JOHN PHILLIPS WHOSE HEAD WAS CUT OFF AND PICKLED
The sloop “Squirrel,” commanded by Skipper Andrew Haraden, sailed out
of Annisquam harbor, Cape Ann, on the morning of April 14th, 1724,
bound eastward on a fishing voyage. She was newly built. In fact, the
owner and skipper were both so anxious to see her on her way to the
banks that they didn’t wait for all the deck-work to be completed
before she sailed and so the necessary tools were taken along with the
intention of finishing the work before Cape Sable was reached. As the
sloop made outward into Ipswich Bay two or three sails were in sight,
among them a sloop, off to the eastward, following a course similar to
the “Squirrel” but a point or two more to the north, so that early in
the afternoon when the vessels were both off the Isles of Shoals, the
stranger was only a gunshot distant.
Skipper Haraden was looking her over when suddenly a puff of smoke
broke out of a swivel on her rail and the ball struck the water less
than a hundred feet in front of the “Squirrel’s” bow. Just after the
gun was fired the sloop ran up a black flag and soon the Annisquam
fisherman was headed into the wind and her skipper was getting into a
boat in answer to a command that came across the water from the pirate.
When he reached her deck, Haraden found that the pirate was commanded
by Capt. John Phillips who was well-known from the captures he had made
among the fishing fleets the year before. He was then on his way north
after spending a pleasant winter in the warm waters of the West Indies
and on the way up the coast had made numerous captures.
When Captain Phillips found that he had taken a newly built vessel,
with lines that suggested speed, he decided to take her over and the
next day the guns, ammunition and stores were transferred to the
“Squirrel” and the fishermen were ordered aboard the other sloop and
left to shift for themselves; but Skipper Haraden was forcibly detained.
Haraden soon found that about half of the men with Phillips had been
forced like himself and were only waiting for a chance to escape and
one of them, Edward Cheeseman, a ship carpenter, “broke his mind” to
Haraden not long after the vessels separated. It developed that various
plans had already been cautiously discussed by several of the captured
men and now that another bold man was aboard and an extra broadax and
adz used to complete the carpenter work on the “Squirrel” were about
the deck, the time seemed ripe to rise and capture the vessel. John
Filmore, a fisherman who had been captured by Phillips while off the
Newfoundland coast the previous fall, was active in abetting Cheeseman
in the proposal to rise. Filmore came from the town of Wenham which
is not far from Annisquam, and in November, 1724, after having been
acquitted of piracy by the Admiralty Court in Boston, he married Mary
Spiller of Ipswich and his son Nathaniel, became grandfather of Millard
Fillmore, President of the United States.
Several of the men on the “Squirrel” were for surprising the pirates at
night but as the sailing master, John Nutt, was a man of great strength
and courage, it was pointed out that it would be dangerous to attack
him without firearms. Cheeseman, who had taken the lead in proposing
the capture of the vessel, was resolutely in favor of making the
attack by daylight as less likely to end in confusion or mistake. He
also volunteered to make way with the long-armed Nutt. The plan agreed
upon called for a united assault at noon on April 17th, while the
carpenter’s tools lay about the deck, Cheeseman, the ship-carpenter,
having his tools there also. When the time arrived, Cheeseman brought
out his brandy bottle and took a dram with the rest, drinking to the
boatswain and the sailing master and “To their next merry meeting.” He
then took a turn about the deck with Nutt, asking him what he thought
of the weather and the like. Meanwhile, Filmore took up a broadax and
whirling it around on its point as though at play, winked at Cheeseman
to let him know that all was ready. He at once seized Nutt by the
collar and putting the other hand between his legs and holding hard he
tossed him over the side of the vessel. Nutt, taken by surprise, had
only time to grasp Cheeseman’s coat sleeve and say “Lord, have mercy
upon me! What are you trying to do, carpenter?” Cheeseman replied that
it was an unnecessary question “For, Master, you are a dead man,” and
striking him on the arm, Nutt lost his hold and fell into the sea and
never spoke again.
By this time the boatswain was dead, for as soon as Filmore saw the
master going over the rail he raised his broadax and gave the boatswain
a slash that divided his head clear to his neck. Nutt’s cry and the
noise of the scuffle brought the captain on deck to be met by a blow
from a mallet in the hands of Cheeseman, which broke his jaw-bone
but didn’t knock him down. Haraden then made for the captain with a
carpenter’s adz which Sparks, the gunner, attempted to prevent and
for his pains was tripped up by Cheeseman and tumbled into the hands
of Charles Ivemay, another of the conspirators, who, aided by two
Frenchmen, instantly tossed him overboard. Meanwhile, Haraden had
smashed the captain over the head with the adz and ended his piratical
career for all time. Cheeseman lost no time and jumped from the deck
into the hold and was about to beat out the brains of John Rose Archer,
the quartermaster, and already had got in two or three blows with
his mallet when Harry Giles, a young seaman, came down after him and
cried out that Archer’s life should be spared as evidence of their own
innocence so that it might not afterwards appear that the attack on
the pirates had been made with the intent of seizing their plunder.
Cheeseman saw the force of this advice and so Archer was spared and
secured with ropes as were three others who were below when the attack
was made on deck and who surrendered when they found out what had
happened.
Captain Haraden now took command of the “Squirrel” and altered her
course from Newfoundland to Annisquam which was reached on April 24th.
As they came into the harbor they prepared to fire a swivel to announce
their arrival to the village, but in some way the gun was prematurely
discharged and a French doctor on board, a forced man, was instantly
killed. Tradition, still lingering on the Cape, affirms that the head
of Phillips was hanging at the sloop’s mast-head when she arrived at
Annisquam[160] and there is an island in Annisquam River, known as
Hangman’s Island, which received its name from some connection with
this event. The local tradition has it that some of the pirates were
hanged on this island but that is incorrect as will be shown later. It
is possible, however, that Captain Haraden may have brought back one or
more bodies of the dead pirates, as trophies, and these bodies may have
been placed on gibbets erected on what is now Hangman’s Island.
The day after the return of the “Squirrel,” Captain Haraden, Israel
Tricker and William Mills went over to “the Harbor,” now the city
of Gloucester, and made oath before Esquire Epes Sargent to the
particulars of the capture and recapture of the sloop and on May 3d,
the entire company arrived in Boston and the four accused pirates and
the seven forced men found on board with them were placed in gaol to
await a speedy trial.
Before relating the story of what took place at the trial it may
be well to recount the piratical adventures of Capt. John Phillips
previous to the final encounter that cost him his head. He was an
Englishman, a carpenter by trade, who shipped for a Newfoundland voyage
in a West-Country ship and was captured on the way over by Captain
Anstis in the “Good Fortune.” Phillips soon became reconciled to the
life of a pirate and was appointed carpenter of the vessel and there he
continued until the company broke up at Tobago in the West Indies.
While Phillips was with Anstis, the ship “Irwin,” Captain Ross, bound
to the West Indies from Cork, Ireland, was taken off Martinico. Among
the passengers was Colonel Doyly of the island of Monserrat, who was
wounded and much abused while trying to save from the insults of the
pirate crew a poor woman, who was also a passenger. Twenty-one of the
scoundrels successively forced the poor creature and then they broke
her back and threw her overboard. Johnson in his “History of the
Pirates,” is responsible for this account, which seems incredible,
especially as all the known “Articles” of pirate ships expressly
forbid, under penalty of death, attacks on inoffensive women.
Before long, dissentions arose among the crew. Some wanted to petition
the King for a pardon and others wished to continue to sail under the
black flag. Finally it was decided to seek a retreat on the island
of Tobago while a petition was sent to England. It was signed in a
“round robin,” that is, all names were signed in a circle to avoid
the appearance of any one having signed first and thereby be thought
a principal. The petition stated that they had all been taken by
Bartholomew Roberts and forced; that they abhorred and detested piracy
and that their capture of the “Good Fortune” and other vessels had been
made in the hope of escaping and obtaining a pardon. This petition was
sent home by a merchant ship bound to England from Jamaica and in
her went a number of the company who felt certain of a pardon and among
them John Phillips.
[Illustration:
_A View of a Stage & also of y^e manner of Fishing for, Curing
& Drying Cod at NEW FOUND LAND._
_A. The Habit of y^e Fishermen. B. The Line. C. The manner of
Fishing. D. The Dressers of y^e Fish. E. The Trough into which
they throw y^e Cod when Dressed. F. Salt Boxes. G. The manner
of Carrying y^e Cod. H. The Cleansing y^e Cod. I. A Press to
extract y^e Oyl from y^e Cods Livers. K. Casks to receive y^e
Water & Blood that comes from y^e Livers. L. Another Cask to
receive the Oyl. M. The manner of Drying y^e Cod._
FISHING SHIP AND STATION, NEWFOUNDLAND, ABOUT 1717
From an insert in Herman Moll’s “Map of North America,” London
[1710-1717], in the possession of John W. Farwell]
His stay in England was short for while visiting his friends in
Devonshire he learned that some of his former companions had been
taken and were safe in custody in Bristol gaol and realizing that
his turn might come next he made for his nearest port, Topsham, and
shipped for a Newfoundland voyage with one Captain Wadham. When the
ship reached St. Peters, in Newfoundland, Phillips promptly deserted
and hired out for the season as a fish splitter. But this was only a
makeshift until he found opportunity to carry into effect his intended
piratical schemes. He soon persuaded a number of his fellow-workers to
join him in seizing a schooner owned by William Minott of Boston in the
Massachusetts Bay, which lay at anchor in the harbor near St. Peters.
The night of Aug. 29, 1723, was the time agreed upon for the adventure
but only four men put in an appearance out of the sixteen who had
agreed with Phillips to go pirating. Notwithstanding this falling away,
Phillips still favored taking the schooner, feeling certain they would
soon enlarge their company and so the vessel was seized and out of the
harbor they sailed.
When safely at sea they renamed their schooner the “Revenge,” chose
officers and drew up Articles to govern their future affairs. John
Phillips was made captain; John Nutt, master or navigator; James
Sparks, gunner, Thomas Fern, carpenter, and William White, the
remaining member of the company, constituted the crew. The Articles, as
drawn up, were sworn to upon a hatchet for lack of a Bible and were as
follows, viz.:--
“THE ARTICLES ON BOARD THE _REVENGE_.
“1. Every Man shall obey civil Command; the Captain shall have
one full Share and a half in all Prizes; the Master, Carpenter,
Boatswain and Gunner shall have one Share and quarter.
“2. If any Man shall offer to run away, or keep any Secret from
the Company, he shall be maroon’d, with one Bottle of Powder,
one Bottle of Water, one small Arm and Shot.
“3. If any Man shall steal any Thing in the Company, or game to
the Value of a Piece of Eight, he shall be maroon’d or shot.
“4. If at any Time we should meet another Marrooner [that is,
pyrate], that Man that shall sign his Articles without the
Consent of our Company, shall suffer such Punishment as the
Captain and Company shall think fit.
“5. That Man that shall strike another whilst these Articles
are in force, shall receive Moses’s Law (that is, 40 Stripes
lacking one) on the bare Back.
“6. That Man that shall snap his Arms, or smoak Tobacco in the
Hold, without a Cap to his Pipe, or carry a Candle lighted
without a Lanthorn, shall suffer the same Punishment as in the
former Article.
“7. That Man that shall not keep his Arms clean, fit for an
Engagement, or neglect his Business, shall be cut off from his
Share, and suffer such other Punishment as the Captain and the
Company shall think fit.
“8. If any Man shall lose a Joint in Time of an Engagement, he
shall have 400 Pieces of Eight, if a Limb, 800.
“9. If at any Time we meet with a prudent Woman, that Man that
offers to meddle with her, without her Consent, shall suffer
present Death.”
Thus organized and prepared, the “Revenge” was steered to the fishing
banks and several small vessels were soon captured out of which they
forced a few men and found a few others who joined them voluntarily.
Among the latter was a man named John Rose Archer who had served off
the Carolina coast under the famous Teach, otherwise called “Black
Beard,” and because he was experienced in the trade Captain Phillips
made him quartermaster, an appointment that disaffected some of the
original company and especially Fern, the carpenter, which led to
his attempted desertion at a later time. Three fishing vessels were
taken Sept. 5th, near a harbor in Newfoundland and John Parsons, John
Filmore, and Isaac Lassen, an Indian man, were forced. Lassen was
usually employed afterwards as man at the helm. About the middle of
the month a schooner, one Furber, master, was taken and on the 20th
of September a French vessel of 150 tons fell into their hands from
which they looted thirteen pipes of wine, provisions and a “Great Gun
& Carriage valued at £50.”[161] Two Frenchmen, John Baptis and Peter
Taffery, were forced from this vessel. They afterwards were active in
helping Cheeseman and Haraden to recapture the “Squirrel.”
Early in October the “Revenge” was off Barbadoes and among the captures
made was the brigantine “Mary,” ---- Moor, master, from which cloth
and provisions valued at £500, were taken. A few days later they
fell in with a brigantine, ---- Reed, master, bound to Virginia with
servants. It was from this vessel that William Taylor was enlisted.
He afterwards said “they were carrying me to Virginia to be sold and
they met with these honest men [meaning the pirates] and I listed to
go with them.” Seven days later a Portuguese brigantine bound for
Brazil was captured, out of which a negro man slave named Francisco,
valued at £100, was taken; also three dozen shirts valued at £40, and
a cask of brandy valued at £30. On October 27th the sloop “Content,”
George Barrows, master, was captured near Bermuda. She was bound from
Boston for Barbadoes. The mate, John Masters, was forced and the sloop
was plundered of plate and provisions. Masters remained on board the
“Revenge” for four months before he was released.
Captain Phillips now bore away for the island of Barbadoes and cruised
about there and off the Leeward Islands for nearly three months without
speaking a single vessel so no captures were made and the supply of
provisions ran so low that the company was reduced to a pound of meat
a day for ten men. It was then that they came up with a French sloop
out of Martinico, of twelve guns and thirty-five men, a far superior
force which they would not have ventured to attack at any other time.
But “hunger will break down stone walls” and so the black flag was run
aloft and they boldly ran along side the sloop and ordered them to
strike immediately or no quarter would be given, which so intimidated
the Frenchmen that they made no resistance. The pirate crew plundered
her of all her provisions and taking four of her men, the sloop was
allowed to go.
Soon after this welcome supply of provisions was obtained Captain
Phillips proposed that the “Revenge” be careened and her bottom cleaned
and suggested that they go to the island of Tobago where the former
company of pirates that he belonged to, under Anstis and Fern, had
broken up. He said that there had been left behind on the island six
or eight men who would not take the chance of returning to England,
and three negro servants, and if any of these men yet remained on
the island they now would certainly join the company on board the
“Revenge.” This seemed worth while to the company so a course was set
for Tobago and when reached careful search was made for the men but
only one of the negroes was found, who told Captain Phillips that the
rest of those left behind including Captain Fern had been taken by a
man-of-war’s crew and carried to Antigua and hanged. This was bad news.
Nevertheless, they fell to work careening the sloop and just as the job
was completed, a man-of-war’s boat came nosing into the harbor and the
ship could be seen cruising to the leeward of the island. No time was
lost and as soon as the boat left, the “Revenge” was warped out and a
course to the windward was made in all haste. The four Frenchmen were
left on the island.
Captain Phillips now steered northerly and on February 4, 1724, when
about thirty-five leagues south of Sandy Hook, they captured a
snow, -------- Laws, master, from New York bound for Barbadoes, and
obtained cloth and provisions. Fern, the carpenter, James Wood, William
Taylor and William Phillips were sent on board the snow and ordered
to navigate her in company with the “Revenge.” They sailed southward
until latitude 21° was reached when Fern and Wood attempted to run
away with the vessel. Fern had not forgotten that Archer had been
appointed quartermaster in preference to him and had been waiting for
this opportunity to break company with Captain Phillips, so he brought
over the others to his way of thinking and then changed the course
of the snow. Captain Phillips was keeping a good lookout, however,
and interpreting their design correctly gave chase and coming up with
the snow a skirmish ensued. Fern was ordered to come on board the
“Revenge” and replied by firing at the captain and a brisk exchange of
shots followed during which Wood was killed and William Phillips badly
wounded in his left leg. The other two then surrendered.
There was no surgeon on board either of the vessels and after a
consultation it was decided that Phillips’ leg must be cut off. But who
should perform the operation was much disputed. Finally the carpenter
was selected as the man best fitted for the job. He brought up from his
chest his largest saw and taking the injured leg under his arm fell to
work as though he were cutting a deal board in two and soon the leg was
separated from the body of the patient. The carpenter then heated his
broadax red hot and cauterized the wound but this use of his excellent
tool being less familiar to him than the previous operation he
unfortunately burned flesh somewhat removed from the amputated surface
and in consequence the wound narrowly escaped becoming mortified.
Nature, however, made up for his lack of skill and in time a cure was
effected without other assistance.
Two months after this rude operation had been performed, a fishing
schooner was taken and Captain Phillips proposed that the maimed man
should be put on board the vessel before she was allowed to go, but
he absolutely refused saying “if he should go they would hang him.”
William Phillips afterwards testified at his trial in Boston, that he
had been forced out of the sloop “Glasgow,” William Warden, master,
which had been captured in October, 1723, and “that sometime after
he was on board, he understood there were Articles drawn up for the
Captain called him auft, and with his pistol Cocked demanded him to
sign the said Articles or else he would blow his Brains out, which he
refused to do, Reminding the Captain of his promise that he should
be cleared; but the Captain Declaring that it should not hurt him, &
Insisting on it as aforesaid he was obliged to sign the said Articles.”
He also testified that when Fern and the others were attempting to get
away in the snow, they told him they were going to Holmes’ Hole and
“there every one to shift for himself.”[162]
On Feb. 7, 1724, in latitude 37°, a ship bound from London for
Virginia, fell into the clutches of Captain Phillips. The master was
Captain Hussam and from this vessel they secured a great gun and
carriage, with powder and ball and forced Henry Gyles, “an artist,” _i.
e._ a man who understood navigation. Gyles afterwards testified in the
Admiralty Court that William White, one of the pirates who boarded the
ship, threatened “to cut him in sunder if he didn’t make haste to go on
board the pirate with his Books and Instruments.”[163] While on board
the “Revenge,” Gyles kept the journal having been ordered to do so by
Nutt, the sailing master.
Captain Phillips continued his southerly course and shortly took a
Portuguese ship bound for Brazil and two or three sloops from Jamaica
in one of which Fern again attempted to make his escape and this time
he was shot and killed by Phillips. Another man met the same fate a
few days later so that the forced men became very careful how they
discussed measures for getting away and in sheer terror several of
them signed the Articles and quietly waited for a certain opportunity.
On March 27, 1724, two ships from Virginia, bound for London, were
taken, one of them commanded by Capt. John Phillips, the pirate’s
namesake, and the other by Capt. Robert Mortimer, a young married man
on his first voyage in command. Phillips, the pirate captain, remained
on board Captain Mortimer’s ship while his men transferred the crew
to the sloop and when the boat returned one of the pirate crew called
up to Phillips that there was a mutiny on board their vessel. Captain
Mortimer had two of his men left on board and there were two pirates
with Phillips. When Mortimer heard of the mutiny he thought it was an
opportunity to recover his ship and taking up a handspike he struck
Phillips over the head making a dangerous wound but not felling him
to the deck. Phillips was able to draw his sword and wound Mortimer
and the two pirates that were on board coming to his assistance the
unfortunate captain was soon cut to pieces while his own two men stood
by and did nothing.
Out of the other ship they forced Charles Ivemay, a seaman, and also
Edward Cheeseman, the carpenter, to fill the place of their former
carpenter, Fern, who had been killed by Phillips. It was while Filmore,
the young man from Wenham, was rowing Cheeseman from one ship to the
other, that he told him of his condition on board the pirate vessel and
how few voluntary pirates there were on board and proposed that they
join with others in capturing the sloop. More came of this later.
The very last of March, the schooner “Good-Will,” of Marblehead, was
taken, Benjamin Chadwell, master, and on April 1st, a fishing schooner,
William Lancy, master, fell into their hands off Cape Sable. Lancy was
detained on board the “Revenge” and while there saw nine different
vessels taken, including a Cape Ann sloop commanded by Capt. John
Salter. On board Captain Lancy’s schooner was a seaman named David Yaw
who afterwards deposed that when the pirates came on board one of them,
John Baptis, a Frenchman, “damn’d him and kicked him in his legs and
pointed to his Boots, which was a sign as this deponent understood it
that he wanted his Boots, and he accordingly pulled them off and Baptis
took them.”[164]
Among the vessels taken about this time, most of them while Captain
Lancy was on board, were those commanded by the following masters,
viz.:--Joshua Elwell, Samuel Elwell, Mr. Combs, Mr. Lansly, James
Babson, Edward Freeman, Mr. Start, Obadiah Beal, Erick Erickson,
Benjamin Wheeler and Dependence Ellery. The latter captain gave
Phillips a long chase and when he came up with him about night, the
poor man was dragged aboard the “Revenge” and made to dance about the
deck until he could hardly stand.
It was on April 14th that Captain Haraden’s sloop was taken and three
days later Phillips was dead. Of the men who had sailed with him from
Newfoundland less than eight months before all had met a violent death
except William White and he reached the gaol in Boston on May 3d and
was brought to a speedy trial.[165]
The Court of Admiralty for the trial of the pirates was held May 12th,
1724 and the Lieutenant-Governor of the Province, William Dummer, sat
as President. John Filmore, the son of the Wenham farmer, and Edward
Cheeseman, the carpenter of the London-bound ship, who had been so
active in the capture of the pirates, were brought to trial first and
“Articles of Piracy, Robbery and Felony exhibited” against them, by the
King’s attorney. Skipper Haraden testified as to the details of his
capture by Phillips and to the exciting events on the day when Phillips
was killed. Everything indicated that both men had been forced and the
activity they had shown in attacking the voluntary pirates was all in
their favor so the court room was cleared and a unanimous verdict of
“not guilty” was declared.
In the afternoon, the Court sat again and William Phillips, Isaac
Larsen, the Indian, Henry Giles, “the artist,” Charles Ivemay, John
Bootman, John Combs and Henry Payne were brought to the bar. The men
were accused of assisting in the capture and plunder of the vessels
taken since the previous October and John Masters, formerly mate of the
sloop “Content,” and William Lancy, the master of a fishing schooner,
both of whom had testified at the morning session, were placed on the
witness stand. Filmore and Cheeseman also gave particular accounts
of occurrences on board the pirate vessel. It was agreed that Larsen
had hold of Captain Phillips’ arm when Haraden struck him on the head
with the adz and that during the seven months while on board “he was
generally set at the helm to steer the vessel” and Filmore said that he
never saw him guilty of piracy “except that they now and then obliged
him to take a shirt or a pair of stockings when almost naked.”
William Phillips, who had lost a leg, addressed the court and attempted
to justify his conduct on board the pirate vessel. He said that he had
been forced out of the sloop “Glasgow” and had signed the Articles
under compulsion, but the Court “by a plurality of voices” found him
guilty and the rest of the accused, not guilty, by unanimous voice.
William White, one of the original five who seized the sloop “Revenge”
at Newfoundland, and John Archer, “otherwise called John Rose Archer,”
who claimed to have served with “Black Beard” on the Carolina coast,
and William Taylor, were brought to trial the next day. Filmore was the
principal witness against them. He had been in the harbor of St. Peters
at the time that Mr. Minott’s sloop had been taken by Phillips and the
others and not long after had been captured by them. White had told him
that he had been in drink at the time he entered into his piratical
design and was afterwards sorry. As for William Taylor,--“he was very
Great with Phillips and Nutt, being admitted into the Cabin upon any
Consultation they had together.” All three were found guilty.
The two Frenchmen, John Baptis and Peter Taffery, also escaped the
gallows for it was shown that they had been active at the rising
against the pirates and with the others had fallen on James Sparks,
the gunner, and killed him and thrown the body overboard. Haraden also
testified in their favor.
On Tuesday, June 2, 1724, John Rose Archer, aged about twenty-seven
years, and William White, aged twenty-two years, were executed at the
ferryway in Boston leading to Charlestown, “where were a multitude
of spectators. At one end of the Gallows was their own dark Flag, in
the middle of which an Anatomy, and at one side of it a Dart in the
Heart, with drops of Blood proceeding from it; and on the other side an
Hour-glass, the sight dismal.... After their death they were in Boats
conveyed down to an Island, where the Quarter Master was hung up in
Irons, to be a spectacle, and so a Warning to others.”[166]
It is said that they both died very penitent and made on the scaffold
the following declarations with the assistance of two grave divines who
attended them.
[Illustration:
_The Converted Sinner._
The NATURE of a
CONVERSION
to Real and Vital
PIETY:
And the MANNER in which it
is to be Pray’d & Striv’n for.
A SERMON Preached in
BOSTON, May 31, 1724.
In the _Hearing_ and at the _Desire_ of
certain PIRATES, a little before
their Execution.
To which there is added, A more Private
CONFERENCE of a MINISTER with them.
Jam. V. 20.
_He who Converteth the Sinner from the
Error of his way, shall save a Soul
from Death._
_BOSTON_: Printed for _Nathaniel Belknap_
and Sold at his Shop the Corner
Scarletts-Wharff. 1724.
]
“The dying Declarations of John Rose Archer, and William White,
on the Day of their Execution at Boston, June 2, 1724, for the
Crimes of Pyracy,
“First, separately, of _Archer_.
“I Greatly bewail my Profanations of the Lord’s Day, and my
Disobedience to my Parents. And my Cursing and Swearing, and my
blaspheming the Name of the glorious God.
“Unto which I have added, the Sins of Unchastity. And I have
provoked the Holy One, at length, to leave me unto the Crimes
of Pyracy and Robbery; wherein, at last, I have brought my self
under the Guilt of Murder also.
“But one Wickedness that has led me as much as any, to all the
rest, has been my brutish Drunkenness. By strong Drink I have
been heated and hardened into the Crimes that are now more
bitter than Death unto me.
“I could wish that Masters of Vessels would not use their Men
with so much Severity, as many of them do, which exposes us to
great Temptations.
“And then of _White_.
“I am now, with Sorrow, reaping the Fruits of my Disobedience
to my Parents, who used their Endeavours to have me instructed
in my Bible, and my Catechism.
“And the Fruits of my neglecting the publick Worship of God,
and prophaning the holy Sabbath.
“And of my blaspheming the Name of God, my Maker.
“But my Drunkenness has had a great Hand in bringing my Ruin
upon me. I was drunk when I was enticed aboard the Pyrate.
“And now, for all the vile Things I did aboard, I own the
Justice of God and Man, in what is done unto me.
“Of both together.
“We hope, we truly hate the Sins, whereof we have the Burthen
lying so heavy upon our Consciences.
“We warn all People, and particularly young People, against
such Sins as these. We wish, all may take Warning by us.
“We beg for Pardon, for the Sake of Christ, our Saviour; and
our Hope is in him alone. Oh! that in his Blood our Scarlet and
Crimson Guilt may be all washed away!
“We are sensible of an hard Heart in us, full of Wickedness.
And we look upon God for his renewing Grace upon us.
“We bless God for the Space of Repentance which he has given
us; and that he has not cut us off in the Midst and Height of
our Wickedness.
“We are not without Hope, that God has been savingly at work
upon our Souls.
“We are made sensible of our absolute Need of the Righteousness
of Christ; that we may stand justified before God in that. We
renounce all Dependance on our own.
“We are humbly thankful to the Ministers of Christ, for the
great Pains they have taken for our Good. The Lord reward their
Kindness.
“We don’t despair of Mercy; but hope, through Christ, that when
we die, we shall find Mercy with God, and be received into his
Kingdom.
“We with others, and especially the Sea-faring, may get Good by
what they see this Day befalling of us.
“Declared in the Presence of
“J. W. D. M.”
Jeremiah Bumstead, a Boston brazier, recorded in his diary that “Mr.
Webb wallkt with them and prayed thare: their death flagg was set on
the gallows.” Six days later he took his wife and ten relatives and
neighbors and sailed down the harbor “to see the piratte in Gibbits att
Bird Island.” Bird island was located about half-way between Governor’s
island and Noddle’s island, now East Boston. Fifty years later it had
worn away so that little remained but a sandy flat exposed at low water
and before many years it had disappeared entirely. As for Phillips
and Taylor; they were reprieved before the day set for execution and
finally pardoned but for what reason does not appear.
Preserved among the manuscripts in the Massachusetts State Archives
are the papers connected with this trial and among them is the bill
rendered by the marshal for expenses incurred by him in connection with
the execution and gibbetting of Archer.
“The Province of the Massachusetts Bay
to Edward Stanbridge, Dr.
June 2,
1724
For Sundrys by him Expended being Marshall and by Order of a
Special Cort of Admiralty for the Execution of John Rose Archer
and William White two Pirats, Viz.:
To the Executioner for his Services £12:00:-
To Mr. Joseph Parsons for Cordage & Line 2:17:6
To Boat hire and Labourers to help sett the Gibet and
there Attendance at the Execution and Diging the
grave for White 3:10:8
To Expences for Victuals and Drink for the Sherifs
officers and Constables after the Executions att Mrs.
Mary Gilberts her Bill 3:15:8
To George May, Blockmaker, 5 Blocks with straps and
hooks and Sheaves 1: 5:-
To Makeing of the Chains for John Rose Archer one of
the Pyrats and the hire of a man to help fix him on
the Gebbet att Bird Island 12:10:-
To treating the Gentlemen that listed the Piratical
Goods 0: 5:-
--------
£36: 3:10
“E: Excepted
“P Edward Stanbridge.”
FOOTNOTES
[160] Babson, _History of Gloucester_, p. 287. This very likely is
true as Jeremiah Bumstead of Boston recorded in his diary on May 3,
1724, that “Phillip’s & Burrill’s heads were brought to Boston in
pickle.”--_N. E. Hist. Gen. Reg._, Vol. 15, p. 201.
[161] _Massachusetts Archives_, Vol. 63, leaf 341.
[162] _Massachusetts Archives_, Vol. 63, leaf 381.
[163] _Ibid._, Vol. 63, leaf 386.
[164] _Massachusetts Archives_, Vol. 63, leaf 383.
[165] Phillips had captured between August 29, 1723 and April 14, 1724,
a snow from New York, Low, master; three shallops; fifteen fishing
vessels; three schooners, Haskel of Cape Ann, Furber and Chadwell;
three brigantines, Moore, Read, and Francisco, masters; four sloops,
Barrow, Salter and Harradine, masters; five ships, one from France, and
a Frenchman, another from Martinico, Hussam from London to Virginia,
two from Virginia for London, John Phillips and Robert Mortimer; in all
thirty-four vessels.--_Boston News-Letter_, Apr. 30--May 7, 1724 issue.
[166] _Boston News-Letter_, May 28-June 4, 1724 issue.