New England. Anno Rs. Gulielmi 3d Decim.[2]
[Footnote 2: _I.e._, _anno decimo Regis Gulielmi Tertii_, "in the
tenth year of King William III."]
At a Court of assize and General Goal Delivery holden at Boston for
the County of Suffolk, within his Maj'ties Province of the
Massachusetts Bay in New England, upon the 25th Day of Octo'r 1698.
John Devin, Chyrurgion, bound over by Recogniscance unto this Court,
to answer what should be objected ag'st him on his Maj'ties behalf as
being one of the Company belonging to the Ship _Charles_ al's
_Fancey_, Henry Every al's Bridgeman Command'r, at the time when
several acts of Piracy were committed by the sd Every al's Bridgeman
and Company in the aforesd Ship, upon the high Seas of India and
Persia, and for aiding and assisting in the sd Piracys and shareing in
the Plunder so piratically taken.
The sd Jno. Devin, being called, appeared and produced a Certificate
und'r the hand of Ellis Lightwood Esq., chief Judge of the Island of
Providence, and the Public Seal of the Government there, Importing
that the sd Devin had lately been indicted, arraigned and tryed for
the same matters and Facts (whereof he is now inquired) In the Kings
Court within the sd Island of Providence and found not guilty by the
Jury, and clear'd by Proclamation, which afore cited Certificate being
read and other the proceedings in the case in the sd Court at
Providence, Proclamation was made, and nothing of further charge or
Evidence appearing against the sd Jno. Devin, he was openly acquitted.
Which at Request of sd Devin and by ord'r of his Maj'ties Justices of
Assize etc. is hereby Certified under the Seal of the sd Court. Dated
at Boston the Second day of November, Anno predict.[3]
[Footnote 3: _I.e._, _anno predicto_, "in the year aforesaid".]
_68. Deposition of Adam Baldridge. May 5, 1699._[1]
[Footnote 1: Public Record Office, C.O. 5:1042, no. 30 II. An
endorsement shows that it was sent to the Lords of Trade with
Bellomont's letter of May 15, 1699, which is printed in _N.Y. Col.
Doc._, IV. 518-526. Capt. Adam Baldridge, as will be seen from some of
the preceding narratives, had kept a rendezvous for pirates at St.
Mary's Island, but he had now settled down as a respectable citizen of
New York. Bellomont thought well of him at first (he "appears to be a
sober man and reported wealthy"), but was warned by the Board of Trade
of his connection with piracy, and later (note 19, _post_) had fuller
information from Kidd. _Ibid._, IV. 333, 552.]
1. July the 17th 1690. I, Adam Baldridge, arrived at the Island of St.
Maries in the ship _fortune_, Richard Conyers Commander, and on the
7th of January 1690/1 I left the ship, being minded to settle among
the Negros at St. Maries with two men more, but the ship went to Port
Dolphin[2] and was Cast away, April the 15th 1691, and halfe the men
drownded and halfe saved their lives and got a shore, but I continued
with the Negros at St. Maries and went to War with them. before my
goeing to War one of the men dyed that went a shore with me, and the
other being discouraged went on board againe and none continued with
me but my Prentice John King. March the 9th they sailed for Bonnovolo
on Madagascar, 16 Leagues from St. Maries, where they stopt to take in
Rice. after I went to war six men more left the Ship, whereof two of
them dyed about three weeks after they went ashore and the rest dyed
since. In May 91 I returned from War and brought 70 head of Cattel and
some slaves. then I had a house built and settled upon St. Maries,
where great store of Negros resorted to me from the Island Madagascar
and settled the Island St. Maries, where I lived quietly with them,
helping them to redeem their Wives and Children that were taken before
my coming to St. Maries by other Negros to the northward of us about
60 Leagues.
[Footnote 2: Fort Dauphin, at the southeast point of Madagascar, built
by the French.]
2. October 13, 1691. Arrived the _Batchelors delight_, Captain Georg
Raynor[3] Commander, Burden 180 Tons or there abouts, 14 Guns, 70 or
80 men, that had made a voyage into the Red Seas and taken a ship
belonging to the Moors, as the men did report, where they took as much
money as made the whole share run about 1100 l. a man. they Careened
at St. Maries, and while they Careened I supplyed them with Cattel for
their present spending and they gave me for my Cattel a quantity of
Beads, five great Guns for a fortification, some powder and shott, and
six Barrells of flower, about 70 barrs of Iron. the ship belonged to
Jamaica and set saile from St. Maries November the 4th 1691, bound for
Port Dolphin on Madagascar to take in their provision, and December 91
they set saile from Port Dolphin bound for America, where I have heard
since they arrived at Carolina and Complyed with the owners, giveing
them for Ruin of the Ship three thousand pounds, as I have heard
since.
[Footnote 3: Josiah Rayner was associated with Tew, later with Every;
Fletcher had, for a bribe, it was said, released his chest of treasure
brought to New York.]
3. October 14th 1692. Arrived the _Nassaw_, Captain Edward Coats
Commander, Burden 170 Ton or there about, 16 Guns, 70 men, whereof
about 30 of the men stayed at Madagascar, being most of them concerned
in taking the Hack boat at the Isle of May Colonel Shrymton over
[owner?], the said Hack boat was lost at St. Augustin. Captain Coats
Careened at St. Maries, and whilst careening I supplyed them with
Cattel for their present spending, and the Negros with fowls, Rice and
Yams, and for the Cattel I had two Chists and one Jarr of powder, six
great guns and a Quantity of great Shott, some spicks[4] and nails,
five Bolts of Duck and some Twine, a hogshead of flower. the ship most
of her belonged to the Company, as they said. Captain Coats set saile
from St. Maries in November 92, bound for Port Dolphin on Madagascar,
and victualed there and in December set saile for New-York. Captain
Coats made about 500 l. a man in the red Seas.[5]
[Footnote 4: Spikes.]
[Footnote 5: In April, 1693, this Coats, in a ship now called the
_Jacob_, anchored near the east end of Long Island, and sent men to
bargain with Governor Fletcher for permission to enter and for
protection. They promised the governor L700 and secured protection,
though in the end the owners gave him the ship instead. _N.Y. Col.
Doc._, IV. 223, 310, 386-388; _Cal. St. P. Col._, 1697-1698, pp.
227-228.]
4. August 7th 1693. Arrived the Ship _Charles_, John Churcher master,
from New York, Mr. Fred. Phillips, owner,[6] sent to bring me severall
sorts of goods. She had two Cargos in her, one Consigned to said
Master to dispose of, and one to me, containing as followeth: 44 paire
of shooes and pumps, 6 Dozen of worsted and threed stockens, 3 dozen
of speckled shirts and Breaches, 12 hatts, some Carpenters Tools, 5
Barrells of Rum, four Quarter Caskes of Madera Wine, ten Cases of
Spirits, Two old Stills full of hols, one worme, Two Grindstones, Two
Cross Sawes and one Whip saw, three Jarrs of oyle, two small Iron
Potts, three Barrells of Cannon powder, some books, Catechisms,
primers and horne books, two Bibles, and some garden Seeds, three
Dozen of howes,[7] and I returned for the said goods 1100 pieces 8/8
and Dollers, 34 Slaves, 15 head of Cattel, 57 barrs of Iron. October
the 5th he set sail from St. Maries, after having sold parte of his
Cargo to the White men upon Madagascar, to Mauratan to take in Slaves.
[Footnote 6: Frederick Philipse (1626-1702), the richest trader in New
York, but perhaps not the most scrupulous; see Henry C. Murphy, in his
edition of the _Journal of a Voyage to New York in 1679-80_ of Jasper
Danckaerts, pp. 362-365. The ship in which the two Labadist
missionaries, Danckaerts and Sluyter, came to America was also named
_Charles_ and owned by Philipse. It was in this year 1693 that
Governor Fletcher instituted for him the Philipse Manor. Mary
Philipse, who won the affections of young Major George Washington, was
his great-granddaughter. It was said that Baldridge's establishment in
Madagascar was sustained by Philipse's capital, to obtain for the
latter a share in the profits of piracy. _Cal. St. P. Col._,
1697-1698, p. 108.]
[Footnote 7: Hoes.]
5. October 19, 1693. Arrived the ship _Amity_, Captain Thomas Tew
Commander,[8] Burden 70 Tons, 8 Guns, 60 men, haveing taken a Ship in
the Red Seas that did belong to the Moors, as the men did report, they
took as much money in her as made the whole share run 1200 l. a man.
they Careened at St. Maries and had some cattel from me, but for their
victualing and Sea Store they bought from the Negros. I sold Captain
Tew and his Company some of the goods brought in the _Charles_ from
New York. the Sloop belonged most of her to Bermudas. Captain Tew set
saile from St. Maries December the 23d 1693, bound for America.
[Footnote 8: See doc. no. 63, note 16, _ante_.]
6. August, 1695. Arrived the _Charming Mary_ from Barbados, Captain
Richard Glover Commander,[9] Mr. John Beckford marchant and part
owner. the most of the ship belonged to Barbados, the Owners Colonel
Russel, Judge Coats, and the Nisames [?]. She was burden about 200
Tons, 16 Guns, 80 men. she had severall sort of goods on board. I
bought the most of them. She careened at St. Maries and in October she
set saile from St. Maries for Madagascar to take in Rice and Slaves.
[Footnote 9: See doc. no. 65.]
7. August 1695. Arrived the ship _Katherine_ from New York, Captain
Tho. Mostyn Commander and Super Cargo,[10] Mr. Fred. Phillips Owner,
the Ship Burden about 160 Tons, noe Guns, near 20 men. She had
severall sorts of goods in her. she sold the most to the White men
upon Madagascar, where he had Careened. he set saile from St. Maries
for Mauratan on Madagascar to take in his Rice and Slaves.
[Footnote 10: Another of those commissioned by Fletcher. Having no
guns, the vessel must have been intended for illegal trade rather than
for warfare.]
8. December 7th 1695. Arrived the Ship _Susanna_, Captain Thomas
Weak[11] Commander, burden about 100 Tons, 10 Guns, 70 men. they
fitted out from Boston and Rhoad Island and had been in the Red seas
but made noe voyage by reason they mist the moors fleet. they Careened
at St. Maries and I sold them part of the goods bought of Mr. John
Beckford out of the _Charming Mary_ and spaired them some Cattel, but
for the most part they were supplyed by the Negros. they stayed at St.
Maries till the middle of April, where the Captain and Master and most
of his men dyed. the rest of the men that were left alive after the
Sickness Carried the Ship to St. Augustin, where they left her and
went In Captain Hore for the Red Sea.
[Footnote 11: Or Wake.]
9. December 11th 1695. Arrived the Sloop _Amity_, haveing no Captain,
her former Captain Thomas Tew being killed by a great Shott from a
Moors ship,[12] John Yarland master, Burden seventy Ton, 8 Guns, as
before described, and about 60 men. They stayed but five dayes at St.
Maries and set saile to seek the _Charming Mary_ and they met her at
Mauratan on Madagascar and took her, giveing Captain Glover the Sloop
to carry him and his men home and all that he had, keeping nothing but
the ship. they made a new Commander after they had taken the ship, one
Captain Bobbington. after they had taken the ship they went into St.
Augustine Bay and there fitted the ship and went into the Indies to
make a voyage and I have heard since that they were trapaned and taken
by the Moors.
[Footnote 12: See doc. no. 63, note 16, _ante_.]
10. December 29 1695. Arrived a Moors Ship, taken by the _Resolution_
and given to Captain Robert Glover and 24 of his men that was not
willing to goe a privateering upon the Coasts of Indies, to carrie
them away. the Company turned Captain Glover and these 24 men out of
the Ship, Captain Glover being parte Owner and Commander of the same
and Confined prisoner by his Company upon the Coast of Guinea by
reason he would not consent to goe about the Cape of good hope into
the Red Sea. the ship was old and would hardly swim with them to St.
Maries. when they arrived there they applyed themselves to me. I
maintained them in my house with provision till June, that shiping
arrived for to carry them home.
11. January 17th 1696/7. Arrived the Brigantine _Amity_, that was
Captain Tew's Sloop from Barbadoes and fitted into a Brigantine by the
Owners of the _Charming Mary_ at Barbados, Captain Richard Glover
Commander and Super Cargo. the Brigantine discribed when a Sloop. She
was laden with severall sorts of goods, part whereof I bought and part
sold to the White men upon Madagascar, and parte to Captain Hore and
his Company. the Brigantine taken afterwards by the _Resolution_ at
St. Maries.
12. February the 13th 1696/7. Arrived Captain John Hor's Prize from
the Gulph of Persia and three or four dayes after arrived Captain
Hore[13] in the _John and Rebeckah_, Burden about 180 Tons, 20 Guns,
100 men in ship and prize. The Prize about 300 Ton Laden with
Callicoes. I sold some of the goods bought of Glover to Captain Hore
and his Company as likewise the white men that lived upon Madagascar
and Captain Richard Glover.
[Footnote 13: See doc. no. 65, note 17.]
13. June the ---- 1697. Arrived the _Resolution_, Captain Shivers
Commander, Burden near 200 Tons, 90 men, 20 Guns, formerly the ship
belonged to Captain Robert Glover but the Company took her from him
and turned him and 24 more of his men out of her by reason they were
not willing to goe a privateering into the East Indies.[14] they met
with a Mosoune[15] at sea and lost all their masts and put into
Madagascar about 10 Leagues to the Northward off St. Maries and there
masted and fitted their ship, and while they lay there they took the
Brigantine _Amity_ for her watter Casks, Sailes and Rigeing and Masts,
and turned the Hull a drift upon a Rife.[16] Captain Glover promised
to forgive them what was past if they would Let him have his ship
again and goe home to America, but they would not except he would goe
into the East Indies with them. September the 25th 97 they set saile
to the Indies.
[Footnote 14: See doc. no. 65.]
[Footnote 15: Monsoon.]
[Footnote 16: Reef.]
14. June 1697. Arrived the ship _Fortune_ from New York, Captain
Thomas Mostyn Commander, and Robert Allison Super Cargo, the Ship
Burden 150 Tons or there abouts, 8 Guns, near 20 men, haveing severall
sorts of goods aboard, and sold to Captain Hore and Company and to the
White men upon Madagascar.
15. June ---- 1697. Arrived a Ship from New York, Captain Cornelius
Jacobs Comander and Super Cargo, Mr. Fred. Phillips owner, Burden
about 150 Ton, 2 Guns, near 20 men, haveing severall sorts of goods a
board, and sold to Captain Hore and his Company and to the White men
on Madagascar, and four Barrells of Tar to me.[17]
[Footnote 17: When this ship came back, richly laden, Philipse sent
out a sloop to meet her, which off the New Jersey coast quietly
unloaded all of her cargo but the negroes, and sailed with it to
Hamburg. _Cal. St. P. Cal._, 1697-1698, p. 414.]
16. July the 1st 1697. Arrived the Brigantine _Swift_ from Boston, Mr.
Andrew Knott Master[18] and John Johnson Marchant and parte owner,
Burden about 40 Tons, 2 Guns, 10 men, haveing severall goods aboard.
Some sold to Captain Hore and Company the rest put a shore at St.
Maries and left there. A small time after her arrivall I bought three
Quarters of her and careened and went out to seek a Trade and to
settle a forraign Commers and Trade in severall places on Madagascar.
About 8 or 10 dayes after I went from St. Maries the Negros killed
about 30 White men upon Madagascar and St. Maries, and took all that
they or I had, Captain Mostyn and Captain Jacobs and Captain Hor's
Ship and Company being all there at the same time and set saile from
St. Maries October 1697 for Madagascar to take in their Slaves and
Rice. having made a firm Commerse with the Negros on Madagascar, at my
return I met with Captain Mostyn at sea, 60 Leagues of St. Maries. he
acquainted me with the Negros riseing and killing the White men. he
perswaded me to return back with him and not proceed any further, for
there was noe safe goeing to St. Maries. all my men being sick, after
good consideracion we agreed to return and goe for America.
[Footnote 18: In 1690 he had commanded a ship in Sir William Phips's
unsuccessful expedition against Quebec. For his connection with Kidd,
see _post_, doc. no. 85, note 7.]
The above mentioned men that were killed by the Natives were most of
them privateers that had been in the Red Seas and took severall ships
there, they were cheifly the occasion of the natives Riseing, by their
abuseing of the Natives and takeing their Cattel from them, and were
most of them to the best of my knowledge men that came in severall
Ships, as Captain Rainor, Captain Coats, Captain Tew, Captain Hore,
and the _Resolution_ and Captain Stevens.[19]
ADAM BALDRIDGE.
Sworne before me in New York
5th of May 1699
A.D. PEYSTER[20]
A true copy
BELLOMONT.
[Footnote 19: Such is Baldridge's tale of innocence, but Kidd told
Bellomont that "Baldridge was the occasion of that Insurrection of the
Natives and the death of the pirates, for that having inveigled a
great number of the natives of St. Maries, men, women and children, on
board a ship or ships he carryed and sold them for slaves to a French
Island called Mascarine or Mascaron, which treachery of Baldridges the
Natives on the Island revenged on those pirates by cutting their
throats."]
[Footnote 20: Abraham de Peyster, a member of the New York council and
an assistant judge of the supreme court.]
* * * * *
_69. Warrant for Commissioning of Admiralty Judge. April 29, 1697._[1]
[Footnote 1: New York State Archives, Albany: Historical MSS., vol.
XLI., p. 60. The commissions of admiralty judges had originally been
issued on warrant from the Lord High Admiral. Since 1673, however,
except for two brief periods, the latter's duties have always been
performed by the "Lords Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord
High Admiral" (Admiralty Board, or Lords of the Admiralty). On April
29, 1697, the board consisted of the two distinguished admirals Sir
Edward Russell (created earl of Oxford eight days later) and Sir
George Rooke, Sir John Houblon, governor of the Bank of England, Col.
James Kendall, ex-governor of Barbados, and four others. The warrant
is not addressed to any governor by name; Bellomont was not
commissioned (as governor of New York, Massachusetts, and New
Hampshire) till June 18, 1697.]
By the Comiss'rs for Executing the Office of Lord high Admirall of
Engl'd. Irel'd. etc.
Whereas, in pursuance of His Ma'tis pleasure signified to Us by the
Rt. hon'ble Mr. Secretary Trumbull, Wee have appointed Mr. William
Smith to be Judge, Mr. John Tudor Register, Mr. Jarvis Marshall,
Marshall, and Mr. James Graham, Advocate of the Vice Admiralty of
New-Yorke, and Connuticutt, and East-Jersey:[2] You are therefore
hereby Empower'd and directed, to give unto them Commissions for their
said Employm'ts respectively; And in case of the death, or inabillity,
by sickness, or otherwise, of any of the said persons, You are to
appoint others in their roome: and Transmitt to Us the Names of such
persons as You do so appoint; Dated at the Admiralty Office this 29th
of April 1697.
[Footnote 2: William Smith was already chief-justice of the supreme
court of the province, and a member of the council. Jarvis Marshall
had been messenger of the council. James Graham was speaker of the
assembly, attorney-general, and recorder of the city of New York.]
To his Ma'tis Governour of RUSSELL.
New-Yorke and Connuticutt, G. ROOKE.
and East-Jersey/ for the time JNO. HOUBLON.
being. KENDALL.
By Command of their Lord'ps
WM. BRIDGEMAN.
* * * * *
_70. Proclamation of Lieut.-Gov. Stoughton. June 4, 1698._[1]
[Footnote 1: Mass. Archives, vol. 62, p. 253. William Stoughton,
lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts 1691-1701, acted as governor from
the departure of Governor Phips for England in 1694 to the arrival of
Governor Bellomont in the province, May 26, 1699. Bellomont in June,
1698, was in New York. In the period to which most of our documents
belong there was always an outburst of piracy after the conclusion of
a war, because multitudes of privateers found their occupation gone
when peace was proclaimed, and some of them were sure to turn to the
allied trade of piracy. The peace of Ryswyk, between France and Great
Britain, Spain, and Holland, Sept. 20, 1697, had had this effect at
the time of Stoughton's proclamation.]
William Stoughton Esqr., Lieutenant Governour and Commander in chief
in and over his Ma'tys Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New
England
To the Sheriff of the County of Suffolke, his Under Sheriff or Deputy
or Constables of the respective Towns within the sd County and to each
and every of them to whom these presents shall come, Greeting.
Whereas I am informed That sundry wicked and ill disposed persons,
suspected to have committed divers inhumane and hostile Acts and
depredations upon the Subjects and Allies of other Princes and States
in Forreign parts in Amity with his Ma'ty, are lately landed and set
on shore on or about Long Island, Rhode Island and parts adjacent,
having brought with them quantitys of Forreign Coynes, silver, Gold,
Bullion, Merchandize and other Treasure, Some of which persons
(unknown by name) may probably come into this his Ma'tys Province and
transport their moneys, Merchandize and Treasure hither,
These are therefore in his Ma'tys name strictly to command and require
you to make diligent search within your several Precincts for such
suspected persons, and to apprehend and seize every such person or
persons, his or their money, gold, bullion, Merchandize and Treasure,
and to bring the same before the next Justice of the Peace to be
examined and proceeded against as the Law directs. And you are to
require and take such a number of persons, with Armes or otherwise,
unto your Assistance as you shall think meet for the seizing and
apprehending such suspected person or persons aforesd. and carrying
him or them before the next Justice or Justices. And all his Ma'tys
subjects are required to be aiding and assisting unto you in the
Execution of this Warrant, as they will answer their refusal or
neglect at their peril. And hereof you or they may not faile. And make
return of this Warrant with your doings thereupon. Given under my hand
and seal at Armes at Boston the Fourth day of June 1698, In the tenth
year of his Ma'tys Reign.
WM. STOUGHTON.
CASE OF WILLIAM KIDD.
_71. Deposition of Benjamin Franks. October 20, 1697._[1]