_Samuel Fletcher_ of _East-Smithfield, London._
_John Lane_ of _Lombard-Street, London._
_David Littlejohn_ of _Bristol._
_John King_ of _Shadwell_ Parish, _London._
_Henry Dennis_ of _Bidiford._
_Hugh Harris_ of _Corf-Castle, Devonshire._
_William Taylor_ of _Bristol._
_Thomas Owen_ of _Bristol._
_John Mitchel_ of _Shadwell_ Parish, _London._
_Joshua Lee_ of _Leverpool._
_William Shuren_ of _Wapping_ Parish, _London._
_Robert Hartley_ of _Leverpool._
_John Griffin_ of _Blackwall, Middlesex._
_James Cromby_ of _London, Wapping._
_James Greenham_ of _Marshfield, Gloucestershire._
_John Horn_ of St. _James's_ Parish, _London._
_John Jessop_ of _Wisbich, Cambridgshire._
_David Rice_ of _Bristol._
* * *
None of which, I hear, are now living, two others, _viz. George Wilson_ and
_Thomas Oughterlaney_, were respited from Execution, till his Majesty's
Pleasure should be known; the former dy'd abroad, and the latter came Home,
and received his Majesty's Pardon; the Account of the whole stands thus,
Acquitted, 74
Executed, 52
Respited, 2
To Servitude, 20
To the Marshalsea, 17
Kill'd in the Ranger, 10
Kill'd in the Fortune, 3
Dy'd in the Passage to Cape Corso, 15
Dy'd afterwards in the Castle, 4
Negroes in both Ships, 70
----------
Total, 276
I am not ignorant how acceptable the Behaviour and dying Words of
Malefactors are to the generallity of our Countrymen, and therefore shall
deliver what occurr'd, worthy of Notice, in the Behaviour of these
Criminals.
The first six that were called to Execution, were _Magnes, Moody, Sympson,
Sutton, Ashplant_, and _Hardy_; all of them old Standers and notorious
Offenders: When they were brought out of the Hold, on the Parade, in order
to break off their Fetters, and fit the Halters; none of them, it was
observed, appeared the least dejected, unless _Sutton_, who spoke faint,
but it was rather imputed to a Flux that had seiz'd him two or three Days
before, than Fear. A Gentleman, who was Surgeon of the Ship, was so
charitable at this Time, to offer himself in the room of an Ordinary, and
represented to them, as well as he was able, the Heinousness of their Sin,
and Necessity which lay on them of Repentance; one particular Part of which
ought to be, acknowledging the Justice they had met with. They seem'd
heedless for the present, some calling for Water to drink, and others
applying to the Soldiers for Caps, but when this Gentleman press'd them for
an Answer, they all exclaim'd against the Severity of the Court, and were
so harden'd, as to curse, and wish the same Justice might overtake all the
Members of it, as had been dealt to them. _They were poor Rogues_, they
said, _and so hang'd, while others, no less guilty in another Way,
escaped._
When he endeavoured to compose their Minds, exhorting them to dye in
Charity with all the World, and would have diverted them from such vain
Discourse, by asking them their Country, Age, and the like; some of them
answered, `What was that to him, they suffered the Law, and should give no
Account but to God;´ walking to the Gallows without a Tear, in Token of
Sorrow for their past Offences, or shewing as much Concern as a Man would
express at travelling a bad Road; nay, _Sympson_, at seeing a Woman that he
knew, said, `he had lain with that B--h three times, and now she was come
to see him hang'd.´ And _Hardy_, when his Hands were ty'd behind him,
(which happened from their not being acquainted with the Way of bringing
Malefactors to Execution,) observed, `that he had seen many a Man hang'd,
but this Way of the Hands being ty'd behind them, he was a Stranger to, and
never saw before in his Life.´ I mention these two little Instances, to
shew how stupid and thoughtless they were of their End, and that the same
abandoned and reprobate Temper that had carried them thro' their Rogueries,
abided with them to the last.
_Samuel Fletcher_, another of the Pyrates ordered for Execution, but
reprieved, seem'd to have a quicker Sense of his Condition; for when he saw
those he was allotted with gone to Execution, he sent a Message by the
Provost-Marshal to the Court, to be `inform'd of the Meaning of it, and
humbly desir'd to know whether they design'd him Mercy, or not? If they
did, he stood infinitely oblig'd to them, and thought the whole Service of
his Life an incompetent Return for so great a Favour; but that if he was to
suffer, the sooner the better, _he said_, that he might be out of his
Pain.´
There were others of these Pyrates the reverse of this, and tho' destitute
of Ministers, or fit Persons to represent their Sins, and assist them with
spiritual Advice, were yet always imploying their Time to good Purposes,
and behaved with a great deal of seeming Devotion and Penitence; among
these may be reckon'd _Scudamore, Williams, Philips, Stephenson, Jefferys,
Lesly, Harper, Armstrong, Bunce_, and others.
_Scudamore_ too lately discerned the Folly and Wickedness of the
Enterprize, that had chiefly brought him under Sentence of Death, from
which, seeing there was no Hopes of escaping, he petitioned for two or
three Days Reprieve, which was granted; and for that Time apply'd himself
incessantly to Prayer, and reading the Scriptures, seem'd to have a deep
Sense of his Sins, of this in particular, and desired, at the Gallows, they
would have Patience with him, to sing the first Part of the thirty first
Psalm; which he did by himself throughout.
_Armstrong_, having been a Deserter from his Majesty's Service, was
executed on Board the _Weymouth_, (and the only one that was;) there was no
Body to press him to an Acknowledgement of the Crime he died for, nor of
sorrowing in particular for it, which would have been exemplary, and made
suitable Impressions on Seamen; so that his last Hour was spent in
lamenting and bewailing his Sins in general, exhorting the Spectators to an
honest and good Life, in which alone they could find Satisfaction. In the
End, he desir'd they would join with him in singing two or three latter
Verses of the 140th Psalm; and that being concluded, he was, at the firing
of a Gun, tric'd up at the Fore-Yard-Arm.
_Bunce_ was a young Man, not above 26 Years old, but made the most
pathetical Speech of any at the Gallows. He first declaim'd against the
guilded Bates of Power, Liberty, and Wealth, that had ensnar'd him among
the Pyrates, his unexperienc'd Years not being able to withstand the
Temptation; but that the Briskness he had shewn, which so fatally had
procured him Favour amongst them, was not so much a Fault in Principle, as
the Liveliness and Vivacity of his Nature. He was now extreamly afflicted
for the Injuries he had done to all Men, and begg'd their's and God's
Forgiveness, very earnestly exhorting the Spectators to remember their
Creator in their Youth, and guard betimes, that their Minds took not a
wrong Byass, concluding with this apt Similitude, _That he stood there as a
Beacon upon a Rock_, (the Gallows standing on one) _to warn erring
Marriners of Danger._
CHAP. X. OF Captain _ANSTIS_, And his CREW.
T_HOMAS Anstis_ ship'd himself at _Providence_ in the Year 1718,
aboard the _Buck_ Sloop, and was one of six that conspired together to go
off a pyrating with the Vessel; the rest were, _Howel Davis, Roberts_'s
Predecessor, killed at the Island of _Princes; Dennis Topping_, killed at
the taking of the rich _Portuguese_ Ship on the Coast of _Brasil; Walter
Kennedy_, hanged at _Execution-Dock_, and two others, which I forbear to
name, because, I understand they are at this Day employ'd in an honest
Vocation in the City.
What followed concerning _Anstis_'s Pyracies, has been included in the two
preceeding Chapters; I shall only observe that the Combination of these six
Men abovementioned, was the Beginning of that Company, that afterwards
proved so formidable under Captain _Roberts_, from whom _Anstis_ separated
the 18th of _April_ 1721, in the _Good Fortune_ Brigantine, leaving his
Commadore to pursue his Adventures upon the Coast of _Guiney_, whilst he
returned to the _West-Indies_, upon the like Design.
About the Middle of _June_, these Pyrates met with one Captain _Marston_,
between _Hispaniola_ and _Jamaica_, bound on a Voyage to _New-York_; from
whom they took all the wearing Apparel they could find, as also his Liquors
and Provision, and five of his Men, but did not touch his Cargo; two or
three other Vessels were also plundered by them, in this Cruise, out of
whom they stocked themselves with Provision and Men; among the rest, I
think, was the _Irwin_, Captain _Ross_, from _Cork_ in _Ireland_; but this
I won't be positive of, because they denied it themselves. This Ship had
600 Barrels of Beef aboard, besides other Provisions, and was taken off
_Martinico_, wherein Colonel _Doyly_ of _Montserrat_, and his Family were
Passengers. The Colonel was very much abused and wounded, for endeavouring
to save a poor Woman, that was also a Passenger, from the Insults of that
brutish Crew; and the Pyrates prevailing, twenty one of them forced the
poor Creature successively, afterwards broke her Back and flung her into
the Sea. I say, I will not be positive it was _Anstis_'s Crew that acted
this unheard of Violence and Cruelty, tho' the Circumstances of the Place,
the Time, the Force of the Vessel, and the Number of Men, do all concur,
and I can place the Villany no where else; but that such a Fact was done,
there is too much Evidence for it to be doubted of.
When they thought fit to put an End to this Cruize, they went into one of
the Islands to clean, which they effected without any Disturbance, and came
out again, and stretching away towards _Burmudas_, met with a stout Ship,
called the _Morning Star_, bound from _Guiney_ to _Carolina_; they made
Prize of her, and kept her for their own Use. In a Day or two, a Ship from
_Barbadoes_ bound to _New-York_, fell into their Hands, and taking out her
Guns and Tackle, mounted the _Morning Star_ with 32 Pieces of Cannon,
mann'd her with a 100 Men, and appointed one _John Fenn_ Captain; for the
Brigantine being of far less Force, the _Morning Star_ would have fallen to
_Anstis_, as elder Officer, yet he was so in Love with his own Vessel, (she
being an excellent Sailor,) that he made it his Choice to stay in her, and
let _Fenn_, who was, before, his Gunner, Command the great Ship.
Now, that they had two good Ships well mann'd, it may be supposed they were
in a Condition to undertake something bold: But their Government was
disturbed by Malecontents, and a Kingdom divided within it self cannot
stand; they had such a Number of new Men amongst them, that seem'd not so
violently enclined for the Game; that whatever the Captain proposed, it was
certainly carried against him, so that they came to no fix'd Resolution for
the undertaking any Enterprize; therefore there was nothing to be done, but
to break up the Company, which seemed to be the Inclination of the
Majority, but the Manner of doing so, concerned their common Safety; to
which Purpose various Means were proposed, at length it was concluded to
send home a Petition to his Majesty (there being then no Act of Indemnity
in Force) for a Pardon, and wait the Issue; at the same Time one _Jones_,
Boatswain of the _Good Fortune_, proposed a Place of safe Retreat, it being
an uninhabited Island near _Cuba_, which he had been used to in the late
War, when he went a privateering against the _Spaniards._
This being approved of, it was unanimously resolved on, and the
underwritten Petition drawn up and signed by the whole Company in the
Manner of what they call a _Round Robin_, that is, the Names were writ in a
Circle, to avoid all Appearance of Pre-eminence, and least any Person
should be mark'd out by the Government, as a principal Rogue among them.
_To his most sacred Majesty_ George, _by the Grace of God, of_
Great-Britain, France _and_ Ireland, _King, Defender of the Faith_, &c.
The humble PETITION of the Company, now belonging to the Ship
_Morning Star_, and Brigantine _Good Fortune_, lying under the ignominious
Name and Denomination of PYRATES.
Humbly sheweth,
T_HAT we your Majesty's most loyal Subjects, have, at sundry Times,
been taken by_ Bartholomew Roberts, _the then Captain of the abovesaid
Vessels and Company, together with another Ship, in which we left him; and
have been forced by him and his wicked Accomplices, to enter into, and
serve, in the said Company, as Pyrates, much contrary to our Wills and
Inclinations: And we your loyal Subjects utterly abhoring and detesting
that impious way of Living, did, with an unanimous Consent, and contrary to
the Knowledge of the said_ Roberts, _or his Accomplices, on, or about the_
18_th Day of_ April 1721, _leave, and ran away with the aforesaid Ship_
Morning Star, _and Brigantine_ Good Fortune, _with no other Intent and
Meaning than the Hopes of obtaining your Majesty's most gracious Pardon.
And, that we your Majesty's most loyal Subjects, may with more Safety
return to our native Country, and serve the Nation, unto which we belong,
in our respective Capacities, without Fear of being prosecuted by the
Injured, whose Estates have suffered by the said_ Roberts _and his
Accomplices, during our forcible Detainment, by the said Company: We most
humbly implore your Majesty's most royal Assent, to this our humble
Petition._
And your Petitioners shall ever pray.
This Petition was sent home by a Merchant Ship bound to _England_, from
_Jamaica_, who promised to speak with the Petitioners, in their Return,
about 20 Leagues to Windward of that Island, and let them know what Success
their Petition met with. When this was done, the Pyrates retires to the
Island before proposed, with the Ship and Brigantine.
This Island (which I have no Name for) lies off the Southwest End of
_Cuba_, uninhabited, and little frequented. On the East End is a Lagune, so
narrow, that a Ship can but just go in, tho' there's from 15 to 22 Foot
Water, for almost a League up: On both Sides of the Lagune grows red
Mangrove Trees, very thick, that the Entrance of it, as well as the Vessels
laying there, is hardly to be seen. In the Middle of the Island are here
and there a small thick Wood of tall Pines, and other Trees scattered about
in different Places.
Here they staid about nine Months, but not having Provision for above two,
they were forced to take what the Island afforded, which was Fish of
several Sorts, particularly Turtle, which latter was the chiefest Food they
lived on, and was found in great Plenty on the Coasts of this Island;
whether there might be any wild Hogs, Beef, or other Cattle, common to
several Islands of the _West-Indies_, or that the Pyrates were too idle to
hunt them, or whether they preferr'd other Provisions to that sort of Diet,
I know not; but I was informed by them, that for the whole Time they eat
not a Bit of any kind of Flesh-Meat, nor Bread; the latter was supply'd by
Rice, of which they had a great Quantity aboard: This was boyl'd and
squeez'd dry, and so eat with the Turtle.
There are three or four Sorts of these Creatures in the _West-Indies_, the
largest of which will weight 150 or 200 Pound Weight or more, but those
that were found upon this Island were of the smallest Kind, weighing 10 or
12 Pounds each, with a fine natural wrought Shell, and beautifully clouded;
the Meat sweet and tender, some Part of it eating like Chicken, some like
Veal, _&c._ so that it was no extraordinary Hardship for them to live upon
this Provision alone, since it affords variety of Meats to the Taste, of it
self. The manner of catching this Fish is very particular; you must
understand, that in the Months of _May, June_ and _July_, they lay their
Eggs in order to hatch their Young, and this three times in a Season, which
is always in the Sand of the Sea-shore, each laying 80 or 90 Eggs at a
time. The Male accompanies the Female, and come ashore in the Night only,
when they must be watch'd, without making any Noise, or having a Light; as
soon as they land, the Men that watch for them, turn them on their Backs,
then haul them above high Water Mark, and leave them till next Morning,
where they are sure to find them, for they can't turn again, nor move from
the Place. It is to be observ'd, that besides their laying time, they come
ashore to feed, but then what's very remarkable in these Creatures, they
always resort to different Places to breed, leaving their usual Haunts for
two or three Months, and 'tis thought they eat nothing in all that Season.
They pass'd their Time here in Dancing, and other Diversions, agreeable to
these sort of Folks; and among the rest, they appointed a Mock Court of
Judicature to try one another for Pyracy, and he that was a Criminal one
Day was made Judge another.-- I had an Account given me of one of these
merry Tryals, and as it appeared diverting, I shall give the Readers a
short Account of it.
The Court and Criminals being both appointed, as also Council to plead, the
Judge got up in a Tree, and had a dirty Taurpaulin hung over his Shoulders;
this was done by Way of Robe, with a Thrum Cap on his Head, and a large
Pair of Spectacles upon his Nose: Thus equipp'd, he settled himself in his
Place, and abundance of Officers attending him below, with Crows,
Handspikes, _&c._ instead of Wands, Tipstaves, and such like.-- The
Criminals were brought out, making a thousand sour Faces; and one who acted
as Attorney-General opened the Charge against them; their Speeches were
very laconick, and their whole Proceedings concise. We shall give it by Way
of Dialogue.
_Attorn. Gen._ An't please your Lordship, and you Gentlemen of the Jury,
here is a Fellow before you that is a sad Dog, a sad sad Dog; and I humbly
hope your Lordship will order him to be hang'd out of the Way
immediately.--He has committed Pyracy upon the High Seas, and we shall
prove, an't please your Lordship, that this Fellow, this sad Dog before
you, has escap'd a thousand Storms, nay, has got safe ashore when the Ship
has been cast away, which was a certain Sign he was not born to be drown'd;
yet not having the Fear of hanging before his Eyes, he went on robbing and
ravishing Man, Woman and Child, plundering Ships Cargoes fore and aft,
burning and sinking Ship, Bark and Boat, as if the Devil had been in him.
But this is not all, my Lord, he has committed worse Villanies than all
these, for we shall prove, that he has been guilty of drinking Small-Beer;
and your Lordship knows, there never was a sober Fellow but what was a
Rogue.--My Lord, I should have spoke much finer than I do now, but that, as
your Lordship knows our Rum is all out, and how should a Man speak good Law
that has not drank a Dram.--However, I hope, your Lordship will order the
Fellow to be hang'd.
_Judge._--Hearkee me, Sirrah,--you lousy, pittiful, ill-look'd Dog; what
have you to say why you should not be tuck'd up immediately, and set a
Sun-drying like a Scare-crow?--Are you guilty, or not guilty?
_Pris._ Not guilty, an't please your Worship.
_Judge._ Not guilty! say so again, Sirrah, and I'll have you hang'd without
any Tryal.
_Pris._ An't please your Worship's Honour, my Lord, I am as honest a poor
Fellow as ever went between Stem and Stern of a Ship, and can hand, reef,
steer, and clap two Ends of a Rope together, as well as e'er a He that ever
cross'd salt Water; but I was taken by one _George Bradley_ [the Name of
him that sat as Judge,] a notorious Pyrate, a sad Rogue as ever was
unhang'd, and he forc'd me, an't please your Honour.
_Judge._ Answer me, Sirrah,--How will you be try'd?
_Pris._ By G-- and my Country.
_Judge._ The Devil you will.--Why then, Gentlemen of the Jury, I think we
have nothing to do but to proceed to Judgment.
_Attor. Gen._ Right, my Lord; for if the Fellow should be suffer'd to
speak, he may clear himself, and that's an Affront to the Court.
_Pris._ Pray, my Lord, I hope your Lordship will consider--
_Judge._ Consider!--How dare you talk of considering? --Sirrah, Sirrah, I
never consider'd in all my Life. --I'll make it Treason to consider.
_Pris._ But, I hope, your Lordship will hear some Reason.
_Judge._ D'ye hear how the Scoundrel prates?--What have we to do with
Reason?--I'd have you to know, Raskal, we don't sit here to hear
Reason;--we go according to Law.--Is our Dinner ready?
_Attor. Gen._ Yes, my Lord.
_Judge._ Then heark'ee, you Raskal at the Bar; hear me, Sirrah, hear
me.--You must suffer, for three Reasons; first, because it is not fit I
should sit here as Judge, and no Body be hang'd.--Secondly, you must be
hang'd, because you have a damn'd hanging Look:--And thirdly, you must be
hang'd, because I am hungry; for know, Sirrah, that 'tis a Custom, that
whenever the Judge's Dinner is ready before the Tryal is over, the Prisoner
is to be hang'd of Course.--There's Law for you, ye Dog.--So take him away
Goaler.
* * *
This is the Tryal just as it was related to me; the Design of my setting it
down, is only to shew how these Fellows can jest upon Things, the Fear and
Dread of which, should make them tremble.
The beginning of _August_ 1722, the Pyrates made ready the Brigantine, and
came out to Sea, and beating up to Windward, lay in the Track for their
Correspondant in her Voyage to _Jamaica_, and spoke with her; but finding
nothing was done in _England_ in their Favour, as 'twas expected, they
return'd to their Consorts at the Island with the ill News, and found
themselves under a Necessity, as they fancied, to continue that abominable
Course of Life they had lately practis'd; in order thereto, they sail'd
with the Ship and Brigantine to the Southward, and the next Night, by
intolerable Neglect, they run the _Morning Star_ upon the _Grand Caimanes_,
and wreck'd her; the Brigantine seeing the Fate of her Consort, hall'd off
in Time, and so weather'd the Island. The next Day Captain _Anstis_ put in,
and found that all, or the greatest part of the Crew, were safe ashore,
whereupon she came to an Anchor, in order to fetch them off; and having
brought _Fenn_ the Captain, _Philips_ the Carpenter, and a few others
aboard, two Men of War came down upon them, _viz._ the _Hector_ and
_Adventure_, so that the Brigantine had but just Time to cut their Cable,
and get to Sea, with one of the Men of War after her, keeping within
Gun-shot for several Hours. _Anstis_ and his Crew were now under the
greatest Consternation imaginable, finding the Gale freshen, and the Man of
War gaining Ground upon them, so that, in all Probability, they must have
been Prisoners in two Hours more; but it pleased God to give them a little
longer Time, the Wind dying away, the Pyrates got out their Oars, and row'd
for their Lives, and thereby got clear of their Enemy.
The _Hector_ landed her Men upon the Island, and took 40 of the _Morning
Star_'s Crew, without any Resistance made by them; but on the contrary,
alledging, they were forc'd Men, and that they were glad of this
Opportunity to escape from the Pyrates; the rest hid themselves in the
Woods, and could not be found. _George Bradley_ the Master, and three more,
surrender'd afterwards to a _Burmudas_ Sloop, and were carried to that
Island.
The Brigantine, after her Escape, sail'd to a small Island near the Bay of
_Honduras_, to clean and refit, and, in her Way thither, took a _Rhode
Island_ Sloop, Captain _Durfey_, Commander, and two or three other Vessels,
which they destroy'd, but brought all the Hands aboard their own.
While she was cleaning, a Scheme was concerted between Captain _Durfey_,
some other Prisoners, and two or three of the Pyrates, for to seize some of
the Chiefs, and carry off the Brigantine; but the same being discovered
before she was fit for sailing, their Design was prevented: However,
Captain _Durfey_, and four or five more, got ashore with some Arms and
Ammunition; and when the Pyrates Canoe came in for Water, he seiz'd the
Boat with the Men; upon which _Anstis_ ordered another Boat to be mann'd
with 30 Hands and sent ashore, which was accordingly done; but Captain
_Durfey_, and the Company he had by that Time got together, gave them such
a warm Reception, that they were contented to betake themselves to their
Vessel again.
About the beginning of _December_, 1722, _Anstis_ left this Place and
return'd to the Islands, designing to accumulate all the Power and Strength
he could, since there was no looking back. He took in the Cruise a good
Ship, commanded by Captain _Smith_, which he mounted with 24 Guns, and
_Fenn_, a one handed Man, who commanded the _Morning-Star_ when she was
lost, went aboard to command her. They cruis'd together, and took a Vessel
or two, and then went to the _Bahama Islands_, and there met with what they
wanted, _viz._ a Sloop loaded with Provisions, from _Dublin_, called the
_Antelope._
It was time now to think of some Place to fit up and clean their Frigate
lately taken, and put her in a Condition to do Business; accordingly they
pitch'd upon the Island of _Tobago_, where they arrived the beginning of
_April_, 1723, with the _Antelope_ Sloop and her Cargo.
They fell to work immediately, got the Guns, Stores, and every Thing else
out upon the Island, and put the Ship upon the Heel; and just then, as ill
Luck would have it, came in the _Winchelsea_ Man of War, by Way of Visit,
which put the Marooners into such a Surprize, that they set Fire to the
Ship and Sloop, and fled ashore to the Woods. _Anstis_, in the Brigantine,
escap'd, by having a light Pair of Heels, but it put his Company into such
a Disorder, that their Government could never be set to rights again; for
some of the New-Comers, and those who had been tir'd with the Trade, put an
End to the Reign, by shooting _Tho. Anstis_ in his Hammock, and afterwards
the Quarter-Master, and two or three others; the rest submitting, they put
into Irons, and surrender'd them up, and the Vessel, at _Curacco_, a
_Dutch_ Settlement, where they were try'd and hang'd; and those concerned
in delivering up the Vessel, acquitted.
But to return to Captain _Fenn_, he was taken stragling with his Gunner and
three more, a Day or two after their Misfortune, by the Man of War's Men,
and carry'd to _Antegoa_, where they were all executed, and _Fenn_ hang'd
in Chains. Those who remain'd, staid some Time in the Island, keeping up
and down in the Woods, with a Hand to look out; at length Providence so
order'd it, that a small Sloop came into the Harbour, which they all got
aboard of, except two or three Negroes, and those they left behind. They
did not think fit to pursue any further Adventures, and therefore
unanimously resolved to steer for _England_, which they accordingly did,
and in _October_ last came into _Bristol_ Channel, sunk the Sloop, and
getting ashore in the Boat, dispersed themselves to their Abodes.
CHAP. XI. OF Captain _WORLEY_, And his CREW.
HIS Reign was but short, but his Beginning somewhat particular,
setting out in a small open Boat, with eight others, from _New-York._ This
was as resolute a Crew as ever went upon this Account: They took with them
a few Biscuits, and a dry'd Tongue or two, a little Cag of Water, half a
dozen old Muskets and Ammunition accordingly. Thus provided, they left
_New-York_ the latter End of _September_ 1718, but it cannot be supposed
that such a Man of War as this, could undertake any considerable Voyage, or
attempt any extraordinary Enterprize; so they stood down the Coast, till
they came to _Delaware_ River, which is about 150 Miles distant, and not
meeting with any Thing in their Way, they turn'd up the same River as high
as _Newcastle_, near which Place they fell upon a Shallop belonging to
_George Grant_, who was bringing Houshold Goods, Plate, _&c._ from
_Oppoquenimi_ to _Philadelphia_; they made Prize of the most valuable Part
of them, and let the Shallop go. This Fact could not come under the Article
of Pyracy, it not being committed _super altum Mare_, upon the High-Sea,
therefore was a simple Robbery only; but they did not stand for a Point of
Law in the Case, but easing the Shallop Man of his Lading, the bold
Adventurers went down the River again.
The Shallop came straight to _Philadelphia_, and brought the ill News
thither, which so alarm'd the Government, as if War had been declared
against them; Expresses were sent to _New-York_, and other Places, and
several Vessels fitted out against this powerful Rover, but to no manner of
Purpose; for after several Days Cruize, they all return'd, without so much
as hearing what became of the Robbers.
_Worley_ and his Crew, in going down the River, met with a Sloop of
_Philadelphia_, belonging to a Mulatto, whom they call'd _Black Robbin_;
they quitted their Boat for this Sloop, taking one of _Black Robin_'s Men
along with them, as they had also done from _George Grant_, besides two
Negroes, which encreased the Company one Third. A Day or two after, they
took another Sloop belonging to _Hull_, homeward bound, which was somewhat
fitter for their Purpose; they found aboard her, Provisions and
Necessaries, which they stood in need of, and enabled them to prosecute
their Design, in a manner more suitable to their Wishes.
Upon the Success of these Rovers, the Governor issued out a Proclamation,
for the apprehending and taking all Pyrates, who had refused or neglected
to surrender themselves, by the Time limited in his Majesty's Proclamation
of Pardon; and thereupon, ordered his Majesty's Ship _Phoenix_, of 20 Guns,
which lay at _Sandy Hook_, to Sea, to cruize upon this Pyrate, and secure
the Trade to that, and the adjoining Colonies.
In all probability, the taking this Sloop sav'd their Bacons, for this
Time, tho' they fell into the Trap presently afterwards; for they finding
themselves in tolerable good Condition, having a Vessel newly cleaned, with
Provisions, _&c._ they stood off to Sea, and so missed the _Phoenix_, who
expected them to be still on the Coast.
About six Weeks afterwards they returned, having taken both a Sloop and a
Brigantine, among the _Bahama_ Islands; the former they sunk, and the other
they let go: The Sloop belonged to _New-York_, and they thought the sinking
of her good Policy, to prevent her returning to tell Tales at Home.
_Worley_ had by this Time encreased his Company to about five and twenty
Men, had six Guns mounted, and small Arms as many as were necessary for
them, and seem'd to be in a good thriving sort of a Way. He made a black
Ensign, with a white Death's Head in the Middle of it, and other Colours
suitable to it. They all signed Articles, and bound themselves under a
solemn Oath, to take no Quarters, but to stand by one another to the last
Man, which was rashly fulfill'd a little afterwards.
For going into an Inlet in _North-Carolina_, to clean, the Governor
received Information of it, and fitted out two Sloops, one of eight Guns,
and the other with six, and about seventy Men between them. _Worley_ had
clean'd his Sloop, and sail'd before the _Carolina_ Sloops reached the
Place, and steered to the Northward; but the Sloops just mentioned,
pursuing the same Course, came in sight of _Worley_, as he was cruising off
the Capes of _Virginia_, and being in the Offin, he stood in as soon as he
saw the Sloops, intending thereby to have cut them off from _James_ River;
for he verily believed they had been bound thither, not imagining, in the
least, they were in Pursuit of him.
The two Sloops standing towards the Capes at the same Time, and _Worley_
hoisting of his black Flag, the Inhabitants of _James_ Town were in the
utmost Consternation, thinking that all three had been Pyrates, and that
their Design had been upon them; so that all the Ships and Vessels that
were in the Road, or in the Rivers up the Bay, had Orders immediately to
hale in to the Shore, for their Security, or else to prepare for their
Defence, if they thought themselves in a Condition to fight. Soon after two
Boats, which were sent out to get Intelligence, came crowding in, and
brought an Account, that one of the Pyrates was in the Bay, being a small
Sloop of six Guns. The Governor expecting the rest would have followed, and
altogether make some Attempt to land, for the sake of Plunder, beat to
Arms, and collected all the Force that could be got together, to oppose
them; he ordered all the Guns out of the Ships, to make a Platform, and, in
short, put the whole Colony in a warlike Posture; but was very much
surprised at last, to see all the supposed Pyrates fighting with one
another.
The Truth of the Matter is, _Worley_ gained the Bay, thinking to make sure
of his two Prizes, by keeping them from coming in; but by the hoisting of
the King's Colours, and firing a Gun, he quickly was sensible of his
Mistake, and too soon perceived that the Tables were turned upon him; that
instead of keeping them out, he found himself, by a superiour Force kept
in. When the Pyrates saw how Things went, they resolutely prepar'd
themselves for a desperate Defence; and tho' three to one odds, _Worley_
and his Crew determined to fight to the last Gasp, and receive no Quarters,
agreeably to what they had before sworn; so that they must either Dye or
Conquer upon the Spot.
The _Carolina_ Men gave the Pyrate a Broadside, and then Boarded him, one
Sloop getting upon his Quarter, and the other on his Bow; _Worley_ and the
Crew, drew up upon the Deck, and fought very obstinately, Hand to Hand, so
that in a few Minutes, abundance of Men lay weltering in their Gore; the
Pyrates proved as good as their Words, not a Man of them cry'd out for
Quarter, nor would accept of such, when offered, but were all killed except
the Captain and another Man, and those very much wounded, whom they
reserved for the Gallows. They were brought ashore in Irons, and the next
Day, which was the 17th of _February_ 1718-19, they were both hanged up,
for fear they should dye, and evade the Punishment as was thought due to
their Crimes.
CHAP. XII. OF Capt. _George Lowther_, And his CREW.
G_Eorge Lowther_ sailed out of the River of _Thames_, in one of the
Royal _African_ Company's Ships, call'd the _Gambia Castle_, of 16 Guns and
30 Men, _Charles Russel_ Commander; of which Ship, the said _Lowther_ was
second Mate. Aboard of the same Ship, was a certain Number of Soldiers,
commanded by one _John Massey_, who were to be carried to one of the
Company's Settlements, on the River of _Gambia_, to Garrison a Fort, which
was sometime ago taken and destroy'd by Captain _Davis_ the Pyrate.
In _May_ 1721, the _Gambia Castle_ came safe to her Port in _Africa_, and
landed Captain _Massey_ and his Men on _James_'s Island, where he was to
Command under the Governor, Colonel _Whitney_, who arrived there at the
same Time, in another Ship: And here, by a fatal Misunderstanding, between
the military Folks and the Trading People, the Fort and Garrison not only
came to be lost again to the Company, but a fine Galley well provided, and
worth 10000 _l._ turned against her Masters.
The Names of Governor and Captain sounded great, but when the Gentlemen
found that the Power that generally goes along with those Titles, was
oversway'd and born down by the Merchants and Factors, (mechanick Fellows
as they thought them) they grew very impatient and disatisfy'd, especially
_Massey_, who was very loud in his Complaints against them, particularly at
the small Allowance of Provisions to him and his Men; for the Garrison and
Governor too, were victualled by the Merchants, which was no small
Grievance and Mortification to them. And as the want of eating was the only
Thing that made the great _Sancho_ quit his Government, so did it here rend
and tare their's to Pieces: For _Massey_ told them, _that he did not come
there to be a_ Guiney _Slave, and that he had promised his Men good
Treatment, and Provisions fitting for Soldiers: That as he had the Care of
so many of his Majesty's Subjects, if they would not provide for them in a
handsome Manner, he should take suitable Measures for the Preservation of
so many of his Countrymen and Companions._
The Governor at this Time was very ill of a Fever, and, for the better
Accomodation in his Sickness, was carried aboard the Ship _Gambia Castle_,
where he continued for about three Weeks, and therefore could have little
to say in this Dispute, tho' he resolved not to stay in a Place, where
there was so little Occasion for him, and where his Power was so confin'd.
The Merchants had certainly Orders from the Company, to issue the
Provisions out to the Garrison, and the same is done along the whole Coast;
but whether they had cut them short of the Allowance that was appointed
them, I can't say, but if they did, then is the Loss of the Ship and
Garrison owing principally to their ill Conduct.
However, an Accident that happened on Board the Ship, did not a little
contribute to this Misfortune, which was a Pique that the Captain of her
took against his second Mate, _George Lowther_, the Man who is the Subject
of this short History; and who losing his Favour, found Means to ingratiate
himself into the good liking of the common Sailors, insomuch that when
Captain _Russel_ ordered him to be punish'd, the Men took up Handspikes,
and threat'ned to knock that Man down, that offered to lay hold of the
Mate. This served but to widen the Differences between him and the Captain,
and more firmly attach'd _Lowther_ to the Ship's Company, the greatest Part
of which, he found ripe for any Mischief in the World.
Captain _Massey_ was no wit the better reconciled to the Place, by a longer
Continuance, nor to the Usage he met with there, and having often
Opportunities of conversing with _Lowther_, with whom he had contracted an
Intimacy in the Voyage; they aggravated one another's Grievances to such a
height, that they resolved upon Measures to curb the Power that controul'd
them, and to provide for themselves after another Manner.
When the Governor recover'd of his Fever, he went ashore to the Island, but
took no Notice of _Massey_'s Behaviour, tho' it was such as might give
Suspicion of what he designed; and _Lowther_, and the common Sailors, who
were in the Secret of Affairs, grew insolent and bold, even refusing to
obey when commanded to their Duty by Captain _Russel_ and the chief Mate.
The Captain seeing how Things were carried, goes ashore early one Morning
to the Governor and Factory, in order to hold a Council, which _Lowther_
apprehending, was in order to prevent his Design, sent a Letter in the same
Boat to _Massey_, intimating it to him, and _that he should repair on
Board, for it was high Time to put their Project in Execution._
As soon as _Massey_ received this Letter, he went to the Soldiers at the
_Barracks_, and said to them, and others, _You that have a Mind to go to_
England, _now is your Time_; and they generally consenting, _Massey_ went
to the Store-Room, burst open the Door, set two Centinels upon it, and
ordered that no Body should come near it; then he went to the Governor's
Apartment, and took his Bed, Baggage, Plate and Furniture, (in Expectation
that the Governor himself, as he had promised _Massey_, would have gone on
Board, which he afterwards refused, by Reason, as he said, he believed they
were going a-pyrating; which at first, whatever _Lowther_ designed,
_Massey_ certainly proposed only the going to _England_;) when this was
done, he sent the Boat off to the chief Mate, with this Message, _That he
should get the Guns ready, for that the King of_ Barro [a Negro Kingdom
near the Royal _African_ Settlement] _would come aboard to Dinner._ But
_Lowther_ understanding best, the meaning of those Orders, he confined the
chief Mate, shotted the Guns, and put the Ship in a Condition for sailing.
In the Afternoon _Massey_ came on Board with the Governor's Son, having
sent off all the Provisions of the Island, and eleven Pipes of Wine,
leaving only two half Pipes behind in the Store-House, and dismounted all
the Guns of the Fort.
In the Afternoon they weigh'd one Anchor, but fearing to be too late to get
out of the River, they slipp'd the other, and so fell down; in doing of
which, they run the Ship a-ground. _Massey_ shew'd himself a Soldier upon
this Accident, for as soon as the Misfortune happen'd, he left the Ship
with about sixteen Hands, and rows directly to the Fort, remounts the Guns,
and keeps Garrison there all the Night, while the Ship was ashore; and
obliged some of the Factory to assist in getting her clear. In the mean
while, _Russel_ came off, but not being suffered to come on Board, he
call'd to _Lowther_, and offered him and the Company, whatever Terms they
would be pleased to accept of, upon Condition of surrendering up the Ship,
which had no Effect upon any of them. In the Morning they got her afloat,
and _Massey_ and his Men came aboard, after having nailed up and dismounted
all the Cannon of the Fort: They put the Governor's Son, and two or three
others ashore, who were not willing to go without the Governor, and sail'd
out of the River, having exchanged several Shot with the _Martha, Otter,
&c._ that lay there, without doing Execution on either Side.
When the Ship came out to Sea, _Lowther_ called up all the Company, and
told them, _it was the greatest Folly imaginable, to think of returning to_
England, _for what they had already done, could not be justifyed upon any
Pretence whatsoever, but would be look'd upon, in the Eye of the Law, a
capital Offence, and that none of them were in a Condition to withstand the
Attacks of such powerful Adversaries, as they would meet with at Home; for
his Part he was determined not to run such a Hazard, and therefore if his
Proposal was not agreed to, he desired to be set a Shore in some Place of
Safety: That they had a good Ship under them, a parcel of brave Follows in
her, that it was not their Business to starve, or be made Slaves; and
therefore, if they were all of his Mind, they should seek their Fortunes
upon the Seas, as other Adventurers had done before them._ They one and all
came into the Measures, knocked down the Cabins, made the Ship flush fore
and aft, prepared black Colours, new named her, _the Delivery_, having
about 50 Hands and 16 Guns, and the following short Articles were drawn up,
signed and sworn to upon the Bible.
The Articles of Captain _George Lowther_, and his Company.
1. _THE Captain is to have two full Shares; the Master is to have one Share
and a half; the Doctor, Mate, Gunner, and Boatswain, one Share and a
quarter._
2. _He that shall be found Guilty of taking up any unlawful Weapon on Board
the Privateer, or any Prize, by us taken, so as to strike or abuse one
another, in any regard, shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and
Majority of the Company shall think fit._
3. _He that shall be found Guilty of Cowardize, in the Time of Engagement,
shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and Majority shall think fit._
4. _If any Gold, Jewels, Silver_, &c. _be found on Board of any Prize or
Prizes, to the Value of a Piece of Eight, and the Finder do not deliver it
to the Quarter-Master, in the Space of_ 24 _Hours, shall suffer what
Punishment the Captain and Majority shall think fit._
5. _He that is found Guilty of Gaming, or Defrauding another to the Value
of a Shilling, shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and Majority of the
Company shall think fit._
6. _He that shall have the Misfortune to lose a Limb, in Time of
Engagement, shall have the Sum of one hundred and fifty Pounds Sterling,
and remain with the Company as long as he shall think fit._