THOMAS TEW, WHO RETIRED AND LIVED AT NEWPORT
Privateering was a thriving business during the last half of the
seventeenth century, and commissions were issued in large numbers by
all the colonial governors in America.
In 1691, Thomas Tew, a young seaman hailing from Rhode Island in
New England, came into Bermuda with gold in his pockets and after a
time purchased a share in the sloop “Amity,” owned by merchants and
officials living on the island, among whom were Thomas Hall, Richard
Gilbert, John Dickenson, Col. Anthony White and William Outerbridge.
The latter was a member of the Governor’s Council. Tew claimed to
belong to a good Rhode Island family that had been living there since
1640,[68] and having interested his part-owners in the “Amity,” a
privateering commission was obtained from the governor and beating up a
willing crew of volunteers, the sloop, with Tew in command, was shortly
on her eastward passage.
It was afterwards claimed by one Weaver, counselor for the King in the
prosecution of Governor Fletcher of New York, that during Tew’s stay
at Bermuda “it was a thing notoriously known to everyone that he had
before then been a pirate”;[69] and a sailor who had known him well
testified that he “had been rambling.” When Tew sailed from Bermuda
there went in company with him another privateer sloop commanded by
Capt. George Drew, fitted out by the governor, and the commissions
issued to these captains instructed them to take the French factory at
Goree, on the river Gambia, on the west coast of Africa.
On the voyage out a violent storm came up; Captain Drew’s sloop sprung
her mast and the two vessels lost sight of each other. A morning or
two after the gale had spent itself Captain Tew ordered all hands on
deck and told them that they probably realized the proposed attack on
the French factory would be of little value to the public and of no
particular reward to them for their bravery. As for booty, there was
not the least prospect of any. Speaking for himself, he had only agreed
to take a commission for the sake of being employed and therefore he
was of the opinion they should turn their thoughts to bettering their
condition and if so inclined he would shape a course that would lead
to ease and plenty for the rest of their days. The ship’s company
undoubtedly were prepared for Captain Tew’s proposal for we are told
that they unanimously cried out, “A gold chain or a wooden leg--we’ll
stand by you.”[70]
A quartermaster was then chosen to look out for the interests of the
ship’s company and instead of continuing the voyage to Gambia, a
course was made for the Cape of Good Hope and in time the Red Sea was
reached. Just as they were entering the Strait of Babelmandeb, a large
and richly laden Arabian vessel hove in sight carrying about three
hundred soldiers and much gold. Tew told his men that this was their
opportunity to strike for fortune and although it was apparent that
the ship was full of men and mounted a great number of guns, the Arabs
would be lacking in skill and courage; which proved true for she was
taken without loss. Each man’s share in the gold and jewels amounted
to over three thousand pounds sterling and the store of powder was so
great that much was thrown overboard.
From the Strait they steered for Madagascar where the quartermaster
and twenty-three others elected to leave the ship and settle there
proposing to enjoy a life of ease in a delightful climate producing
all the necessaries for existence. The rest of the company remained
with Captain Tew who planned to return to America. The sloop sailed but
before getting out of sight of land sighted a ship and Tew, thinking to
return home somewhat richer, stood towards her and when within gunshot
hoisted black colors and fired a gun to windward. The stranger hove to
and fired a gun to leeward and hoisting out a boat Captain Tew soon
learned that he had intercepted Captain Mission, a famous pirate in
those parts who had come out from France with a privateering commission
and some time before had established a settlement on Madagascar and
named it Libertatia.
Captain Tew was invited on board the “Victoire,” Captain Mission’s
ship, and after being handsomely entertained was invited to visit the
pirate colony that had been set up at Libertatia. On returning to the
sloop and telling his men what he had learned, the company consented
and Mission’s ship was followed until the harbor was reached which they
were much surprised to see was well fortified. The first fort saluted
them with nine guns and the company on shore received Captain Tew and
his men with great civility. He was soon invited to take part in a
council of officers to consider what should be done with the large
number of prisoners brought in by Mission. Seventy-three of these men,
English and Portuguese, took on and the rest were set at work on a dock
in process of construction about half a mile above the mouth of the
harbor.
Tew and his men were charmed with the settlement and the new friends
they had made and here they remained until Captain Mission, desiring
to strengthen his colony, decided to send a ship to Guinea to seize
slaving ships frequenting that coast. He offered the command of this
expedition to Captain Tew and gave him a crew of two hundred men
composed of thirty English and the rest French, Portuguese and negroes.
Tew didn’t sight a vessel until in the Atlantic, north of the Cape of
Good Hope, where he fell in with a Dutch East Indiaman of eighteen guns
which he took with the loss of but one man and secured several chests
filled with English crowns. Nine of the Dutchmen joined his company and
the rest were set ashore in Soldinia Bay. On the coast of Angola he
took an English vessel with two hundred and forty slaves aboard among
whom the negroes in his crew found relatives. These men told the slaves
of the happy life they lead in Madagascar where none lived in slavery
and so prepared, their leg irons and handcuffs were taken off and a
course was made for Libertatia where the captured slaves were set at
work on the dock.
After his return Captain Tew was given command of a sloop mounting
eight guns and manned with one hundred men and with the schoolmaster in
command of another sloop of about the same size, made a voyage around
Madagascar charting the coast and discovering the shoals and depths of
water. Tew’s sloop was called the “Liberty.” The schoolmaster commanded
the “Childhood”; and the expedition was absent nearly four months.
Not long after this Captain Tew proposed that he should return to
America and arrange with merchants to send to Madagascar ship’s stores,
clothing and a variety of luxuries needed for the safety and comfort
of the pirate colony. Some of his men also wished to return to their
families, and so the “Amity” was refitted and Tew set a course for
the Cape and soon was in the South Atlantic bound for the island of
Bermuda. Contrary winds prevented, however, and running into a brisk
gale he sprung his mast and after beating about for a fortnight at last
made his old home at Newport, R. I., where he was received with much
respect when his prosperous “privateering” voyage became known.
From here he dispatched an account to his part-owners in Bermuda and an
order for them to send an agent to receive their share in the produce
of the voyage and a few weeks later a sloop arrived, commanded by one
Captain Stone, who, some years after testified that when he presented
his order to Captain Tew from the Bermuda owners, he found that part of
the money was buried in the ground at Newport and for the remainder he
was obliged to go to Boston.[71]
Outerbridge, the councillor, received £540 left by Tew in Boston and
his entire share in the proceeds of the voyage amounted to over £3000,
which reached him in the form of “Lyon dollars and Arabian gold.” The
pieces of Arabian gold were then worth about two Spanish dollars and
soon were common in Rhode Island and New York. Tew’s share in the
proceeds amounted to about £8000.
Some ten years later, when Kidd and Bradish had been hanged and the
Council of Trade was busily engaged in stirring up matters supposedly
overlooked or forgotten, an officious agent of the Council appeared
at Bermuda and began to uncover the close relations existing between
pirates and prominent merchants and officials in the islands. Some of
the facts concerning Outerbridge, Colonel White and others then came
out and were reported to London. The agent was George Larkin and he
brought a commission as Judge of an Admiralty Court which very soon was
ignored and when his true activities were recognized he was threatened
and various complaints were made under oath and at last he was arrested
“by the Marshall with a file of musqueteers and taken to the castle,
a forlorne place, where there is but one room and the waves of the
sea beat over the platform into it in stormy weather.... The Clerk
of the Justices came to the Islands, a fidler in a Pyrate ship and
the proceedings here against me differ in few circumstances from the
Inquisition till they come to the Rack.”[72]
Captain Tew when in Boston had applied to the governor for a new
privateering commission and been refused but found no considerable
objection in Rhode Island although it cost him £500. In New York, he
found Frederick Phillips not averse to making profitable voyages to
Madagascar and soon the ship “Frederick” was dispatched with a full
cargo and seven years later the Rev. John Higginson of Salem, when
writing to his son Nathaniel, in command of Fort George, at Madras,
reported the current rumor that Phillips had attained an estate of
£100,000, much of it gained in the pirate trade to Madagascar.
Having completed his arrangements, Tew set sail with a commission
authorizing him to seize the ships of France and the enemies of the
Crown of England and in a few weeks had rounded the Cape and was at
anchor in the harbor at Libertatia.
Not long after his return he went out with Captain Mission on a cruise
to the Red Sea, each in command of a ship manned by about two hundred
and fifty men including many negroes. Off the coast of Arabia Felix
they came upon a large ship belonging to the Great Mogul with more than
a thousand pilgrims on board bound for Mecca. The ship carried one
hundred and ten guns but made a poor defence and was boarded and taken
without the loss of a single man. After a consultation it was decided
to put the prisoners ashore near Aden, but as they wanted women, over
one hundred unmarried girls, from twelve to eighteen years old, were
kept notwithstanding their tears and the lamentations of their parents.
With the large ship in company they made their way back to Libertatia
where they found in her hold a vast quantity of diamonds, besides rich
silks, spices, rugs and wrought and bar gold.
The prize was a heavy sailer and of no use so she was taken to pieces
and her guns mounted in two batteries near the mouth of the harbor.
The settlement was now so strongly fortified that there was little
danger of successful attack from shipping. By this time they had also
cleared and cultivated a considerable area of land and had in pasturage
over three hundred black cattle. The dock was finished and all were
living comfortably and happily each supplied according to taste and
nationality with several white, yellow or black wives.
One morning a sloop that had been sent out to exercise the negroes,
came back chased by five tall ships which proved to be fifty-gun ships
flying the Portuguese flag. The alarm was given and all the forts and
batteries manned. Tew commanded the English and Mission commanded the
French and the negroes. The two forts at the entrance to the harbor
didn’t stop the ships, though one was brought on the careen, but once
inside, the forts, batteries, sloops and ships gave them so warm a
reception that two of them sank and many men were drowned. Having
entered just before the turn of the tide, the other ships, with the
help of the ebb tide, made haste to escape; but they were followed by
the ships and sloops in the harbor and in the bay, after a running
fight, one was taken that greatly increased the store of powder and
shot in the magazine. The other two escaped but in crippled condition.
This was the engagement with the pirates that made so much noise in
Europe and America.
Captain Tew was now made admiral of their fleet and proposed building
an arsenal, which was agreed upon. He also proposed going on a cruise,
hoping to meet East India ships and bring in some volunteers, for
he thought the colony at that time more in need of men than riches.
The flagship “Victoire” was accordingly fitted out and manned with
three hundred men and Tew put to sea intending to call first at the
settlement made by his former quartermaster and men, where, coming to
anchor, he went ashore. The governor, _alias_ quartermaster, received
him civilly but could not be persuaded to agree upon a change in his
comfortable situation where his company enjoyed all the necessaries of
life and were free and independent of all the world.
Late that afternoon, while they were drinking a bowl of punch, a
violent storm came up suddenly with so high a sea that Captain Tew
could not go out to his ship. The storm increased and in less than two
hours the “Victoire” parted her cables and was driven ashore on a steep
point where everyone on board was drowned in sight of Tew who could
give no assistance. Not knowing which way to turn he remained with his
former men hoping that Captain Mission in time might come in search of
him, which happened a few weeks later.
One morning two sloops came to anchor off-shore and soon a canoe was
hoisted out and brought Captain Mission ashore. He brought doleful
news. At dead of night two great bodies of natives had come down on
the pirate settlement and slaughtered men, women and children without
mercy. The absence of the three hundred men on the “Victoire” and the
sailing about the same time of another pirate ship, the “Bijoux,” had
so weakened the settlement that the natives soon prevailed through
sheer force of numbers and Captain Mission escaped with only forty-five
men. He was able, however, to bring away with him a considerable weight
of rough diamonds and bar gold.
The two captains condoled with each other over their misfortunes and
Tew at last proposed that they abandon further roving and return to
America where, with the riches that remained to them, they could live
in comfort and safety for the rest of their lives. Mission was a
Frenchman and could not think of retiring from active life until he
had visited his family, but he gave up one of the sloops to Tew and
divided with him the diamonds and gold that had been saved.
A week later the two captains sailed, Mission having fifteen Frenchmen
and Portuguese in his sloop and Tew taking thirty-four English in the
sloop commanded by him. They shaped a course for the Guinea Coast, but
off Infantes, before reaching the Cape, they were overtaken by a storm
in which the unhappy Mission’s sloop went down within a musket shot of
Captain Tew who could give no assistance.
Captain Tew continued his course for America and reached Newport
safely where his men took their share of diamonds and gold and quietly
dispersed as they thought best while Tew settled down among his
former acquaintances to spend a tranquil life. He lived unquestioned
and with his easy fortune might in time have married the daughter
of some neighbor and spent the remainder of his days as a retired
privateersman. One of his company, Thomas Jones, who had formerly
sailed with “Long Ben” Avery, married Penelope Goulden and also settled
down and lived in Rhode Island, but others, who continued to live there
or elsewhere in the province, soon squandered their shares and began
soliciting him to make another voyage. For a time he refused until
at last a considerable number of resolute lads came in a body and so
earnestly begged him to head them for one more voyage that he finally
agreed.
His frequent journeys to New York in connection with shipments to
Madagascar and more recently for the purpose of disposing of some part
of his store of diamonds, had given him an acquaintance with Governor
Fletcher, so in October, 1694, he presented himself at the Governor’s
mansion for the purpose of obtaining a privateering commission.
Governor Fletcher, like some other colonial governors, was always ready
to turn “an honest penny” and on Nov. 8, 1694, Tew was in possession of
the desired commission it having cost him exactly £300.
It was afterwards claimed by the Attorney General of New York in a
report to the Earl of Bellomont, the succeeding governor, that it was
well-known in New York that Captain Tew had been roving in the Red Sea
and had made much money. “He had brought his spoil to Rhode Island and
his crew dispersed in Boston where they shewed themselves publicly. In
1694 or 1695 Tew came to New York, where Governor Fletcher entertained
him and drove him about in his coach, though Tew publicly declared that
he would make another voyage to the Red Sea and make New York his port
of return.... He fitted out his sloop in Rhode Island, whence he sailed
to the Red Sea and there died or was killed. His crew picked up another
ship at Madagascar.”[73]
Governor Bellomont sent numerous dispatches to the Lords of Trade
describing in much detail the relations of his predecessor in office
with those who had sailed “on the account,” armed with privateering
commissions issued by Fletcher. He wrote that many pirates in the Red
Sea and elsewhere had been fitted out in New York or Rhode Island. The
ships commanded by Mason, Tew, Glover and Hore were commissioned by
Governor Fletcher. Everybody knew at the time they were bound for the
Red Sea, “being openly declared by the captains so as to enable them
to raise men and proceed on their voyage quickly.... Captain Tew, who
had before been a notorious pirate, on his return from the East Indies
with great riches visited New York, where, although a man of infamous
character, he was received and caressed by Governor Fletcher, dined and
supped often with him and appeared publicly in his coach. They also
exchanged presents, such as gold watches, with each other.”[74]
Governor Fletcher, on the other hand, protested that Captain Tew had
produced a commission from the Governor of Bermuda and accordingly
he had granted him another to make war against the French. “Captain
Tew brought no ship into this port. He came as a stranger and came to
my table like other strangers who visit this province. He told me he
had a sloop well manned and gave bond to fight the French at the mouth
of Canada river, whereupon I gave him a commission and instructions
accordingly.... It may be my misfortune, but not my crime, if they turn
pirates. I have heard of none yet that have done so.”
“Tew appeared to me,” wrote the disingenuous governor, “not only a man
of courage and activity, but of the greatest sense and remembrance
of what he had seen of any seaman that I ever met with. He was also
what is called a very pleasant man, so that some times after the day’s
labour was done, it was divertisement as well as information to me
to hear him talk. I wished in my mind to make him a sober man, and
in particular to cure him of a vile habit of swearing. I gave him a
book for that purpose, and to gain the more upon him I gave him a gun
of some value. In return he made me a present which was a curiosity,
though in value not much.”[75]
Tew’s commission was signed by Gov. Benjamin Fletcher and countersigned
by his private secretary, Daniel Honan, but his bond was signed by
Edward Coates, a notorious pirate, so it was said, and by John Feny, “a
Popist tailor of this city and a beggar.”[76]
Meanwhile, reasonably certain of securing his commission, Tew had been
busily engaged in fitting out his sloop for the new venture. He made no
bones about his intentions and such was his sense of security that he
talked freely with neighbors and also strangers.
A traveller passing through Newport in October, 1694, records that
he then saw three vessels fitting out. One of them, a sloop, was
commanded by Thomas Tew or Tue, whom he had known in Jamaica, twelve
years before. “He was free in discourse with me and declared that he
was last year in the Red Sea; that he had taken a rich ship belonging
to the Mogul and had received for his owner’s dividend and his sloop’s
twelve thousand odd hundred pounds, while his men had received upwards
of a thousand pounds each. When I returned to Boston there was another
barque of about thirty tons ready to sail and join Tew in the same
account. I was likewise advised of another that had sailed from the
Whore Kills in Pennsylvania, and that one or two were since gone on the
same account. I understand that two of the four that I saw are returned
with great booty.”[77]
“Captain Tew had a commission from the Governor of New York to cruise
against the French,” afterwards wrote Governor Bellomont. “He came out
on pretence of loading negroes at Madagascar, but his design was always
to go into the seas, having about seventy men on his sloop of sixty
tons. He made a voyage three years ago in which his share was £8000.
Want was then his mate. He then went to New England and the Governor
would not receive him; then to New York where Governor Fletcher
protected him. Colonel Fletcher told Tew he should not come there again
unless he brought store of money, and it is said that Tew gave him
£300 for his commission. He is gone to make a voyage in the Red Sea,
and if he makes his voyage will be back about this time. This is the
third time that Tew has gone out, breaking up for the first time in New
England and the second time in New York. The place that receives them
is chiefly Madagascar, where they must touch both going and coming. All
the ships that are now out are from New England, except Tew from New
York and Want from Carolina. They build their ships in New England, but
come out under pretence of trading from island to island. The money
they bring in is current there and the people know very well where they
go. One Captain Gough who keeps a mercer’s shop at Boston got a good
estate in this way. On first coming out they generally go first to
the Isle of May for salt, then to Fernando for water, then round the
Cape of Good Hope to Madagascar to victual and water and so for Batsky
[_sic_] where they wait for the traders between Surat and Mecca and
Tuda, who must come at a certain time because of the trade wind. When
they come back they have no place to go to but Providence, Carolina,
New York, New England and Rhode Island, where they all along have been
kindly received.”[78]
Captain Tew sailed from Newport in the sloop “Amity,” in November,
1694, and was joined by Captain Want in a brigantine and Captain
Wake[79] in another small vessel that had been fitted out at Boston.
Want was Tew’s mate on the first voyage and returned with him and
spent his share of the plunder in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania. On
the present voyage, Thomas Jones of Newport was also associated with
him. One Captain Glover, in a ship owned by New York merchants, is also
said to have joined Tew’s fleet and to have remitted to his owners the
value of the vessel. Probably Tew’s gold may have made the restitution
possible.[80]
In June, 1695, Captain Tew was at Liparau island at the mouth of the
Red Sea, where with other English vessels he joined the fleet commanded
by Captain Avery. Tew at that time had a crew of about forty men. After
lying there some time Avery sent a pinnace to Mocha and took two men
who gave them information as to the ships coming down. They then stood
out to sea and five or six days later the Moors’ ships, twenty-five in
number, passed them in the night. Hearing of this from a captured junk
they followed. The “Amity” was a bad sailer and fell astern and never
came up. The rest of the fleet overtook one of the Moorish vessels and
captured her after having fired three shots and found on board £60,000
in gold and silver. Soon another ship was taken after a fight of three
hours. The loot of this vessel was so great that each of the one
hundred and eighty men engaged received as his share over £1000. There
was a great quantity of jewels and a saddle and bridle set with rubies
designed as a present for the Great Mogul.[81]
After this fight, mention of Captain Tew disappears from all
contemporary sources of information save the passing allusions made
by the Attorney General of New York in his report to the Earl of
Bellomont (see page 93). It therefore is highly probable that there
may be foundation for the statement by Captain Johnson in his “History
of the Pirates,” that Captain Tew “attack’d a Ship belonging to the
Great _Mogul_; in the Engagement, a Shot carried away the Rim of
_Tew’s_ Belly, who held his Bowels with his Hands some small Space;
when he dropp’d it struck such a Terror in his men, that they suffered
themselves to be taken, without making Resistance.”
FOOTNOTES
[68] Richard Tew came from Maidford, co. Northampton, England, and
settled at Newport, R. I., in 1640, where he was a prominent citizen.
He served as deputy and assistant and was named in the charter granted
in 1663. Thomas Tew undoubtedly was his grandson. It was a well-known
family in Rhode Island and highly respected.
[69] _Calendar of State Papers, America and the West Indies_, 1699, p.
44.
[70] Johnson, _History of the Pirates_, London, 1726.
[71] _Calendar of State Papers, America and the West Indies_,
1702-1703, p. 1014.
[72] _Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies_, 1702-1703, p.
237.
[73] _Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies_, 1697-1698, p.
860.
[74] _Ibid._, 1697-1698, p. 473.
[75] _Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies_, 1697-1698, p.
587.
[76] _Ibid._, 1697-1698, p. 473.
[77] John Graves, in a letter printed in the _Calendar of State Papers,
America and West Indies_, 1696-1697, p. 744.
[78] _Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies_, 1696-1697,
pp. 259-260.
[79] Captain Wake was an old pirate who had received a pardon in King
James’ time.
[80] Jeremiah Basse, writing to the Secretary of the Council of
Trade in a letter that reached London on July 26, 1697, reported as
follows:--“In all I am told that there are gone from Boston, New York,
Pennsylvania and Carolina, from each one ship and from Rhode Island
two.... The Nassau met one of these rovers at the Cape Bonne Esperance
homeward bound from India. I was told by the mate of her that being
fearful lest the Dutch should make prize of her they got leave to put
some chests of money on board her, which chests were so heavy that
six men at the tackles could hardly hoist them in. The chests were
given back to the rovers at sea, who announced that they were bound to
Madagascar. The persons expected to return are Tew’s company, and all
those that sailed from New York and Rhode Island. It is expected that
they will try to conceal themselves in the Jerseys or Pennsylvania
being little inhabited about the harbour, they reckon themselves safe
there. I am told that some persons have already been preparing for
their reception there.”--_Calendar of State Papers, America and West
Indies_, 1696-1697, p. 1203.
[81] _Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies_, 1696-1697,
pp. 260-262.