of the Iland of Jemekea did Exammine the Commision of Capt. John
Dagles, and having found itt Good the Sayed Jenerall gave him
Permision to baye[7] a frigat for the Sayed ware according to his
Commision, and touck men, Arrems and Amunision for the ware with the
Ennemis of the king of Portagall, and the Sayed Capt. John Daglas
Sayeled from the Iland Jemeake with permision of the sayed Jenearell.
[Footnote 7: Buy.]
And about 3 Mounth After Sayling out of thees harbor Jemeke, this
Sayed Capt. Dagles had Nouse by Severell Engles Vessells that thar was
a vessell Redey to Sayell Out of the harbor of Jemeake loden by the
Jues under the king of Spaine, and the Sayed Captaine vas very
Diligant to mite with the Sayed Shipe, the which Shipe was called the
_blau Duff_, mr. Robart Coxe Commander, and this Sayed Capt. John
Daglas had knowledge of this sayed Shipe in the baye of blue fild,
whare no one Inhabeted, distant 32 Leages from the harbor of Jemekea,
the which Capt. went with his Sayed frigett and found a Commission
from the Engea Compenia of Ansterdam,[8] With letters and loden from
thes Jues for Ansterdam, and after that toucke the Depousision of 5
prisnores, the which did all Declare that the Sayed Shipe did Beloung
to Ansterdam and bound for Ansterdam with his loden, and the Sayed
Prisnores Gave the Sayed depusison befor Capt. Pemmellton,[9] Chefe
Justes in Pescatabay.
[Footnote 8: The Dutch West India Company, Amsterdam Chamber.]
[Footnote 9: Pendleton.]
And After the Sayed Capt. John Dagles toucke the prise, Sayled outt of
the Channell Called bahem[10] and Steared his Cource to Sayle into
portag'll with this his Sayed Prise, to give knowledg to the king of
portugall, in which Sayed vaydge wanting vettiells and watter he
Arived in Now England for to tack watter and fitt his Ship for this
his Sayed vaydge to portugall.
[Footnote 10: The Bahama Channel.]
And [after] he did Arive att the port of Pescatabay, the Sayed Capt.
Daglas Did Send ashore one of his Offecers to the Sayed Capt.
Pemmellton, Justice of Putatabay, desiering Permision to watter and to
give him libertey to sell som goods for to baye vittells and to be
goine in his vaydge to Portugall.
And upon his Desier the sayed Justase Capt. Pemmellton Sent word to
the sayed Capt. Dagles that hee was verey wellcom and that he had his
libertey to doue in seviletey[11] what his mind was and upon this his
word the sayed Capt. Dagles was Obleged to him.
[Footnote 11: To do in civility.]
And After 8 Dayes the touck the Sayed Capt. Dagles prisnor and his men
and seased upon his vessell and goods and pout all his men out and
pout outher men abord, the which did Plonder me and my men Just to
Ouer Sherts.
Sertenly itt tis a very Sad Cace that a Jntallman[12] of his qualetea
Should youse a stranger soe unsivell, because of the Aleance between
the Crounes,[13] and not to give him libertey to goe a bout his
bousnes--and he had seased my Commision and all my paperes as if I
ware an Enneme to the Croune of England.
[Footnote 12: Gentleman.]
[Footnote 13: Of England and Portugal, 1661.]
_27. Power of Attorney from Sir William Davidson. September 13,
1664._[1]
[Footnote 1: Mass. Archives, vol. 60, pp. 259-261. In the _Calendar of
State Papers, Colonial_, 1661-1668, p. 284, appears a letter from King
Charles II. to the governor of Jamaica, March 1, 1665, in which he
speaks of Douglas's piratical seizure of Davidson's ship, and declares
that he (the king) has written to the governor and council at Boston
to apprehend the pirate, but has heard nothing of them.]
Bee it knowne Unto all men by these presents that on the Thirteenth
day of the month of September, Anno domini one thousand six hundred
sixty and Foure, And in the sixteenth yeare of the raigne of our
soveraigne Lord Charles the second, by the grace of God King of
England, Scotland, Frannce and Ireland, defendor of the faith, etca.
Before me William Allen, notary and tabellion publicke dwelling in
this Citty of London, by the Authority of the said Kings Majesty
admitted and sworne, and in the presence of the witnesses here after
named personnally appeared Sir William Davidson, Knight and Barronett,
his Majestyes Royall Commissionner at Amsterdam in Holland, etca., at
present in this Citty of London, one of the Gentlemen of his
Majestyes privy Chamber in ordinary;
Who hath declared that Whereas The ship or Vessell lately Called the
_Blew Dove_ of London, where of Robert Cooke of Ratcliffe was lately
master and James Watson servant to the said Sir William Davidson Supra
Cargoe on the said shipp, or by whatsoever other name the said ship
may be Called or knowne, Together with all her Loading of Sugar,
quicksilver, Cacau, Tobaccoe, Brazillet wood, and other goods,
merchandises, silver mony, and other things whatsoever, lately loaden
at Jamaica by the servants of the said sir William Davidson, was (as
hee the said William Davidson is Certainely informed) villanously and
Roguishly taken by Pyratts, Rovers, and Theeves, Comeing from Jamaica
aforesaid; and Brought upp to Boston in New England, or thereabouts;
Now hee the said Sir William Davidson hath, in the best manner way and
forme unto him possible, made, ordained and Constituted and by these
presents in his stead and place doth make, ordaine and Constitute Mr.
Francis Willoughby of Charles Towne in New England, merchant,[2] his
true and lawfull Atturny, Giving and by these presents graunting unto
his said Atturny full power, Commission, and lawfull authority, for
and in the name and to the Use of the said Sir William Davidson, to
demaund, sue for, leavy, recover, receave and take possession of the
said shipp lately Called the _Blew dove_ of London (or by whatsoever
other name shee may bee Called or knowne), And all furniture and
appurtenances to her belonging, Together with all her Loading of
sugar, quick silver, Cacau, Tobaccoe, Brazillet wood, and other goods,
merchandises, silver mony, and other things whatsoever, And to make
and give such acquittances and discharges as shall be requisite, And
in all thinges to follow the orders and directions of the said Sir
William Davidson; And further to take, seize upon, and apprehend the
said Pyratts, Rovers, and Theeves, and prossecute them according to
law, And if neede bee by reason of the premisses to appeare before
whatsoever Lords Judges and Justices in any Court or Courts, there to
answere, defend and reply in all matters and Causes touching or
Concerneing the premisses, to doe, say, pursue, Implead, arrest,
seize, sequester, attache, Imprison, and to Condemne, and out of
prison againe to deliver; And further generally in and Concerneing the
premisses to doe all thinges which hee the said Sir William Davidson
might or Could doe if that hee should be then and there personnally
present, with power to substitute one or more Atturnyes under him with
like or lymmitted power and the same againe to revoake; And the said
Sir William Davidson doth promise to rattify, Confirme, allow and
approove of all and whatsoever his said Atturny, or his substitute or
substitutes shall lawfully doe, or Cause or procure to bee donne, in
and about the premisses, by vertue of these presents; In witnesse
whereof the said Sir William Davidson hath signed, sealed and
delivered these presents;
[Footnote 2: Deputy-governor of Massachusetts 1665-1671.]
Thus donne and passed at London aforesaid in the presence of Captaine
John Tailor of London, merchant,[3] and Mr. Nicholas Corsellis alsoe
of London, merchant, as witnesses hereunto required.
[Footnote 3: Willoughby's father-in-law. Waters, _Genealogical
Gleanings_, pp. 970-977. Corsellis was a Dutch merchant in London.]
JOHN TAYLOR. WILLIAM DAVIDSON.
NICOLAS CORSELLIS.
In testimonium veritatis
WM. ALLEN, Not's Pub'cus,
1664
THE _PROVIDENCE_.
_28. Certificate of Cornelius de Lincourt. April 12/22, 1673._[1]
[Footnote 1: Suffolk Court Files, Boston, no. 1257, paper 11. There
was war between England and the United Provinces, 1672-1674. The Dutch
privateer _'s Landswelvaren_ (Commonweal) captures the _Providence_ on
April 4/14, 1673, and puts on board her a prize crew. The two vessels
become separated. On April 11/21 the _'s Landswelvaren_ makes prize of
the ketch mentioned in this document, in which Captain de Lincourt
presents the ketch, by way of consolation, to the master of the
_Providence_. On April 12/22 the prize crew of the _Providence_, by a
ruse, possesses itself of the _Little Barkley_, but presently both
English crews separately recover possession of their vessels, and they
separately make their way to Boston. Raddon, master of the
_Providence_, arrives there later.]
Lett it bee knowne to all kings, princes and potentates in Christendom
and to all those that it may Concerne, how that upon the 21th day of
aprill 1673 before the River of Virginia have taken and overmastered
Under the Comition of his highness my lord prince William the third of
Oringe, taken a Cetch called _Dergens_ [?] Coming from Boston out of
new england, goeing to the River of Virginia, whearof was skiper John
Cox, which ketch I was intended for to burne or to sinck, but after
severall Considerations I doe give the same ketch and all that belongs
unto her freely and liberaly unto the honorable Capt. Thomas Raddon
and Mr. Joseph Fox, whoe both likewise weare taken by mee, to have and
to hold as their owne Ketch and to dispose thereof to their owne
Content.
Signed by mee in the Ship Called _Slanswelvarn_ at sea the 22th day of
Aprill 1673.
CORNELIS DE LINCOURT.
Stierman, JAN CORNELISSE.
Stierman, PIETER GERRITSZ.
bootsman,[2] THOMAS SEVERS.
Constapel,[3] ANTONI FERO.
Schyman,[4] JACOB WALLE.
[Footnote 2: Boatswain.]
[Footnote 3: Gunner.]
[Footnote 4: Boatswain's mate.]
I the underwritten do acknowledge that this above mentioned act is
done and signed in the presence of my officers and signed by them
before skiper Cox, Master of the above mentioned ketch, dated as
above.
CORNELIOUS DELINCOURT.
Copia vera. G. SWERINGEN.
_29. Deposition of John Johnson and Henry Harris. April 26, 1673._[1]
[Footnote 1: Suffolk Court Files, Boston, no. 1257, paper 19.]
The depositions of John Johnson, aged 18 yeers, steersman, and Henry
Harris, aged about 24 yeers:
These depon'ts testifie and say that they these deponts together with
severall other seamen belonging unto Flushing, under the comand of
Capt. Cornelious Lincort, Comand'r of the shipp _Slandt Welvaeren_, in
English the _Comonwelth_, by vertu of a Comisson from his highness the
prince of orange, we came up with the _Providence_ of Falmouth (who
was bound to Virginia) in the Latitude of 36: and 40: and tooke her,
which when taken these depon'ts and ten more were put on bord her to
Keepe and secure her, and after wee had been on bord some hours, in
the night wee lost our own shipp and saw them no more, and about seven
dayes after wee came up with a Londoner and thinking to take him, four
of our company went on bord in the night but never returned, and the
next day after the English that belonged to the sd Ship _Providence_,
and some of the other ship before mencioned that wee had on bord with
us prisoners, rose and retook her and suppressed us and have brought
sd shipp and us into Piscattay River.
Grt Island[2] the 26th April 1673. taken upon oath by the persons
above named before me
[Footnote 2: Great Island, lying in the mouth of the Piscataqua River;
at that time a part of Portsmouth, now New Castle, N.H.]
ELIAS STILEMAN, Comisr.[3]
[Footnote 3: From 1658 to 1679, under the Massachusetts government of
New Hampshire, Elias Stileman was a magistrate and county commissioner
for Portsmouth.]
_30. Petition of Edward Bant. About April 28, 1673._[1]
[Footnote 1: Suffolk Court Files, Boston, no. 1257, paper 1.]
To the Honorable County Court now sitting in Boston The humble
petition of Edward Bant on the Behalf of himself and the rest of the
Company belonging unto the Ship called the _Little Barklay_, being
five men in number, Humbly sheweth
That they your Hon'rs petitioners, with the sd ship, were taken about
Eighty Leagues East and by North from the Capes of Virginia by a Prize
formerly taken by Capt. Cornelius Lincoint, commander of a ship
belonging to Flushing called in English the _Commonwealth_. And the
next day following the Commander of the said prize went on board the
said _Barkley_, intending to have taken out her goods to put them on
board his own vessell, whilst wee your petit'rs were on board his
vessell as prisoners held in the Hold. And then the English Company
remaining on board the sd. _Barkley_ surprized them, the sd. Commander
and his Company, and sailed away with them. And about six hours after,
your petitioners, together with the other English men belonging to the
aforesd prize (when in possession of the English), made an
Insurrection and took the ship by violence from the Dutch men and have
brought her into the harbour at Puscataqua with eight Dutch men
prisoners in her, and her goods and Loading secured in the wearhouse
of Mr. Nathaniell Fryer.[2]
[Footnote 2: Merchant and county commissioner in Portsmouth.]
Whereupon your Hon'rs serious wise Consideration of the premises your
petitioners humbly pray your Hon'rs be pleased to order what salvage
they shall have out of the said ship and cargo now in Puscataqua, and
that with all expedition that may be, because they are all Strangers
and willing[3] to returne to their hoames, And lying here upon great
Charges, having nothing but what they borrow and cloathes on their
back. And as in duty bound they shall pray for your prosperity, etc.
[Footnote 3: _I.e._, desirous.]
8 May 1673. At a Court of Assistants on adjourmt.
In ans'r to the petition of Edward Bant in behalfe of himself and
fower seamen, the Court judgeth it meet to order that Mr. Nathaniel
Fryer allow and pay the sum of fiveteene pounds for their salvage,
taking their receipts for the same.
past. EDW. RAWSON, Secre'ty.
_31. Order of the Suffolk County Court. April 29, 1673._[1]
[Footnote 1: Suffolk Court Files, no. 1257, paper 6.]
At a County Court held at Boston Aprill 29th 1673.
In answer to the petition presented to this Court by Henry King and
Edward Bant who lately brought into the River of Piscataquay the Ship
_Providence_ of Falmoth, whereof said King was Mate in a voiadge from
England to Virginia, in which voiadge they were surprized by a Dutch
man of War,[2] and by the Petitioners and Company rescued out of
theire hands: who have since Surrendred the said Ship and her loading
into the hands of Mr. Nathaniel Fryer for the Securing and looking
after both in behalf of the Owners.
[Footnote 2: The term then included privateers. The _'s Landswelvaren_
was not a public vessel.]
This Court doe order and Empower Mr. Elias Stileman and Mr. Henry
Deering, together with said Fryer, or any two of them, to take a
particular acco't of the state of said ship, and to Inventory the
Goods brought in by and belonging to her, and to make provition for
the Securing of both for the right Owners, making a return thereof to
the present Dept. Govr. by the 7th of May next, and the said Fryer is
further ordered to disburse for the Company arrived in the said Ship
what may bee for the Supply of theire present necessities, and also
order that hee take care that the 8 Dutch men brought in prisoners in
the saide Ship bee forthwith brought to Boston before Authority, to be
disposed of as the matter may require, and for the other parts of the
petition's, touching Salvage or wages, The Court refers them to the
Counsell at theire next meeting.
Copia vera per ISAAC ADDINGTON, Cler.[3]
[Footnote 3: Afterward speaker 1685, assistant 1686, councillor and
secretary of the province 1692-1715.]
_32. Petition of Henry King. April 30, 1673._[1]
[Footnote 1: Suffolk Court Files, no. 1257, paper 4.]
To the Hon'able the Deputy Governor and Majest's[2] now assembled in
Court.
[Footnote 2: Magistrates, or members of the Court of Assistants.]
Hen. King.
Humbly Recommendeth to your worships candid consideration his present
case and Condition, hoping to obtaine your worships Juditious
approbation therein, to the end and intent that all persons Conserned
and Related to the ship _providence_ of Falmouth, which was taken by a
Dutch ship of warr on the 4th instant[3] about 40 Leagues short of the
Capes of Virginia and Retaken again by the means and directions of
your suppliants, who requeste that your worships will please to Grant
orders that your petitioner and those other seamen belonging to the
said ship who were asistant in Retaking her may have their wages
according to agreem't, from the time of their being shipt till the
said ship _providence_ with her Loading was brought into pascataqua
River and there put into the Custody of Mr. Nathaniel Fryar, who is
the Correspondant of one of the Owners of said ship with her Cargoe,
where she is to Continue till orders from authority or instructions
from the proprietors. Boston 30 Apr. 1673. And Your Petitioner shall
Ever Pray.
[Footnote 3: April 4, old style, the style still used by the English
in 1673; April 14, new style, the style used by the Dutch, as in
document no. 28, above.]
At a Court of Assistants held in Boston on adjourm't, 8 May 1673.
In answer to the petition of Henry King in behalf of himself and the
six seamen according to their Portlidge bills[4] Given into this Court
with their declaration, the Court Judgeth it meete to Grant and order
that Mr. Nathaniell Fryer pay them their severall wages, he taking
their receipts for the same. Past by the Court, as Attest
EDWARD RAWSON, Secrety.
[Footnote 4: A mariner's portage or portledge was originally his own
venture in the ship, in freight or cargo, but by this time "portledge
bill" frequently meant merely a list of sailor's claims for wages or
allowances.]
_33. Inventory of the Providence. May 5, 1673._[1]
[Footnote 1: Suffolk Court Files, no. 1257, paper 16. In the margin of
the original document, each indication of a parcel (such as "a large
hhd.") is accompanied by a representation of the monogram or other
symbol which the parcel bore as a distinguishing mark.]
An Inventory of the goods and things taken into the custody of Mr.
Nathaniel Fryer that came in the Shipp _Providence_ of Falmouth, of
which shipp Mr. Henry King was Mate in a voyage from England to
Virgenia but now Master.
_a large hhd._
13 pa. fr. falls[2]
11 pa. pl.[3] shooes
1 wier kage
6 pa. mens wollen hose
12 pa. Irish cloath hose
2 old hatt
2 new shirts
2 p'ces shearge
20 pa. worsted hose
1 p'ce blue linnon 28
1 dito 29
1 dito 44
1 halfe p'ce lockram[4]
3 halfe pound of wt. thread
1 lb. browne thread
1 paper col. filleting
1 paper col. thread about a ld.
1 p'ce sheeting canvas 123
27-1/2 yards dowlas[5]
1 coat }
1 dublet } part worn
2 pa. briches }
and oakum to fill up the hhd. that these things were in.
[Footnote 2: French (?) falls; a fall was a collar falling flat around
the neck.]
[Footnote 3: Plain.]
[Footnote 4: A linen fabric.]
[Footnote 5: Coarse linen.]
_a large hhd._
1 doz. 10 paire mens fr. falls
4 pa. pumps with heeles
2 saddles
7 curb bitts
6 snaffall bitts
1 pa. black head stall and raynes and crupp and breastplate
1 dubble girt
4 halters
1 doz. white raynes and headstalls
6 pa. white stirrup leathers
1 doz. pa. boyes and girles shooes
2 doz. 1/2 mens pl. shooes
1 p'ce kersie no. 1: 26-3/4
1 p'ce dito--2:26
1 p'ce. searge
_a little hhd._
6 large pewter basons
3 large Iron shovels
1 curb bitt
1 side saddle and furniture
2 doz. pa. mens fr. falls
10 pa. mens pl. shooes
2 pa. woodden heele weo.[6] shooes
[Footnote 6: Women's.]
_a little hhd._
40 pa. fr. falls and woodden heele shooes for men and w.
18 pa. mens pl. shooes
2 pa. boyes pl. shooes
_a broad hamper._
5 doz: 1/2 low crowne black hatts
* * * * *
9 reams of paper Damnified[7]
2 peeces of haire cloath ell wide
a small baile of 2 small p'ces of small canvas
1 p'ce ell wide fine canvas in a bundall
1 p'ce Lockram }
halfe a peece fine dowlas } in a bundall
[Footnote 7: Damaged.]
_a box._
3 gounds[8]
2 Jasto Corps[9]
4 stuffe coates for men
[Footnote 8: Gowns.]
[Footnote 9: Justaucorps.]
_a box._
2 stuffe vest for boyes
2 boyes little coates
2 childrens coates
2 scarlett parragon[10] coates
2 childes parragon coate
1 boyes coat
[Footnote 10: Double camlet.]
_a box._
5 coates and briches for men
2 weo. Stuffe gounes
2 mens cloakes
_a box._
1 p'ce blue linnon
a small parcell dowlas
a small parcell lockram
22 small bundles black thread
1 doz. mens white worsted hose, ratt eaten
_a box, the baile in it._
13 peeces blue linnon
_a box._
23 low crowne black hatts
16 p'ces of taffeta ribbon severall colours
20 p'ces of black dito
_a box._
12 peeces blue linnon
* * * * *
a barrell of powder
_a small box broak open._
7 yards ticking
28 yards blue linnon
2 pa. weo. parragon bodices and Stomegers[11]
17 yards 1/2 of Stuffe
1 lb. black thread
[Footnote 11: Stomachers.]
* * * * *
1 small barrell of nayles
_a great chest._
7 peeces kersie
2 p'ces red playnes[12]
1 p'ce white cotton
12 grose coat button
2 doz. pins
4 peeces galloune[13]
3 papers white filleting
12 peeces white tape
a paper sewing and stiching silks about a ld.
6 paire woe. parragon bodices and stomegers
6 pa. childrens bodices
[Footnote 12: Flannel.]
[Footnote 13: Narrow braid of gold, silver, or silk thread.]
* * * * *
2 brass panns
69 Duch blue potts
2 small sloope sayles
3 small quoiles[14] cordidge
4 quarter casks of brandy
2 puncheons of mault
3 small casks of wine, 1 pt out sd to be Masters.
40 white Jarrs of oyle
13 doz. stone bottles
11 barrells of Bread
1 old missen
1 old fore saile
1 new fore topsaile
1 maine topsaile
1 maine saile
1 fore saile
1 maine topsaile
1 Ensigne[15]
1 Jack
1 pennant
1 long boats new maine saile and fore saile
1 sprittsell topsaile
1 new spritsaile
1 maine saile
1 missen top saile
1 missen
1 old fore topsaile
1 fore topsaile
1 old fore saile
fore bouelings and braces and clue garnets[16]
fore Jeere
buntlins and fore topsaile clulings
fore
top mast stays
topsaile bouleings and lifts
topsaile sheets
topmast backstayes
topsaile tie and halliards
tacks
topmast shrouds
sheets
sheet blocks
Topsaile sheets blocks
Maine boleings--missen Brailes
Maine topsaile lifts
Maine
topsaile braces
brases
topsaile tie and Halliardes
clue garnetes
leich linees
topmast backstaiees
topmast sheets
topmast shroudes
buntlins
topsaile bowlelings
tackes
topmast clulings and lifts and maine Jeere
topmast staye, topmast buntlins
sheets, sheete blocks
[Footnote 14: Coils.]
[Footnote 15: The ensign was the ship's chief flag. The jack was a
small flag, in this case no doubt the union jack, combining the
crosses on the flags of England and of Scotland, and was at this time
commonly flown at the spritsail-topmast head.]
[Footnote 16: Of the various ropes here mentioned, bowlines and brails
ran to the perpendicular sides of square sails, buntlines across their
fronts; clew-garnets and clewlines were tackles for clewing up the
lower and the upper square sails respectively, jeers for hoisting the
lower yards; lifts ran from the masthead to the yard-arms, leech lines
to the sides of the topsails.]
_What in 3 Chests (of the Seamens)_
_No. 1._
4 horse whips
1 weo. coat
3 doz. thread laces
2 pa. childrens hose
1 grose brest buttons
1 p'ce diaper tape
3 pocket paper bookes
2 whisks
1 band
1 silke neck cloath
1 demity wastcoat
1 old shirt
2 yards striped linnon
6 yards Stuffe
1 p'ce kersie
1 coat
1 pa. briches
3 forestaffs[17] and vaines
[Footnote 17: Simple instruments for taking altitudes (and so
determining latitudes).]
_No. 2._
1 lookeing glass
1 doz. pa. white worsted hose for men
1 brass old trumpett
5 shirts }
3 pa. drawers } foule
1 pa. fine gloves
2 stuffe coates
1 pa. briches, wast coat, and Jacket
1 wast coat and Jacket more
1 pa. new and 3 pa. old shooes
1 pa. yarne stockings
3 neckcloaths
2 pa. hose
1 pa. linnon sleeves
2 napkins, and severall other small things.
_No. 3._