active 1724-1731 Charles Johnson

“ Massey was well received, and, at his own report, he was sent on board the Happy Sloop, to cruise off Hispaniola for Lowther; but not meeting with him, he returned to Jamaica, and getting a Certificate, he came home to England, where, when he arrived, he writes to the African Company, relating the whole transaction of his voyage, but excuses it as an inadvertency, by his being ill-used; for which, if they would not forgive him, he begged to die like a soldier, and not be hanged like a dog. ”

“ But he did it so artfully that it more confirmed them in the good opinion of their choice. “Gentlemen,” said he, “what we have done we must live or die by; let us all be hearty and of one [Pg 12] mind, and I don’t question but we shall make our fortune in a little time. I propose that we sail first to Madagascar, where we may settle a correspondence, in order to secure our retreats, whenever we think fit to lie by.”
To which they all agreed, “Nemine contradicente.”
“But hold,” saith Avery; “it is necessary that we make some order among us, for the better governing of the ship’s crew.” ”

“ Then coming into the Bay, they fell upon a ship of two hundred tons, called the Greyhound; against whom Lowther firing his guns, hoisted the piratical Colours, which Captain Edward bravely returned; but at length finding the Pirate too strong for him he yielded, and the Pirate came on Board, and not only rifling the ship, but beat and cut the men in a cruel manner. In crusing about the Bay, they took several other vessels without any resistance, particularly a Sloop of 100 Tons, which they mounted with 8 carriages and 10 swivel guns. ”

“ The Captain, by this time being awaked by the noise of the conspirators working the ship, rung the bell, inquiring what was [Pg 10] the matter, to whom Avery and some of the crew replied, “Nothing. Are you mutinous in your cups? Can’t you lie down, sleep, and be quiet?”
“No,” saith the Captain. “I am sure something’s the matter with the ship. Does she drive? What weather is it? Is it a storm?”
Saith Avery: “Cannot you lie quiet while you are quiet? I tell you all’s well; we are at sea in a fair wind and good weather.” ”

“ Lowther cruised a pretty while among the Islands to no purpose, till at length he fell in with a Martinico Man, which proved a seasonable relief, he being reduced to great want of provisions, and after that a Guinea Man. After which they thought it time to clean, in order to prepare for new adventures; for which purpose they sailed to the Island of Blanco, which is a low Island 30 leagues from the main of Spanish America, where he unrigged his Sloop, sending his guns, rigging, and sails ashore, and putting his vessel upon the careen. ”

“ The 29th of July, they took a Sloop of fifty tons, bound from Philadelphia to Barbadoes, laden with provisions, which they kept; as also another of sixty tons, from Antegoa to Philadelphia, having on board, rum, molasses, sugar, cotton and indigo, to the value of five hundred Pounds, all of which they kept. Then they left Delaware Bay, and sailed to Cape Fear River, where they staid almost two months to repair their Sloop, which proved very leaky, till news came to Carolina of a Pirate’s Sloop, with her Prizes, being there a-careening. ”

“ He sailed to the Coast of Africa, after the Island of Providence was inhabited by the English. In his Passage he took several Ships, particularly the Cadogan Snow belonging to Bristol, one Skinner Master, who [Pg 138] was murdered by those very men who had formerly served under him, upon a quarrel that happened between Skinner and them, about their wages: He shipped them on board a Man-of-War, from whence they deserted, and went on board a ship in the West-Indies, where they were taken by a pirate, and brought to Providence, and then they sailed with Captain England a-Pirating. ”

“ In 1727, Teach and Hornigold sailed from Providence for America, where, in their way, [Pg 90] they took a vessel with above 100 Barrels of Flour, as also a Sloop from Bermudas, and a Ship bound to Carolina; from which they had a good plunder. After cleaning at Virginia, they returned to the West-Indies, and made Prize of a French Guinea Man bound to Martinico, which Teach was made Captain of; but Hornigold with his Sloop returned to Providence, and surrendered to mercy. Aboard the French Guinea Ship, Teach mounted 46 guns, and called her Queen Anne’s Revenge. ”

“ He, being a mighty lover of children, would often divert himself by talking to the boy, till at length he took such a fancy to him, that he ordered him a little hammock in his own cabin, and none were so great as the [Pg 7] Captain and his boy Avery, which had like to have proved very fatal to him; for Avery one night, observing the Captain to be very drunk with some passengers that were on board, got a lighted match and had like to have blown up the ship, had not the Gunner happened accidentally to follow him into the store-room. ”

“ August, 1717, he came off at the Bar of South Carolina, and took a Sloop and Brigantine, which they plundered, and then he dismissed the Brigantine, but took the Sloop with him to an Inlet in North-Carolina, where he careened, and set her on fire.
Afterwards he put to sea, but could not agree with the men what course to take; for the Major being no sailor, was obliged to submit to many things his men imposed upon him, when falling in with Edward Teach, alias Blackbeard, who was a good sailor, but a hardened villain, Bonnet’s Crew joined with him, and put Bonnet aboard Blackbeard’s Ship. ”

“ John Phillips was bred a carpenter, but sailing in a West Country ship to Newfoundland, was taken by Anstis, who soon persuaded him to join with him, making him Carpenter of the Vessel, in which station he continued till they broke up at Tobago, when he came Home in a Sloop that was sunk in Bristol Channel. ”

“ Just after, they took a ship from Barbadoes bound to New England, from whence taking her guns, they mounted the Morning Star with 32 pieces of cannon, and 100 men, appointing John Fenn Captain: For Anstis was so in love with his own vessel, she being a good sailor, he made it his choice to stay in her, and let Fenn have the other ship. Though they were not sufficiently strong, yet being most new men, they could not agree, but resolving to break up company, sent a Petition to His Majesty [Pg 69] by a Merchant Ship, expecting her Return at Cuba. ”

“ Then putting out to sea, they sailed for the East-Indies, and took Madagascar, by the Way. From thence, after taking in water and provisions, they went for Malabar, in the Empire of the Mogul. Here they took several Indian Vessels, and one European, a Dutch Ship, which they exchanged for one of their own, and then came back to Madagascar, where they sent several Hands on shore to kill venison, and then resolved to seek out for the remains of Avery’s Crew ”

“ Lowther left the Fort the 13th of June, and on the 20th, near Barbadoes, he came up with a Brigantine, belonging to Boston, which he plundered, and then let go. After this he proceeded to Hispaniola, where he met with a French Sloop loaden with wine and brandy, on board whom Captain Massey went, pretending at first to be a merchant; but finding her to be a Ship of value, he told Monsieur, He must have it all without money. On board her, there was 30 casks of brandy, 5 hogsheads of wine, several pieces of chintz, and 70l. ”

“ In the beginning of King William’s War, Captain Kid commanded a Privateer in the West-Indies, and by several adventurous actions acquired the reputation of a brave man, as well as an experienced seaman. ”

“ The Pirates took several of the Guns out of the ships, and mounted them on board the Rose. Lowe ordered the Schooner to lie in the Fare between St. Michael’s and St. Mary’s, where he met with Captain Carter in the Wright Galley; who, defending himself, they cut and mangled him and his Men in a barbarous manner; after which, they were for burning the ship, but contented themselves with cutting her cable, rigging, and sails to pieces, and so left her to the mercy of the seas. ”

“ They then steered for the Leeward Islands; but in their voyage met with such a hurricane, as had not been known in the memory of man. After the storm was over, they got safe to one of the small Islands of the Carribees, and there refitted their vessels as well as they could. As soon as the Brigantine was ready, they took a short cruise, leaving the Schooner in the harbour till their return; which had not been many days at sea, before she met a ship that had lost all her masts, on board of which they went, and took, in money and goods, to the value of 1000l. ”

“ Rackham continuing about this Island longer than a Man of his business ought to have done, gave time to a Canoe, which he had surprised in Ocho Bay, to inform the Governor of Jamaica of his civilities to all he met with going or coming from the Island. Thereupon a Sloop was sent out in quest of him, well mann’d and arm’d, under Captain Barnet, to repay him for all [Pg 22] his good-natured Actions, and, if possible, to bring him into the Island. In the mean Time Rackham met, near the Negril Point, a small Pettiauger, which, upon sight of him, ran ashore, and landed her Men ”

“ CAPTAIN SPRIGGS, AND HIS CREW
Spriggs sailed at first with Lowe, and came away with him from Lowther. Afterwards Lowe took a ship of twelve guns on the Coast of Guinea, called the Delight, which Spriggs went off on board with twenty men, and leaving Lowe in the night, came to the West Indies. In their passage they made a Black Ensign, which they called the Jolly Roger, with a skeleton in the middle holding a dart in one hand, striking a bleeding heart ”

“ Soon after they saw a large ship to the windward bearing down upon them, which at first they thought to have been a Portugueze Man-of-War; but they found afterwards, it was a French Merchant Ship coming home from the West-Indies, which not fearing them, came on to the windward. [Pg 153] Gow perceiving she was a Ship of great strength, called all his men together, telling them they had a great many prisoners on board, and that he could not trust many of his own men ”

“ But being informed by a Menchew, there was no anchor-ground there, they went to the next Island, called Melincha, whence they were driven by a storm, leaving behind them a hundred people, and all their water-casks: But in a week’s time, they regained the island, took their people on board, and filled the water-casks. ”

“ After this, they cruised to the Northward, and took several Vessels and then steered for the Bay of Honduras, where they took Five English Sloops, and a Pink, and a Spaniard of 6 Guns and 70 men, whom they killed every man; which being done they rummaged the Spanish Ship, bringing all the booty on board their own vessel. ”

“ When he grew bigger, he took to Gaming among Blackshoe Boys upon the Parade, with whom he used to play the Whole Game, as they call it; that is, cheat every Body, and if they refused, they had to fight him. ”

“ So, stepping into the boat, in about an hour’s time they reached the ship, which they had no sooner boarded but they were brought before the Captain, who, being in want of hands, contented himself with bidding them [Pg 6] all go to their business; for the wind turned about, and there was occasion for all hands to be at work to carry out the ship.
All this while young Avery was at the heels of the Boatswain, and was observed to swear two oaths to one of the Boatswain’s; which being soon observed by the Captain, he inquired who brought that young rascal aboard. ”

“ The Pirates, in the mean time, robbed and plundered several ships and vessels, bending their course towards Newfoundland, where they designed to raise more men, and do all the mischief they could on the Banks, and in the harbours. Towards which country, Phillips making his way, took one Salter in a Sloop on the Isle of Sables, which he kept, and gave Mortimer’s Ship to the Mate and crew ”

“ Nor is this all, he has been guilty of worse villany than this, and that is of drinking of small beer; and your Lordship knows, there was never a sober fellow but what was a rogue—My Lord, I should have said more, but your Lordship knows our rum is out, and how should a Man speak that has drunk a dram to-day. ”

“ But as he was preparing to sail, and heard of four Men-of-War coming after him; therefore he altered his mind, and sailed for the Main of Africa, and put in at Delagoa: But the Pirates were surprized in the evening with some shot [Pg 143] from the shore. They took it for a desert shore, but it proved otherwise; for a few months before, the Dutch East India Company had settled one hundred men upon it, who, not being supplied with necessaries, were reduced to about sixteen; whom Taylor, upon their humble petition took aboard, and they all became Pirates with him. ”

“ James’s River; whereupon it was agreed, That the Governor should have a couple of small Sloops, and they should be mann’d out of the Men of War, the Command of which was given to Mr. Robert Maynard, first Lieutenant of the Pearl. But before they sailed, it was agreed in Council, to offer a reward of 100l. for any one that should take Edward Teach, commonly called Blackbeard; for every Lieutenant, Master, Quarter-Master, Boatswain, or Carpenter Twenty Pounds; For every inferior Officer, Fifteen Pounds; And for every Man taken on Board each Sloop, Ten Pounds. ”

“ Sloop, he pretended to sail for the Island of St. Thomas, to get the Emperor’s Commission to go a-Privateering upon the Spaniards. But returning to Topsail Inlet, he found that Blackbeard and his gang were gone, with their effects; and that they had set on shore, on a small sandy island about a league from the continent, seventeen men, without any provisions, or vessel to escape. ”

“ Upon this neglect the Lord Bellamont, and some others who knew what great captures had been made by the Pirates, and what a prodigious wealth must be in their possession, were tempted to fit out a ship at their own private charge, and to give the command of it to Captain Kid; and to give the thing a greater reputation, as well as to keep their seamen under the better command, they procured the King’s Commission for the said Captain Kid. ”

“ The terms he offered were, that every man should have a share of what was taken, reserving for himself and Owners forty shares. Upon this encouragement he soon increas’d his company to a hundred and fifty five men.
With this company he first sail’d for Maderas, where he took in wine and some other necessaries; from thence he [Pg 122] proceeded to Bonavist, one of the Cape de Verd Islands, to furnish the ship with salt, and from thence went immediately to St. Jago, another of the Cape de Verd Islands, in order to stock himself with provisions. ”

“ Among the Pirates were none killed, and three were wounded. The next day the Colonel weighed from Cape Fear, and arrived at Charles Town the 3d of October, to the no small joy of the people of Carolina.
There being no publick prison, Bonnet was committed into the custody of the marshal, and his Men were kept at the Watch-house under a strict guard; a little before the trial, David Harriot the Master, and Ignatius Rathe Boatswain, the evidences, [Pg 111] were removed from the Crew, to the Marshal’s house, from whence on the 24th Bonnet and Harriott made their escape ”