds.
That if I would give him a pardon, he would bring in the sloop and
goods hither and fetch his great ship and goods afterwards.
"Mr. Emmot delivered me that night two French passes which Kidd took on
board the two Moors' ships which were taken by him in the seas of India
(or as he alleged by his men against his will). One of the passes
wants a date in the original as in the copy I sent your Lordships, and
they go (No. 1) and (No. 2). On the said 19th. of June as I sat in
Council I wrote a letter to Capt. Kidd and showed it to the Council,
and they approving of it I despatched Mr. Campbell again to Kidd with
my said letter, a copy whereof goes (No. 4). Your Lordships may
observe that the promise I made Capt. Kidd in my said letter of a kind
reception and procuring the King's pardon for him, is conditional, that
is, provided he were as Innocent as he pretended to be. But I quickly
found sufficient cause to suspect him very guilty, by the many lies and
contradictions he told me.
"I was so much upon my guard with Kidd that he arriving here on
Saturday of this month, I would not see him but before witnesses; nor
have I ever seen him but in Council twice or thrice that we examined
him, and the day he was taken up by the Constable. It happened to be
by the door of my Lodging, and he rush'd in and came rushing to me, the
Constable after him. I had him not seiz'd till Thursday, the 6th Inst.
for I had a mind to discover where he had left the great Ship, and I
thought myself secure enough from his running away because I took care
not to give him the least umbrage or design of seizing him. Nor had I
till that day (that I produced my orders from Court for apprehending)
communicated them to anybody and I found it necessary to show my order
to the Council to animate them to join heartily with me in securing
Kidd and examining his affairs nicely,[4] ... discover what we could of
his behaviour in his whole voyage. Another reason why I took him up no
sooner was that he had brought his wife and children hither in his
Sloop with him who I believ'd he would not easily forsake.
"He being examined twice or thrice by me and the Council, and also some
of his men, I observed he seemed much disturbed, and the last time we
examined him I fancied he looked as if he were upon the wing and
resolved to run away. And the Gentlemen of the Council had some of
them the same thought with mine, so that I took their consent in
seizing and committing him. But the officers appointed to seize his
men were so careless as to let three or four of his men escape which
troubled me the more because they were old N. York Pyrates. The next
thing the Council and I did was to appoint a Committee of trusty
persons to search for the goods and treasure brought by Kidd and to
secure what they should find till the King's pleasure should be known
as to the disposition thereof, as my orders from Mr. Secretary Vernon
import. The said Committee were made up of two Gentlemen of the
Council, two merchants, and the Deputy Collector, whose names are to
the enclosed Inventory of the goods and treasure.
"They searched Kidd's lodgings and found hid and made up in two sea
beds a bag of gold dust and Ingots of the value of about 1000 pounds
and a bag of silver, part money and part pieces and piggs of silver,
value as set down in the said Inventory. In the above bag of gold were
several little bags of gold; all particulars are very justly and
exactly set down in the Inventory. For my part I have meddled with no
matter of thing under the management of the Council, and into the
Custody of the aforementioned Committee, that I might be free from the
suspicion and censure of the world.
"The enamel'd box mentioned in the beginning of the Inventory is that
which Kidd made a present of to my wife by Mr. Campbell, which I
delivered in Council to the said Committee to keep with the rest of the
treasure. There was in it a stone ring which we take to be a Bristol
stone. If it was true[5] it would be worth about 40 pounds, and there
was a small stone unset which we believe is also counterfeit, and a
sort of a Locket with four sparks which seem to be right diamonds: for
there's nobody that understands Jewels[6] ... box and all that's in it
were right, they cannot be worth above 60 pounds.
"Your Lordships will see in the middle of the Inventory a parcel of
treasure and Jewels delivered up by Mr. Gardiner of Gardiner's Island
in the province of New York and at the East end of Nassau Island, the
recovery and saving of which treasure is owing to my own care and
quickness. I heard by the greatest accident in the world the day Capt.
Kidd was committed, that a man[6] ... offered 30 pounds for a sloop to
carry him to Gardiner's Island, and Kidd having owned to burying some
gold on that Island (though he never mentioned to us any jewels nor do
I believe he would have own'd to the gold there but that he thought he
should himself be sent for it), I privately posted away a messenger to
Mr. Gardiner in the King's name to come forthwith and deliver up such
treasure as Kidd or any of his crew had lodg'd with him, acquainting
him that I had committed Kidd to Gaol as I was ordered to do by the
King.
"My messenger made great haste and was with Gardiner before anybody,
and Gardiner, who is a very substantial man, brought away the treasure
without delay; and by my direction delivered it into the hands of the
Committee. If the Jewels be right, as 'tis suppos'd they are, but I
never saw them nor the gold and silver brought by Gardiner, then we
guess that the parcel brought by him may be worth (gold, silver, and
Jewels) 4500 pounds. And besides Kidd had left six bales of goods with
him, one of which was twice as big as any of the rest, and Kidd gave
him a particular charge of that bale and told him 'twas worth 2000
pounds. The six bales Gardiner could not bring, but I have ordered him
to send 'em by a Sloop that is since gone from hence to N. York, and
which is to return speedily.
"We are not able to set an exact value on the goods and treasure we
have got because we have not open'd the bales we took on board the
(Kidd's) sloop, but we hope when the six bales are sent in by Gardiner,
what will be in the hands of the Gentlemen appointed to that trust will
amount to about 14,000 pounds.
"I have sent strict orders to my Lt. Governor at N. York to make
diligent search for the goods and treasure sent by Kidd to N. York in
three Sloops mentioned in Gardiner's affidavit.[7] ... I have directed
him where to find a purchase[8] in a house in N. York which I am apt to
believe will be found in that house. I have sent to search elsewhere a
certain place strongly suspected to have received another deposition of
gold from Kidd.
"I am also upon the hunt after two or three Arch-Pyrates which I hope
to give your Lordships a good account of by the next conveyance. If I
could have but a good able Judge and Attorney General at N. York, a
man-of-war there and another here, and the companies recruited and well
paid, I will rout Pyrates and pyracy entirely out of this North part of
America, but as I have too often told your Lordships 'tis impossible
for me to do all this alone in my single person.
"I wrote your Lordships in my last letter of the 8th. Inst. that
Bradish, the Pyrate, and one of his crew were escap'd out of the gaol
in this town. We have since found that the Gaoler was Bradish's
kinsman, and the Gaoler confessed they went out at the prison door and
that he found it wide open. We had all the reason in the world to
believe the Gaoler was consenting to the escape. By much ado I could
get the Council to resent the Gaoler's behavior, and by my Importunity
I had the fellow before us. We examin'd him, and by his own story and
account given us of his suffering other prisoners formerly to escape, I
prevailed to have him turn'd out and a prosecution order'd against him
to the Attorney Gen'l. I have also with some difficulty this last
session of Assembly here, got a bill to pass that the Gaol be committed
to the care of the High Sheriff of the County, as in England with a
salary of 30 pounds paid to the said Sheriff.
"I am forced to allow the Sheriff 40 Shillings per week for keeping
Kidd safe. Otherwise I should be in some doubt about him. He has
without doubt a great deal of gold, which is apt to corrupt men that
have not principles of honour. I have therefore, to try the power of
Iron against Gold, put him into irons that weigh 16 pounds. I thought
it moderate enough, for I remember poor Dr. Gates[9] had a 100 weight
of Iron on him while he was a prisoner in the late reign.
"There never was a greater liar or thief in the world than this Kidd;
notwithstanding he assured the Council and me every time we examined
him that the great Ship and her cargo awaited his return to bring her
hither, and now your Lordships will see by the several informations of
Masters of Ships from Curacoa that the cargo has been sold there, and
in one of them 'tis said they have burnt that noble ship. And without
doubt, it was by Kidd's order, that the ship might not be an evidence
against him, for he would not own to us that her name was the _Quedah
Merchant_, tho' his men did.
"Andres ...[10] eyne and two more brought the first news to New York of
the sale of that cargo at Curacoa, nor was ever such pennyworths heard
for cheapness. Captain Evertz is he who has brought the news of the
ship's being burnt. She was about 500 tons, and Kidd told us at
Council that never was there a stronger or stauncher ship seen. His
lying had like to have involved me in a contract that would have been
very chargeable and to no manner of purpose. I was advised by the
Council to dispatch a Ship of good condition to go and fetch away that
ship and cargo. I had agreed for a ship of 300 tons, 22 guns, and I
was to man her with 60 men to force (if there had been need of it) the
men to yield who were left with the ship.
"I was just going to seal the writing, when I bethought myself 'twere
best to press Kidd once more to tell me the truth. I therefore sent to
him two gentlemen of the Council to the gaol, and he at last own'd that
he had left a power (of attorney) with one Henry Bolton, a Merchant of
Antigua, to whom he had committed the care of the ship, to sell and
dispose of all the cargo. Upon which confession of Kidd's I held my
hand from hiring that great ship which would have cost 1700 pounds by
computation, and now to-morrow I send the sloop Kidd came in with
letters to the Lieut. Govn'r of Antigua, Col. Yoemans, and to the
Governors of St. Thomas Island and Curacoa to seize and secure what
effects they can that were late in the possession of Kidd and on board
the _Quedah Merchant_.
"There is one Burt, an Englishman, that lives at St. Thomas, who has
got a great store of the goods and money for Kidd's account. St.
Thomas belongs to the Danes, but I hope to retrieve what Burt has in
his hands. The sending this Sloop will cost but about 300 pounds, if
she be out three months. I hope your Lordships will take care that
immediate orders will be sent to Antigua to secure Bolton who must have
played the Knave egregiously, for he could not but know that Kidd came
knavishly by the ship and goods.
"'Tis reported that the Dutch at Curacoa have loaded three sloops with
goods and sent them to Holland. Perhaps 'twere not amiss to send and
watch their arrival in Holland, if it be practicable to lay claim to
'em there.
"Since my commitment of Kidd, I heard that upon his approach to this
port, his heart misgave him and he proposed to his men putting out to
sea again, and going to Caledonia, the new Scotch settlement near
Darien, but they refused. I desire I may have orders what to do with
Kidd and all his and Bradish's crew, for as the Law stands in this
Country, if a Pyrate were convicted, yet he cannot suffer death; and
the Council here refused the bill to punish Privateers and Pyrates,
which your Lordships sent with me from England with a direction to
recommend it at N. York and here, to be passed into a Law....
"You will observe by some of the information I now send that Kidd did
not only rob the two Moors' ships, but also a Portuguese ship, which he
denied absolutely to the Council and me. I send your Lordships 24
several papers and evidences relating to Capt. Kidd. 'Tis impossible
for me to animadvert and make remarks on the several matters contain'd
in the said papers in the weak condition I am at present...."
My Lord Bellomont was in the grip of the gout at this time, which
misfortune perhaps increased his irritation toward his partner, Captain
William Kidd. In a previous letter to the authorities in London, this
royal governor had explained quite frankly that he was trying to lure
the troublesome pirate into his clutches, and called Emmot, the lawyer,
"a cunning Jacobite, a fast friend of Fletcher's[11] and my avowed
enemie." He also made this interesting statement:
"I must not forget to tell your Lordships that Campbell brought three
or four small Jewels to my Wife which I was to know nothing of, but she
came quickly and discover'd them to me and asked me whether she would
keep them, which I advised her to do for the present, for I reflected
that my showing an over nicety might do hurt before I had made a full
discovery what goods and treasure were in the Sloop....
"Mr. Livingston also came to me in a peremptory manner and demanded up
his Bond and the articles which he seal'd to me upon Kidd's Expedition,
and told me that Kidd swore all the Oaths in the world that unless I
did immediately indemnify Mr. Livingston by giving up his Securities,
he would never bring in that great ship and cargo. I thought this was
such an Impertinence in both Kidd and Livingston that it was time for
me to look about me, and to secure Kidd. I had noticed that he
designed my wife a thousand pounds in gold dust and Ingotts last
Thursday, but I spoil'd his compliment by ordering him to be arrested
and committed that day, showing the Council's orders from Court for
that purpose....
"If I had kept Mr. Secretary Vernon's orders for seizing and securing
Kidd and his associates with all their effects with less secrecy, I had
never got him to come in, for his countrymen, Mr. Graham and
Livingston, would have been sure to caution him to shift for himself
and would have been well paid for their pains."
One by one, Kidd's plans for clearing himself were knocked into a
cocked hat. His lawyer did him no good, his hope of bribing the
Countess of Bellomont with jewels, "gold dust and Ingotts" went wrong,
and his buried treasure of Gardiner's Island was dug up and confiscated
by officers of the Crown. It is regrettable that history, by one of
its curious omissions, tells us no more about this titled lady. Did
Kidd have reason to suppose that she would take his gifts and try to
befriend him? When he was in high favor she may, perchance, have
admired this dashing shipmaster and privateer as he spun his
adventurous yarns in the Governor's mansion. He may have jestingly
promised to fetch her home jewels and rich silk stuffs of the Indies
filched from pirates. At any rate, she was not to be bought over, and
Kidd sat in jail anchored by those sixteen-pound irons, and biting his
nails in sullen wrath and disappointment, while a messenger was posting
to Gardiner's Island with this order from Bellomont to the proprietor:
BOSTON IN NEW ENGLAND, 8th July, 1699...
_Mr. Gardiner:_
Having received the King's express Orders for Seizing and Securing the
body of Capt. Kidd and all his associates together with all their
effects till I should receive his Majesty's Royal pleasure how to
dispose of the same, I have accordingly secured Capt. Kidd in the Gaol
of this Town and some of his men. He has been examined by myself and
the Council and has confessed among other things that he left with you
a parcel of gold made up in a box and some other parcels besides, all
of which I require you in his Majesty's name immediately to fetch
hither to me, that I may secure them for his Majesty's use, and I shall
recompense your pains in coming hither.
I am,
Your friend and servant,
BELLOMONT.
======================================================================
[Illustration: The official inventory of the Kidd treasure found on
Gardiner's Island. This is the only original and authenticated record
of any treasure belonging to Captain Kidd. (From the British State
Papers in the Public Record Office, London.)]
======================================================================
The box and the chest were promptly delivered by honest John Gardiner,
who had no mind to be mixed in the affairs of the now notorious Kidd,
together with the bales of goods left in his care. This booty was
inventoried by order of Bellomont and the Governor's Council and the
original document is photographed herewith, as found in the Public
Record Office, London. It possessed a singular interest because it
records and vouches for the only Kidd treasure ever discovered. Nor
are its detailed items a mere dusty catalogue of figures and
merchandise. This is a document to gloat over. If one has a spark of
imagination, he smacks his lips. Instead of legend and myth, here is a
veritable pirate's hoard, exactly as it should be, with its bags of
gold, bars of silver, "Rubies great and small," candlesticks and
porringers, diamonds and so on. The inventory contains also other
booty found in the course of the treasure hunt, and lest the document
itself may prove too hard reading, its contents are transcribed as
follows to convince the most skeptical mind that there was a real Kidd
treasure and that it was found in the Year of our Lord, 1699.
BOSTON, NEW ENGLAND, July 25th, 1699.
A true Accompt. of all such Gold, Silver, Jewels, and Merchandises in
the Possession of Capt. William Kidd, Which have been seized and
secured by us under-writing Pursuant to an Order from his Excellency,
Richard, Earle of Bellomont, Capt. Generall and Governor-in-Chief in
and over his Majestie's Province of ye Massachusetts Bay, etc., bearing
date[12] ... 1699, Vizt.
In Capt. William Kid's Box--
One Bag Fifty-three Silver Barrs.
One Bag Seventy-nine Barrs and pieces of silver....
One Bag Seventy-four Bars Silver.
One Enamel'd Silver Box in which are 4 diamonds
set in gold Lockets, one diamond loose,
one large diamond set in a gold ring.
Found in Mr. Duncan Campbell's House,
No. 1. One Bag Gold.
2. One Bag Gold.
3. One Handkerchief Gold.
4. One Bag Gold.
5. One Bag Gold.
6. One Bag Gold.
7. One Bag Gold.
Also Twenty Dollars, one halfe and one quart. pcs. of eight, Nine
English Crowns, one small Barr of Silver, one small Lump Silver, a
small Chaine, a small bottle, a Corral Necklace, one pc. white and one
pc. of Checkquer'd Silk....
In Capt. William Kidd's Chests--Two Silver Boxons, Two Silver
Candlesticks, one Silver Porringer, and some small things of
Silver--Rubies small and great Sixty-seven, Green Stones two. One
large Load Stone....
Landed from on board the Sloop _Antonio_ Capt. Wm. Kidd late
Command.... 57 Baggs of Sugar, 17 pieces canvis, 38 Bales of
Merchandize.
Received from Mr. Duncan Campbell Three Bailes Merchandise, Whereof one
he had opened being much damnified by water.... Eighty-five ps. Silk
Rumals and Bengalis, Sixty ps. Callicoes and Muslins.
Received the 17th. instant of Mr. John Gardiner.
No. 1. One Bag dust Gold.
2. One Bag Coyned Gold and in it silver.
3. One p'cl dust Gold.
4. One Bag three Silver Rings and Sundry precious
stones. One bag of unpolished Stones. One
ps. of Cristol and Bazer Stone, Two Cornelion
Rings, two small Agats. Two Amathests all in
the same Bag.
5. One Bag Silver Buttons and a Lamp.
6. One Bag broken Silver.
7. One Bag Gold Bars.
8. One Bag Gold Barrs.
9. One Bag Dust Gold.
10. One Bag of Silver Bars.
11. One Bag Silver Bars.
The whole of the Gold above mentioned is Eleven hundred, and Eleven
ounces, Troy Weight.
The silver is Two Thousand, three Hundred, Fifty-three ounces.
The Jewels or Precious Stones Weight are seventeen Ounces ... an Ounce,
and Six[13] ... Stone by Tale.
The Sugar is Contained in Fifty-Seven Baggs.
The Merchandize is Contained in Forty-one Bailes.
The Canvis is Seventeen pieces.
SAM. SEWALL.
NATH'L BYFIELD.
JER. DUMMER.
LAUR. HAMMOND, Lt. Coll.
ANDR. BELCHER.
_Endorsed:_
Inventory of the Gold, Silver, Jewels and Merchandize late in the
possession of Capt. Wm. Kidd and Seiz'd and secured by ordr. of the E.
of Bellomont, 28th of July 1699. This is an original paper.
BELLOMONT."
======================================================================
[Illustration: A memorandum of Captain Kidd's treasure left on
Gardiner's Island. This is his own declaration, signed and sworn.]
======================================================================
That famous sloop, the _San Antonio_, was also carefully inventoried
but her contents were for the most part sea gear and rough furnishings,
barring a picturesque entry of "ye boy Barleycorn," an apprentice
seaman who had sailed with Kidd. Robert Livingston has something to
say about Kidd's property in his statement under examination, which has
been preserved as follows:
"Robert Livingston, Esq. being notified to appear before his Excellency
and Council this day and sworn to give a true Narrative and Relation of
his knowledge or information of any Goods, Gold, Silver, Bullion, or
other Treasure lately imported by Capt. William Kidd, his Company and
Accomplices, or any of them, into this Province, or any other of his
Majesty's Provinces, Colonies, or Territories in America, and by them
or any of them imbezelled, concealed, conveyed away, or any ways
disposed of, saith:
"That hearing Capt. Kidd was come into these parts to apply himself
unto his Excellency the Earl of Bellomont, the said Narrator came
directly from Albany ye nearest way through the woods to meet the said
Kidd here and to wait upon his Lordship. And at his arrival at Boston
Capt. Kidd informed him there was on board his Sloop then in Port forty
bales of Goods, and some Sugar, and also said he had about eighty pound
weight in Plate. The Narrator does not remember whether he said this
was on board the Sloop or not. And further the sd. Kidd said he had
Forty pound weight in Gold which he hid and secured in some place in
the Sound betwixt this and New York, not naming any particular place,
which nobody could find but himself. And that all the said Goods,
Gold, Plate and Sloop was for accompt. of the Owners of the _Adventure
Galley_, whereof this Narrator was one.
"And upon further discourse, Kidd acknowledged that several Chests and
bundles of Goods belonging to the men were taken out of his Sloop
betwixt this place and New York, and put into other sloops, saying he
was forced thereto, that his men would otherwise have run the Sloop on
shore. And he likewise acknowledged that he had given Mr. Duncan
Campbell one hundred pieces of eight when he was on board his Sloop at
Rhode Island. And he knows no further of any concealment, imbezelment,
or disposal made by said Kidd, his Company, or accomplices of any
Goods, Gold, money, or Treasure whatsoever, saving that Kidd did
yesterday acknowledge to this Narrator that ye Gold aforementioned was
hid upon Gardiner's Island. He believed there was about fifty pound
weight of it and that in the same box with it there was about three or
four hundred pieces of eight and some pieces of Plate belonging to his
boy Barleycorn and his Negro man which he had gotten by[14] ... for the
men. Also the said Kidd gave this Narrator a negro boy and another to
Mr. Duncan Campbell."
There is reproduced herewith the original statement of Kidd touching
this Gardiner Island treasure. The document is badly torn and
disfigured, but the gaps can be supplied from a copy made at that time,
and here is what he had to say under oath:
BOSTON, Sept. 4th. 1699.
Captain William Kidd declareth and Saith that in his Chest which he
left at Gardiner's Island there were three small baggs or more of
Jasper Antonio, or Stone of Goa, several pieces of silk stript with
Silver and gold Cloth of Silver, about a Bushell of Cloves and Nutmegs
mixed together, and strawed up and down, several books of fine white
Callicoa, several pieces of fine Muzlins, several pieces more of
flowered silk. He does not well remember what further was in it. He
had an invoice thereof in his other chest. All that was contained in
ye said Chest was bought by him and some given him at Madagascar.
Nothing thereof was taken in ye ship Quidah Merchant. He esteemed it
to be of greater value than all else that he left at Gardiner's Island
except ye Gold and Silver. There was neither Gold nor Silver in ye
Chest. It was fastened with a Padlock and nailed and corded about.
Further saith that he left at said Gardiner's Island a bundle of nine
or ten fine Indian quilts, some of ye silk with fringes and Tassels.
WM. KIDD.
The Earl of Bellomont was as keen as a bloodhound on the scent of
treasure and it is improbable that any of the Kidd plunder escaped his
search. He lost no time in the quest of that James Gillam whose chest
had been landed in Delaware Bay, and a singularly diverting episode is
related by Bellomont in one of his written reports to the Council of
Trade and Plantations:
"I gave you an account, Oct. 24th, of my taking Joseph Bradish and
Wetherly, and writ that I hoped in a little time to be able to send
News of my taking James Gillam, the Pyrate that killed Capt. Edgecomb,
commander of the _Mocha Frigate_ for the East India Co., and that with
his own hand, while the captain was asleep. Gillam is supposed to be
the man that encouraged the Ship's Company to turn pyrates, and the
ship has ever since been robbing in the Red Sea and Seas of India. If
I may believe the report of men lately come from Madagascar, she has
taken above 2,000,000 pounds sterling.
"I have been so lucky as to take James Gillam, and he is now in irons
in the gaol of this town. And at the same time we seized on Francis
Dole, in whose house he was harboured, who proved to be one of Hore's
crew. My taking of Gillam was so very accidental one would believe
there was a strange fatality in the man's stars. On Saturday, 11th
inst., late in the evening, I had a letter from Col. Sanford, Judge of
the Admiralty Court in Rhode Island, giving me an account that Gillam
had been there, but was come towards Boston a fortnight before, in
order to ship himself for some of the Islands, Jamaica or Barbadoes.
"I was in despair of finding the man. However, I sent for an honest
Constable I had made use of in apprehending Kidd and his men, and sent
him with Col. Sanford's messenger to search all the Inns in town and at
the first Inn they found the mare on which Gillam had rode into town,
tied up in the yard. The people of the Inn reported that the man who
brought her hither had alighted off her about a quarter of an hour
before, and went away without saying anything.
"I gave orders to the master of the Inn that if anybody came to look
after the mare, he should be sure to seize him, but nobody came for
her. Next morning I summoned a Council, and we published a
Proclamation, wherein I promised a reward of 200 Pieces of Eight for
the seizing and securing of Gillam, whereupon there was the strictest
search made all that day and the next that was ever made in this part
of the world. But we would have missed had I not been informed of one
Capt. Knott as an old Pyrate and therefore likely to know where Gillam
was conceal'd. I sent for Knott and examined him, promising if he
would make an ingenious Confession I would not molest him.
"He seemed much disturbed but would not confess anything to purpose. I
then sent for his wife and examined her on oath apart from her husband,
and she confessed that one who went by the name of James Kelly had
lodged several nights in her house, but for some nights past he lodged,
as she believed, in Charlestown, cross the River. I knew that he
(Gillam) went by the name of Kelly. Then I examined Captain Knott
again, telling him his wife had been more free and ingenious than him,
which made him believe she had told all. And then he told me of
Francis Dole in Charlestown, and that he believed that Gillam would be
found there.
"I sent half a dozen men immediately, and Knott with 'em. They beset
the House and searched it, but found not the man. Two of the men went
through a field behind Dole's house and ... met a man in the dark whom
they seized at all adventure, and it happened as oddly as luckily to be
Gillam. He had been treating two young women some few miles off in the
Country, and was returning at night to his landlord Dole's house.
"I examined him but he denied everything, even that he came with Kidd
from Madagascar, or even saw him in his life; but Capt. Davis who came
thence with Kidd's men is positive he is the man and that he went by
his true name Gillam all the while he was on the voyage with 'em. And
Mr. Campbell, Postmaster of this town, whom I sent to treat with Kidd,
offers to swear this is the man he saw on board Kidd's sloop under the
name of Gillam. He is the most impudent, hardened Villain I ever
saw....
"In searching Captain Knott's house a small trunk was found with some
remnants of East India Goods and a letter from Kidd's Wife to Capt.
Thomas Paine, an old pyrate living on Canonicut Island in Rhode Island
Government. He made an affidavit to me when I was in Rhode Island that
he had received nothing from Kidd's sloop, when she lay at anchor
there, yet by Knott's deposition, he was sent with Mrs. Kidd's letter
to Paine for 24 ounces of Gold, which Kidd accordingly brought, and
Mrs. Kidd's injunction to Paine to keep all the rest that was left with
him till further notice was a plain indication that there was a good
deal of treasure still left behind in Paine's Custody.
"Therefore I posted away a messenger to Gov. Cranston and Col. Sanford
to make a strict search of Paine's house before he could have notice.
It seems nothing was then found, but Paine has since produced 18 ounces
and odd weight of Gold, as appears by Gov. Cranston's letter, Nov. 25,
and pretends 'twas bestowed on him by Kidd, hoping that may pass as a
salve for the oath he has made. I think it is plain he foreswore
himself. I am of opinion he has a great deal more of Kidd's goods
still in his hands, but he is out of my Power and being in that
Government I cannot compel him to deliver up the rest...."
That "Edward Davis, Mariner," who came home with Kidd and who made the
statement already quoted concerning Gillam's chest, found himself in
trouble with the others of that crew, and the tireless Bellomont refers
to him in this fashion:
"When Capt Kidd was committed to Gaol, there was also a Pyrate
committed who goes by the name of Captain Davis, that came passenger
with Kidd from Madagascar. I suppose him to be that Captain Davis that
Dampier and Wafer speak of, in their printed relations of Voyages, for
an extraordinary stout man; but let him be as stout as he will, here he
is a prisoner, and shall be forthcoming upon the order I receive from
England concerning Kidd and his men.
"When I was at Rhode Island there was one Palmer, a Pyrate, that was
out upon Bail, for they cannot be persuaded there to keep a Pyrate in
Gaol, they love 'em too well. He went out with Kidd from London and
forsook him at Madagascar to go on board the _Mocha Frigate_, where he
was a considerable time, committing several Robberies with the rest of
the Pyrates in that Ship, and was brought home by Shelly of New York.
"I asked Gov. Cranston how he could answer taking bail for him, when he
had received so strict Orders from Mr. Secretary Vernon to seize and
secure Kidd and his associates with their effects. I desired Col.
Sanford to examine Palmer on oath. I enclose his Examination where
your Lordships may please to observe that he accuses Kidd of murdering
his Gunner, which I never heard before."
======================================================================
[Illustration: Statement of Edward Davis, who sailed home with Kidd,
concerning the landing of the treasure and goods.]
======================================================================
It may be that the "old Pyrate," Thomas Paine buried a bag of Kidd's
gold but it is much more likely that whatever had been stored with him
was turned over to that astute helpmeet, Mrs. William Kidd, for whom it
has been left in his keeping. As for that "most impudent, hardened
Villain," James Gillam, it is unreasonable to suppose that his sea
chest was buried by the friends who took it off his hands in Delaware
Bay. Indeed, there was no motive for putting booty underground when it
could be readily disposed of in the open market. Bellomont complained
in one of his letters of this same eventful summer:
"There are about thirty Pyrates come lately into the East end of Nassau
Island and have a great deal of Money with them, but so cherished are
they by the Inhabitants that not a man among them is taken up. Several
of them I hear, came with Shelly from Madagascar. Mr. Hackshaw, one of
the Merchants in London that plotted against me, is one of the owners
of Shelley's Sloop, and Mr. De Lancey, a Frenchman at New York is
another. I hear that Capt. Kidd dropped some Pyrates in that Island
(Madagascar). Till there be a good Judge or two, and an honest, active
Attorney General to prosecute for the King, all my Labour to suppress
Pyracy will signify even just nothing. When Fred Phillip's ship and
the other two come from Madagascar, which are expected every day, New
York will abound with Gold. 'Tis the most beneficial Trade, that to
Madagascar with the Pyrates, that ever was heard of, and I believe
there's more got that way than by turning Pirates and robbing. I am
told this Shelley sold rum, which cost but 2 s. per Gallon in New York
for 50 s. at Madagascar, and a pipe of Madeira wine, which cost him 19
pounds at New York, he sold for 300 pounds. Strong liquors and gun
powder and ball are the commodities that go off there to best
Advantage, and those four ships last summer carried thither great
quantities of things."
There is another authentic glimpse of Kidd and his men and his spoils,
as viewed by Colonel Robert Quarry,[15] Judge of the Admiralty Court
for the Province of Pennsylvania.
"There is arrived in this Government," he reported, "about 60 pirates
in a ship directly from Madagascar. They are part of Kidd's gang, and
about 20 of them have quitted the Ship and are landed in this
Government. About sixteen more are landed at Cape May in the
Government of West Jersey. The rest of them are still on board the
ship at Anchor near the Cape waiting for a sloop from New York to
unload her. She is a very rich Ship. All her loading is rich East
India Bale Goods to a very great value, besides abundance of money.
The Captain of the Ship is one Shelley of New York and the ship belongs
to Merchants of that place. The Goods are all purchased from the
Pirates at Madagascar which pernicious trade gives encouragement to the
Pirates to continue in those parts, having a Market for all the Goods
they plunder and rob in the Red Sea and several other parts of East
India."
Colonel Quarry caught two of these pirates and lodged them in jail at
Burlington, New Jersey, and later tucked away two others in
Philadelphia jail. From the former two thousand pieces of eight were
taken, a neat little fortune to show that piracy was a paying business.
A few days later Colonel Quarry got wind of no other than Kidd himself
and would have caught him ahead of Bellomont had he been properly
supported. He protested indignantly:
"Since my writing the enclosed I have by the assistance of Col. Bass,
Governor of the Jerseys, apprehended four more of the Pirates at Cape
May and might have with ease secured all the rest of them and the Ship
too, had this Government (Pennsylvania) given me the least aid or
assistance. But they would not so much as issue a Proclamation, but on
the contrary the people have entertained the Pirates, convey'd them
from place to place, furnished them with provisions and liquors, and
given them intelligence, and sheltered them from justice. And now the
greater part of them are conveyed away in boats to Rhode Island. All
the persons I have employed in searching for and apprehending these
Pirates are abused and affronted and called Enemies of the Country for
disturbing and hindering honest men (as they are pleased to call the
Pirates) from bringing their money and settling amongst them....
"Since my writing this, Capt. Kidd is come in this (Delaware) Bay. He
hath been here about ten days. He sends his boat ashore to the Hore
Kills where he is supplied with what he wants and the people frequently
go on board him. He is in a Sloop with about forty men with a Vast
Treasure, I hope the express which I sent to his Excellency Governor
Nicholson will be in time enough to send the man-of-war to come up with
Kidd....
"The Pirates that I brought to this Government have the liberty to
confine themselves to a tavern, which is what I expected. The six
other Pirates that are in Burlington are at liberty, for the Quakers
there will not suffer the Government to send them to Gaol. Thus his
Majesty may expect to be obeyed in all places where the Government is
in Quakers' hands...."
[1] Mr. F. L. Gay of Boston very kindly gave the author the use of his
valuable collection of documentary material concerning Captain Kidd,
some of which is contained in this chapter. In addition, the author
consulted many of the original documents among the state papers in the
Public Record Office, London.
[2] Damaged.
[3] Clarke managed to clear himself and this threat was not carried out.
[4] Ms. torn.
[5] Genuine.
[6] Ms. torn.
[7] Ms. torn.
[8] Prize, or plunder.
[9] Titus Gates, the notorious informer, who revealed an alleged
"Papist plot" to massacre the English Protestants in the reign of
Charles II. He was later denounced, pilloried, and publicly flogged
within an inch of his life.
[10] Ms. torn.
[11] Lieutenant-governor at New York.
[12] Ms. torn.
[13] Ms. torn.
[14] Ms. torn.
[15] Colonel Robert Quarry cut a rather odd figure as a prosecutor of
pirates in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He had been secretary to the
Governor of Carolina and assumed that office without authority from the
proprietors, at the death of Sir Richard Kyle who was appointed in 1684.
"A few months before it had been recommended that 'as the Governor will
not in all probability always reside in Charles Town, which is so near
the sea as to be in danger from a sudden invasion of Pirates,' Governor
Kyle should commissionate a particular Governor for Charles Town who
may act in his absence." (South Carolina Historical Society
Collections.)
Governor Kyle suggested as a suitable person for this office his
secretary, Robert Quarry, and "probably this recommendation made Quarry
feel justified in assuming control when Kyle died. So flagrant was
Quarry's encouragement of pirates, and his cupidity so notorious that
he was removed from office after two months. Later "he went north and
was appointed Admiralty Judge for New York and Pennsylvania." ("The
Carolina Pirates," by S. C. Hughson, Johns Hopkins University Studies.)