J. Franklin Jameson

71. Deposition of Benjamin Franks. October 20, 1697.[1]

The Deposition of Benjamin Franks aged about 47 years (who came out in the Adventure Gally, a Privateer, Captain William Kid Comander) Inhabitant of New York.

Declareth That having lived in Barbadoes and Jamaica and traded in severall parts of the West Indies, meeting of late with great losses of above £12,000 sterling by the Earthquake and Enemyes and through misfortune, came to New York and there finding Captain Kid comeing out with a full Power to the East Indies to take the Pyrates, which he shewed me by the means of my Friends, so resolved to go with him to the East Indies and to remain there at Surrat or any other place where I could best follow my profession, being a Jeweller, for he told me he would put into some of the said Parts. Wee sailed from New York the 6th September 1696 in Company with a Brigantine belonging to Bermudas, bound to the Maderaes. there met with a Brigantine from Barbadoes bound for England who had lost her Mast and Boltsprit, whom Captain Kid assisted with a Mast, Riggin and Canvas, for which kindness [the] Master gave him a few flour Barrells with Sugar. the same Brigantine after she had what she wanted proceeded on her Voyage. And a day or two after wee espyed a Ship whom Wee gave chase to three days and came up with her, found her to be a Portuguez from Brazile bound to the Maderaes. the Captain of the Portuguez pre[sen]ted Captain Kid with a Roll of Brazile Tobacco and some Sugar, in lieu of which Captain Kid sent him a Cheshire Cheese and a Barrell of White Bisket, but through mistake of the Steward the Barrell thought to be Bisket proved to be Cutt and Dry Tobacca. So Wee proceeded to Maderaes and saw the Brigantine in safe that came under our Convoy. wee stayed there one day. before wee departed from thence the Portuguez ship came in. Thence wee went to Bona Vista,[2] took in some Salt, thence to St. Jago, tooke in Water and some Provisions; from St. Jago wee steered our course for Cape Bona Esperanza,[3] but before wee got to the Latitude thereof Wee met with three English Men of War and a Fireship, Captain Warren in the Windso[r] Comodore,[4] Captain Acton in the Advice,[5] the Tyger and Fire Ship I do not know the Commanders names. I was on board the Commodore when he told me that Kids Commission was firm and good and that he would not molest or hinder his proceedings for his puting his hands to his Ears, and discoursing of severall other things of the Voyage amongst the rest the Commodore told Kid he had lost a great many of his men and asked him to spare him some, who answered that he would let him have 20 or 30, and about a day or two after Kid went on board one of the Men of War again and in the Evening came on board his own ship very much disguised with drink and left the Men of War without sparing them the men he promised. Some time after had sight of the Cape, did not put in but went directly for Madagascar and imported at a place called Talleer,[6] where took in some Water and provisions. after our being there some time came a Sail in sight and came to an Anchor in Augustine Bay, upon which wee weighed Anchor and came to her, the two Ports being but a little way distant each from other. We found her to be a Sloop from Barbadoes come to buy Negroes, after which Wee returned to Talleer, our former Port, and the next day the Master of the Sloop came on board Us being very ill when he came. a few dayes after ordered the Sloop to come down to Talleer, and the same day she came down the Owner and Merchant[7] dyed on board of us, and he that succeeded him could by no Means agree with the Master of the Sloop but continually a quarrelling and fighting. Our Captain did what he could to make up the difference between them but to no purpose. So when wee had done getting our provisions etc. on board Wee sailed for Johanna,[8] and the Sloop followed us, and seeing two Ships gave them Chase, found them to be both East India Men and so went in together in Company to Johanna and two India Men came in after. Wee took in Some Water and went to Mohilla[9] to clean our Ship. And this Sloop still followed Us, but our Captain told him severall times to be gone and agree amongst themselves, but they took no notice thereof, continuing with Us all the time of our Stay here, being about 5 weeks, where buryed severall of our Company but the just number I know not. when Wee had been there about 5 weeks a Pinnace came on board of Us with some Men, the quantity I know not, for being mortall sick, the Merchant of the Sloop dyed there too. Wee returned from this place to Johanna and the Sloop in our Company. Wee took in some more water and some French Men, the quantity I know not for I was carryed a shoar sick and lay a shoar all the time wee lay at Johanna. We sailed thence, leaving the Sloop behind Us, directly for India and touched at a place called Motta.[10] there was 5 Junks ashoar and at an Anchor ditto place. our Captain wanted to take in some water, sending the Pinnace ashoar for some, which the Natives refused, upon which our Captain next morning sent both Boats with a matter of 40 Men or thereabouts with Armes, as I heard lying very Sick of a Feaver, Ague and Flux, and that he had bought two Cowes and some dates, and 2 dayes after the People run away into the Mountains, as I heard. after they run away the People sent a shoar, found India Corn and Garravances[11] in great holes, and brought off likewise six of the Natives, of whom four leaped overboard in the Night and swam ashoar. the other two gave [3] Cowes and 2 sheep for their ransom, as I heard of the Seamen, lying very ill. from thence wee went to the Babs[12] and there anchored to wait for the Pyrates, as the Seamen said, but meeting with none, sending the Pinnace out 3 or 4 times, as I heard of the Seamen, but at Carwar ashoar I heard of the Seamen that they was to go to Mocho.[13] after the Pinnace went with the Captain, Quarter-Master came back and gave an account there was 17 Sail, which I heard of the Seamen as I lay very ill. our Captain ordered two men ashoar on one of the Babs. when the Fleet came in sight the Men waved the Jack.[14] the whole Fleet came by the Babs on a Saturday in the evening in the month of August, but the day of the month I do not remember. our Captain weighed and stood amongst the Fleet, as I heard of the Seamen. the next morning at break of day one of the Fleet began to fire at Us, as I heard of the Seamen, which alarming the rest they all did the same. there was one Ship which the Captain said was a Mallabar, pretty near Us, as I heard of the Seamen. then our Captain ordered the People to row up to him, being but little Wind, then the Mallabar fired at Us and our Captain at him severall Guns. at last our Captain perceiving an English and Dutch Colours did all he could to get away. the Captain designed to go to the high Land off St. Johns.[15] meeting with a small Vessell under English Colours he chased her and comanded the Master to come on board and plundered the Ship. I hearing a great noise asked what it was. they told me that our Folks beat the People aboard of the little ship and against night I heard there was a Portuguez. so doing my endeavour to creep up to speak to the Portuguez and asked him what was the best news, he told me that he and the Master was forced to stay on board of our Ship, and that he did belong to Bombay, and that our Captain had taken out some Rice, Raisons and old Cloths and some Money. I heard of the Seamen that our Captain had Information of three ships that had gone out of Aden bound for Callicut being off Carwar, and being in necessity for Wood and Water put in there, at which time I made great intercession to the Captain for leave to go ashoar, which at last I obtained by giving him a Beaver Hat, for he was unwilling to let any go ashoar but whom he thought he could trust, for fear they should run away for most of his people seemed dissatisfyed and would I believe do as I have done in making their Escape if had opportunity, for the Carpenter and his mate with severall others does design to run away with the Pinnace. This I do swear by the old Testament to the best of my knowledge and what I have heard of the Seamen that all the above written is true.

Benjamin Franks.

Bombay the 20th October 1697.
Sworn before me:

[1] Public Record Office, C.O. 323:2, no. 124 I. William Kidd, the most famous pirate in American history, was a Scot, born in Dundee in 1654. In 1689-1690, in command of a captured ship, he took a creditable part in the attacks on Mariegalante and St. Martin's by Captain Hewetson, who at Kidd's trial testified to his bravery; but a few weeks later his men, ex-pirates apparently, ran away with his ship. Cal. St. P. Col., 1689-1692, pp. 122, 226, 227; Hargrave, State Trials, V. 326. In 1689 he settled in New York, where he seems to have been well regarded; in the record of his marriage license, May 16, 1691 (N.E. Hist. Gen. Reg., VI. 63) he is styled "William Kidd, Gentleman," and two days earlier the New York assembly (Journal, ed. 1764, I. 6, 13) voted him a gratuity of £150 for services in connection with the arrival of Governor Sloughter. In 1695, Kidd being then in England, Robert Livingston of New York arranged in London with Lord Bellomont, who had been designated but not yet commissioned as a governor in America, and with others, for a privateering voyage under Kidd's command. Other sharetakers were Sir Edward Russell, first lord of the admiralty, Sir John Somers, lord keeper of the great seal, the Duke of Shrewsbury, secretary of state, and the Earl of Romney, master-general of the ordnance; and the king himself was to receive one-tenth of the profits of the cruise. Kidd's letter of marque, dated Dec. 11, 1695, is in Hargrave's State Trials, V. 307. To it was added, Jan. 26, 1696, ibid., 308, a commission to apprehend pirates. Kidd sailed from England in April, 1696, in the Adventure Galley, 287 tons, 34 guns, 70 men. At New York he increased his crew to 155 men (there is a list of them in Cal. St. Pap. Col., 1700, p. 199), and sailed thence in September for Madagascar and the East Indies. Whether it was by his fault that the Adventure Galley slipped from privateering and the search for pirates into acts of piracy, or whether, as Kidd alleged, his men forced his hand, has been doubted, but it is probable that he shared the guilt. In the summer of 1698 complaints began to come in from India and from the East India Company, and in November, 1698, orders were sent to the governors of colonies in America to apprehend Kidd as a pirate whenever he should appear. The ensuing papers, especially his own narrative and Bellomont's letters, tell the story of his arrival and arrest. As under Massachusetts law he could not be condemned to death for piracy, he was, probably illegally, carried to England in the spring of 1700, and there tried at the Old Bailey for the murder of one of his men and for piracy. After an unfair trial and on insufficient evidence, he was condemned, and was hanged at Execution Dock May 23, 1701.

As to Benjamin Franks, we learn from a deposition of William Cuthbert (Journal of the House of Commons, XIII. 26) that two of Kidd's men deserted him at Carwar because of his attempts and designs toward piracy and his cruel conduct toward his men; Franks, Hebrew jeweller of New York, was apparently one of the two. Apparently he was a Danish subject; Westergaard, Danish West Indies, p. 110.

[2] One of the Cape Verde Islands; Santiago is a larger island of the same group, farther south.

[3] The Cape of Good Hope.

[4] Capt. Thomas Warren, R.N.

[5] Capt. Edward Acton, R.N.

[6] Tullear, near St. Augustine's Bay, on the southwest coast of Madagascar.

[7] Supercargo.

[8] See document no. 63, note 11.

[9] Mohelli, another of the Comoro group.

[10] "Matta in the Red Sea," says William Jinkins of Bow, in his deposition in Commons Journal, XIII. 24.

[11] Chick-peas.

[12] The straits of Bab-el-Mandeb.

[13] Mocha; see document no. 63, note 16a. Carwar is on the west coast of Hindustan, some 350 miles south of Bombay.

[14] See document no. 33, note 15.

[15] Probably Diu, in northwest India.

72. The President and Council of the Leeward Islands to Secretary Vernon. May 18, 1699.[1]

Right Honourable Sir

Your Letter of the 23d of November last[2] in relacion to that notorious Pirate Captain Kidd came safe to our hands, and shall take particular care to put the same in execucion, and in order thereto have sent copies thereof to the Lieutenant or Deputy Governor of each respective Island under this Government; since which wee have had this following account of the said Kidd (vizt.) That he lately came from Mallagascoe in a large Gennouese vessell of about Foure hundred Tonns, Thirty Guns mounted, and eighty men,[3] and in his way for these partes his men mutinyed, and thirty of them lost theire Lives; That his vessell is very Leaky; and that they are very much in want of Provisions; And that severall of his men have deserted him soe that he has not above five and twenty or thirty hands on board; about twenty dayes since he touched at Anguilla, a small Island under this Government, where he Tarryed about foure houres; but being refused succour Sailed thence for the Island of St. Thomas (an Island belonging to the Crowne of Denmarke)[4] and Anchored off that Harbour three dayes, in which time he treated with them alsoe for releife; but the Governor absolutely Denying him, he bore away farther to Leeward (as it is beleived) for Porto Rico or Crabb Island;[5] upon which advice wee forthwith ordered his Majesties Shipp Queeneburrough, now attending this Government, Captain Rupert Billingsly Commander, to make the best of his way after him; and in case he mett with him to secure him with his men, vessell and effects, and bring them upp hither, That no Imbezlement may be made, but that they may be secured till wee have given you advice thereof, and his majesties pleasure relateing thereto can be knowne. Wee shall by the first conveniencie transmitt the like account of him to the Governor of Jamaica, soe that if he goes farther to Leeward Due care may be taken to secure him there; As for those men who have deserted him, wee have taken all possible care to apprehend them, especially if they come within the districts of this Government, and hope on returne of his majesties Friggatt shall be able to give you a more ample account hereof.

Wee are with all due Respects

Right Honorable
Your most obedient humble servants

Jno. Smargin. Richd. Abbott.

Wm. Burt. Mich. Smith. Dan. Smith.

Nevis the 18th May 1699

[1] Public Record Office, C.O. 152:3, no. 21. This letter conveyed to the British government its first knowledge of the return of Captain Kidd to the western hemisphere. The Leeward Islands—Antigua, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Christopher, the most important being Nevis—constituted at this time one government, though with subordinate administration in the several islands. The governor having died, the council, of which William Burt was president, was acting as governor till a new governor should arrive. Burt and the other signers of this letter were all of Nevis. James Vernon, to whom the letter is addressed, was secretary of state; he was the father of Admiral Vernon, for whom Mount Vernon was named.

[2] Printed in the Commons Journal, XIII. 16. It was the circular letter to colonial governors ordering them to apprehend Kidd.

[3] The Quedah Merchant; see post. She is here spoken of as Genoese, but other documents of the time speak of her as "Moorish built."

[4] And now belonging to the United States. On Kidd at St. Thomas, see document no. 83, post.

[5] Now commonly called Vieques, a small island lying a few miles east of Puerto Rico, and also now belonging to the United States.

73. Examination of Edward Buckmaster. June 6, 1699.[1]

Taken this 6 June 1699.

The Answer of Edward Buckmaster to severall questions put to him by the Honorable John Nanfan, Esqr., Lieutenant Governor of this province,[2] the said Buckmaster being sworne to answer all such Questions as should be demanded of him.

Impr[imi]s. That the first land they made after they parted from this port in the Adventure Galley, Capt. William Kidd Commander, was the Island of Maderas, from whence they went directly to Madagascar, where they staid about A month to victual and careen. That there were no vessels at Madagascar when they came there. That they sailed from thence to a small Island called Johanna, lying in the Latitude of 12 degrees south, and from thence to Mahela, Lying in the Latitude of 11 degrees south; that they staid at the said Johanna and Mahela two Months where the Natives supplyed them with provisions. That there were four East India ships belonging to the Company at the Island Johanna at the same time they were there, the one called the East India Merchant the second the Maderasse, the third was a fly boat, and the fourth he knows not the name of.

Item. That from thence they sailed along the shore of Magellona[3] in the redd sea but saw no vessels till they came into the Latitude of 12 degrees north. That there they Met with several ships, some with English, some with Dutch, and some with Moors Colours, with whom they sailed in Company for Twenty five dayes but were not on board any of them. That the name of the one was the Scepter,[4] which ship fired a Gunn or Two At Capt. Kidds Galley.

Item. That they tooke a ship on the coast of Mallabar that had a french pass, and French Master on board, with two Other white men, he believes them Dutch men, the rest all Moors; she was about 200 Tuns, made no resistance, and that they shared out of her four Bailes of Callicoes each Man. That afterwards the Adventure Galley sunck at Saint Maries, and Kidd and Company went on board the prize.

Item. That Capt. Kidd had made no good voyage, having no money and only 160 Bailes of Callicoes on board.

Item. That he the said Buckmaster Left the said Capt. Kidd the last day of May 1698 and went on board the ship Resolution, Capt. Robert Culliford Comander,[5] as a volunteer before the Mast, and went out Cruising with him but tooke no vessel dureing the voyage though they Continued Cruising from May to December. the said Culliford had forty Gunns mounted and 120 men. he had been in those parts seven yeares on the account.

Item. That he quitted the said Culliford the Middle of December last and went on board the ship Nasaw, Giles Shelley Master,[6] that went from New yorke to Madagascar to trade there (the said Buckmaster being willing to come home to his family, the said Shelley being bound back to New Yorke), that he gave the said Shelley 100 pieces of Eight for his passage, which was the Comon rate and which sume he believes Fifty more passengers that came from on board pyrate ships at Madagascar and Saint Maries gave to the said Shelley, the said Shelley as he believes well knowing what ships they had been in and what designe they came from.

Item. That the said Shelley sailed from the Island Saint Maries in the East Indies to Chyan[7] where he stayd three or four dayes.

Item. That five or six of the persons that belonged to Capt. Culliford in the East Indies went on board Capt. Gravenreadt[8] out of Shelleys ship, when she came on this coast at Cape May, which Cape they made on Friday sevennight last.[9] Gravenreadts vessel lay about two miles from Shelleys ship, but the said Gravenreadts came on board shelleys ship, and believes made an agreemt. with the several men he took on board with him for their passages to [blank]: Vizt. Robert English, Jan Spons, Theophilus [blank][10] and two or three Others. That John Elderige, —— Stanton, and Doctor —— Badwain[11] went on shore at Cape May: they also came from on board Culliford.

Item. That they came to Sandy Hook on Fryday last in the Evening, that the said Edward Buckmaster, Paul Swan, Jonathan Evans and Otto van Toyle went on shore at the west end of long Island on Saturday last at seven of the Clock in the Evening, they also belonged to Culliford; that he was at New Utrecht yesterday and came to New Yorke last night. That he has been often in the hold of Shelleys ship dureing the voyage but saw nothing but water Casks, and that he never saw but four Gunns on the Deck since he was on board.

That one Capt. Shivers[12] came to saint Marys with a ship called the soldado of 40 Gunns while Shelley was there, which ship is run ashore.

That he did not see the Quedaw Merchant nor Capt. Wright.

That he was at Callicut and Carresaw[13] in Kidds ship.

A True Copy.
Bellomont.

[1] Oxford, Bodleian Library, Rawlinson MSS., A. 272, fol. 48; also in the Public Record Office, C.O. 5:1042, no. 40 XI. Edward Buckmaster, "one of Shelley's men", was committed June 7, and broke prison Aug. 25. Cal. St. P. Col., 1699, pp. 278, 401. A year later, though he was supposed to be still alive, a rascally chaplain of the fort at New York married his wife to Capt. Adam Baldridge of document no. 68, obtaining a marriage license for "Adam Ball" and adding "-dridge" afterward. N.Y. Col. Doc., IV. 333, 413, 766.

[2] Capt. John Nanfan, a cousin of Bellomont's wife, was lieutenant-governor of New York under him, and administered the province during Bellomont's absence in Massachusetts.

[3] Somaliland, probably.

[4] An English frigate. The events that follow are more fully detailed in Kidd's narrative, document no. 76, post.

[5] Culliford was a noted pirate, who for a time commanded the Mocha frigate, which had been stolen from the East India Company; and this Resolution was the Mocha renamed, not the Resolution of document no. 68, par. 13.

[6] Shelley, fitted out from New York in 1698 by Stephen Delancey and others, was suspected of piracy. In a letter of May 27, 1699, to Delancey, from Cape May, he speaks of bringing in 15,000 dollars of passage money. Cal. St. P. Col., 1699, p. 281. He had lived in New York since 1688. See also doc. no. 85, note 17.

[7] Cayenne, probably.

[8] Andreas Gravenraedt of New York. On this very day, June 6, Governor Blakiston of Maryland was seizing him and his ship in the Severn River. Cal. St. P. Col., 1699, p. 287.

[9] May 26.

[10] Turner. He turned king's evidence. See the next document.

[11] Kidd's physician was Robert Bradinham; he also turned king's evidence.

[12] See document no. 68, par. 13.

[13] Carwar?

74. Deposition of Theophilus Turner. June 8, 1699.[1]

Maryland scilicet

Came Theophilus Turner, Borne at Heckfield near Hartley roade in Hampshire, Aged about thirty years, and being sworne upon the Holy Evangelists to declare the truth of what he knows concerning any Acts of Pyracy comitted by him or any others, saith:

That he sayled out of London about three years agoe in the Ship Hanniball, Captain William Hill Commander, which ship was a Merchant ship mounted with thirty two Gunns and Navigated with seventy Men, and went upon the Coast of Guinea, where the Captain put his Men to very short allowance so that severall of them, vizt. Henry Webber, 3d Mate, who afterwards Comanded the said ship, and severall others, took the ship from him and went to Brasile, where the Deponent and some others left the ship. After that the Deponent had lived at Brasile about one yeare, a French Vessell which had lost her top mast arrived there under the Comand of Mounsieur de Ley, on Board of which Vessell the deponent embarqued himselfe for the Coast of India, the said De Ley being bound to Bengall, in the Voyage whereto they touched at the Island of Johannah, an Island [whose] inhabitants are Arabians, which was in the Month of May or June 1698: and riding there at Anchor with the said ship, came a ship of fourty Gunns called the Resolution by the Men on Board, But understood her right name was the Moco,[2] from Madagaskar, Navigated with about 130 or 140 Men under the Comand of Captain Robert Culliford. De Ley weighed one Anchor and cut the other Cable, but Culliford chasing him took him and brought the deponent on Board them, being the only Englishman on board De Ley, and examined him concerning Deleys Loading, with many threats. after they plundered the ship and found there 2000 l. in money, besides Wine and Cloath, which they took, and because the Deponent was an Englishman they would not let him go on board De Ley again but kept him. After which the said Culliford sayled with the said ship upon the Coast of India: and about the middle of August came up with a Pyrate, who came out of America some where near Rhroad Island under the Comand of Richard Chivers, had 80 or 90 men and twelve Gunns, who kept Company and Consorted with Culliford. And about the End of September last they met off of Suratt with a turkey ship belonging to Suratt, which Chivers crew boarded: and the Quartermaster and some of Cullifords crew went on Board: she was laden with Pieces 8, Gold and Dollers, was reputed to the vallue of one Hundred and twenty or thirty thousand pounds. there were some shots made and several turks were killed and wounded and two or three of Chivers Company: they put the men on shoare on the Coast of India, sunck their own ship and took the turkey ship and then shared the money, about 700 or 800 l. a man in each ship, and gave the Deponent who pumped for them on occasion and was ready at call 250 l., not deeming him as one of them but in the nature of a prisoner, and told him if that he would go out with them their next Voyage, he should be all one as the rest. thence the said Culliford and Chivers sayled to Madagascoe, Port St. Marys, a large Island about three or four Hundred Leagues in Length inhabited by a numerous people being Negroes.

Theo. Turner.

Juratus coram me,

N. Blakiston.

[1] Public Record Office, C.O. 5:714, no. 70 VI. Original; a copy (no. 70 II.) is marked as sworn to before Colonel Blakiston, governor of Maryland, on June 8, 1699.

[2] The Mocha had been a frigate belonging to the East India Company. Piratical members of the crew, especially James Gillam, had murdered the captain and had seized the ship.

75. Memorial of Duncan Campbell. June 19, 1699.[1]

Boston, June the 19th, 1699.

The Memorial of Duncan Campbell, of Boston, humbly presented to his Excellency the Earle of Bellomont.

I, the said Duncan Campbell, being at Rhode-Island on Saturday the 17th of June currant, that morning I went in a Sloop from said Island, in Company with Mr. James Emott of New-Yorke,[2] and two other men belonging to said Sloop, towards Block-Island, and, about three leagues from that Island, I mett a Sloop commanded by Captain Kidd, and haveing on board about Sixteen men besides; after hailing of which Sloop and being informed that the said Kidd was Commander thereof, he said Kidd desired me to come on board the same; which I accordingly did, and after some discourse passed, said Kidd desired me to do him the favour as to make what Speed I could for Boston and acquaint your Excellency that the said Kidd had brought a Ship, about five or six hundred Tuns, from Madagascar, which, some considerable time since, he met with in [blank] and commanded her there to bring to; and that thereupon the Pilott, being a French man, came on board the said Kidds Ship, and told him, said Kidd, he was welcome, and that the said Ship (to which said Pilott belonged) was a lawfull Prize to him the said Kidd, she sailing under a French Pass: Whereupon he, the said Kidd, and Company, took the said Ship, and afterwards, understanding that the same belonged to the Moors, he, said Kidd, would have delivered her up again, but his men violently fell upon him, and thrust him into his Cabbin, saying the said Ship was a fair Prize, and then carryed her into Madigascar and rifled her of what they pleased, but before they got into Madigascar, the Gally under Command of him, said Kidd, became so leaky that she would scarce keep above water, whereupon the Company belonging thereto, haveing taken out of her her Guns and some other Things and put them on board the Prize, sett the said Gally on fire. The said Captain Kidd further told me that, when he and his Company were arrived at Madagascar, several of his Company moved him to go and take a Ship called the Moco Frigat, that lay ready fitted at a place not far distant from them, in the possession of certain Privateers, and to go in the same for the red-Sea. But that he the said Kidd said that if they would join with him he would attempt the taking of the said Ship, (supposeing her a lawful Prize, being formerly belonging to the King of England), but would not afterwards go with them on the said design to the red-Sea. Whereupon ninety of his the said Kidd's men deserted him, went and tooke the said Ship, and sailed with the same on the aforesaid design, as he, said Kidd, was informed; obliging one Captain Culliver, the then Commander of her, to go along with them.

And the said Kidd further told me That, his men having left him and his design frustrated, he thought it his best way to preserve the said Ship then in his possession, and the goods on board her, for his Imployers or the proper Owners thereof: And accordingly, with the few men he had then left, which would not joine with the other Ninety in their aforesaid design (being about Twenty in Number) and with a few other men that he procured at Madagascar to assist him in navigating said Ship, he intended to have brought the same to Boston, according to his Orders; but touching in his way at the Island of St. Thomas's and other places in the West-Indies, he there heard that great Complaints were preferred against him, and he proclaimed a Pirate, which occasioned him to saile to a place called Mona, near Hispaniola;[3] from whence he sent to Curaso,[4] and bought there the Sloop on which he is now on board, and tooke into her out of the said ship to the Value of about eight or ten thousand pounds in goods, gold, and Plate, for which Gold and Plate he traded at Madagascar, and was produced by the sale of sundry goods and Stores that he tooke out of the Adventure Gally, formerly commanded by him, and hath left the Ship taken by his Company, and carryed to Madagascar as aforesaid, at or near Mona abovesaid, in the Custody of about six men of his owne Company and Eighteen others that he got from Curaso (the Merchant of whom he bought the said Sloop being intrusted therewith), unto which he hath promised to returne again in three months, the said Kidd resolveing to come into Boston or New-Yorke to deliver up unto your Excellency what goods and Treasure he hath on board, and to pray your Excellency's assistance to enable him to bring the said Ship, left by him at Mona aforesaid, from thence, the said Ship being disabled from comeing, for want of furniture.[5]

But the said Captain Kidd further informed me, That by reason of what his Men had heard in the West-Indies, as aforesaid, of their being proclaimed Pirates, they would not consent to his coming into any Port without some Assurance from your Excellency That they should not be imprisoned or molested. And the said Captain Kidd did several times protest solemnly that he had not done anything since his going out in the said Gally contrary to his Commission and Orders, more than what he was necessitated unto by being overpowered by his Men, that deserted him, as aforesaid, who evil intreated him several times for his not consenting to, or joineing with them in, their actions. And all the men on board the Sloop now with him did in like manner solemnly protest their innocence, and declared that they had used their utmost endeavours in preserving the aforesaid Ship and goods for the Owners or Imployers. Said Kidd also said, that if your Lordship should see Cause so to direct, he would carry the said Ship for England, there to render an Account of his Proceedings.

Which beforegoing contains the particulars of what Captain Kidd and his Men related to

Your Lordship's most humble Servant,
Duncan Campbell.

[1] Public Record Office, C.O. 5:860, no. 64 IV.; a copy certified by Bellomont, and endorsed, "Copy of a Memorial of Mr. Campbell who had been sent by the Earl of Bellomont to Captain Kidd, about what Kidd had said to him.... Referred to in the Earl of Bellomont's Letter of the 26th July 1699. Received [i.e., by the Board of Trade] September 26th, Read 26th, 1699." This memorial is printed, with slight inaccuracies, in the Commons Journal, XIII. 21-22, and thence reprinted in Sir Cornelius N. Dalton's The Real Captain Kidd, pp. 315-321 (a book of slight value as a vindication of Kidd, but reprinting useful documents); but the Commons Journal is in few American libraries, and the document is essential to the story of Kidd, and therefore is printed here. Duncan Campbell, a Scot like Kidd, had been a bookseller in Boston, and was now postmaster there. John Dunton describes him (1686) as "a brisk young Fellow, that dresses All-a-mode, and sets himself off to the best Advantage; and yet thrives apace. I am told (and for his sake I wish it may be true) that a Young Lady of a Great Fortune has married him." Letters from New England, p. 80.

[2] An attorney in New York, and vestryman of Trinity Church.

[3] Mona is a small island lying in the passage between Santo Domingo and Puerto Rico.

[4] CuraÇao, Dutch West Indies.

[5] Masts, spars, sails, and rigging.

76. Narrative of William Kidd. July 7, 1699.[1]

A Narrative of the Voyage of Captain William Kidd, Commander of the Adventure Gally, from London to the East Indies.

That the Journal of the said Captain Kidd being violently taken from him in the Port of St. Marie's in Madagascar, and his life many times being threatned to be taken away from him by 97 of his men that deserted him there, he cannot give that exact Account he otherwise could have done, but as far as his memory will serve is as followeth; viz.

That the said Adventure Gally was launched in Castle's Yard at Deptford[2] about the 4th day of December 1695, and about the latter end of February the said Gally came to the buoy in the Nore, and about the first Day of March following, his men were pressed from him for the Fleet, which caused him to stay there 19 Days,[3] and then sailed for the Downs, and arrived there about the 8th or 10th Day of April 1696; and sailed thence for Plymouth, and on the 23d Day of the said month of April he sailed from Plymouth on his intended Voyage, and some time in the month of May met with a small French Vessel with Salt and Fishing Tackle on board, bound for Newfoundland, which he took and made Prize of and carried the same into New-York, about the 4th day of July, where she was condemned as lawful Prize, the produce whereof purchased Provisions for the said Gally for her further intended Voyage.

That, about the 6th day of September 1696 the said Captain Kidd sailed for the Maderas in Company with one Joyner, Master of a Briganteen belonging to Bermudas, and arrived there about the 8th day of October following; and thence to Bonavista,[4] where they arrived about the 19th of said month, and took in some Salt and stayed three or four days, and sailed thence to St. Jago,[4] and arrived there the 24th of the said month, where he took in some Water and staied about 8 or 9 Days, and thence sailed for the Cape of Good Hope, and in the Latitude of 32, on the 12th day of December 1696 met with four English Men of War, whereof Captain Warren was Commodore, and sailed a week in their Company, and then parted and sailed to Telere, a Port in the Island of Madagascar, and being there about the 29th day of January, came in a Sloop belonging to Barbadoes, loaded with Rhum, Sugar, Powder and Shot, one —— French Master, and Mr. Hatton and Mr. John Batt Merchants, and the said Hatton came on board the said Gally and was suddenly taken ill there and dyed in the Cabin: and about the latter end of February sayled for the Island of Johanna, the said Sloop keeping Company, and arrived there about the 18th day of March, where he found Four East India Merchantmen, outward bound, and watered there all together, and stayd about four days, And from thence about the 22d of March sayled for Mehila, an Island Ten Leagues distant from Johanna, where he arrived the next morning, and there careened the said Gally, and about fifty men died there in a weekes time.

That on the 25th day of April 1697 set saile for the Coast of India, and came upon the Coast of Mallabar in the beginning of the month of September, and went into Carrwarr upon that Coast about the middle of the same month and watered there, and the Gentlemen of the English Factory gave the Narrator an Account that the Portugese were fitting out two men of War to take him, and advised him to set out to Sea, and to take care of himselfe from them, and immediately he set sail thereupon ... about the 22d of the said month of September, and the next morning about break of day saw the said two Men of War standing for the said Gally, and spoke with him, and asked him Whence he was, who replyed, from London, and they returned answer, from Goa, and so parted, wishing each other a good Voyage, and making still along the Coast, the Commodore of the said Men of War kept dogging the said Gally all Night, waiting an Opportunity to board the same, and in the morning, without speaking a word, fired 6 great Guns at the Gally, some whereof went through her, and wounded four of his Men, and thereupon he fired upon him again, and the Fight continued all day, and the Narrator had eleven men wounded: The other Portuguese Men of War lay some distance off, and could not come up with the Gally, being calm, else would have likewise assaulted the same. The said Fight was sharp, and the said Portuguese left the said Gally with such Satisfaction that the Narrator believes no Portuguese will ever attack the Kings Colours again, in that part of the World especially, and afterwards continued upon the said Coast, cruising upon the Cape of Cameroone[5] for Pyrates that frequent that Coast, till the beginning of the month of November 1697 when he met with Captain How in the Loyal Captaine, an English Ship belonging to Maddarass,[6] bound to Surat, whom he examined and, finding his Pass good, designed freely to let her pass about her affairs; but having two Dutchmen on board, they told the Narrator's men that they had divers Greeks and Armenians on board, who had divers precious Stones and other rich Goods on board, which caused his men to be very mutinous, and got up their Armes, and swore they would take the Ship, and two-thirds of his Men voted for the same. The narrator told them The small Armes belonged to the Gally, and that he was not come to take any Englishmen or lawful Traders, and that if they attempted any such thing they should never come on board the Gally again, nor have the Boat, or Small-Armes, for he had no Commission to take any but the King's Enemies, and Pirates, and that he would attack them with the Gally and drive them into Bombay; the other being a Merchantman and having no Guns, might easily have done it with a few hands, and with all the arguments and menaces he could use could scarce restraine them from their unlawful Designe, but at last prevailed, and with much ado got him cleare, and let him go about his business. All which Captain How will attest, if living.

And that about the 18th or 19th day of the said month of November met with a Moors Ship of about 200 Tuns,[7] coming from Suratt, bound to the Coast of Mallabar, loaded with two horses, Sugar and Cotton, to trade there, having about 40 Moors on board, with a Dutch Pylot, Boatswain and Gunner, which said Ship the Narrator hailed, and commanded on board, and with him came 8 or 9 Moors and the said three Dutchmen, who declared it was a Moors Ship, and demanding their Pass from Suratt, which they shewed, and the same was a French Pass, which he believes was shewed by a Mistake, for the Pylot swore Sacrament[8] she was a Prize, and staid on board the Gally and would not return again on board the Moors Ship, but went in the Gally to the Port of St. Maries.

And that about the First Day of February following, upon the same Coast, under French Colours with a Designe to decoy, met with a Bengall Merchantman belonging to Surrat of the burthen of 4 or 500 Tuns, 10 guns, and he commanded the Master on board, and a Frenchman, Inhabitant of Suratt and belonging to the French Factory there, and Gunner of said Ship, came on board as Master, and when he came on board the Narrator caused the English Colours to be hoisted, and the said Master was surprized and said, You are all English; and asking, Which was the Captain, whom when he saw, said, Here is a good Prize, and delivered him the French Pass.[9] And that with the said two Prizes sailed for the Port of St. Maries, in Madagascar; and sailing thither the said Gally was so leaky that they feared she would have sunk every hour, and it required eight men, every two Glasses[10] to keep her free, and was forced to woold[11] her round with Cables to keep her together, and with much ado carried her into the said Port of St. Maries, where they arrived about the First Day of April 1698, and about the 6th day of May the lesser Prize was haled into the Careening Island or Key, the other not being arrived, and ransacked and sunk by the mutinous men, who threatened the Narrator and the men that would not join with them, to burn and sink the other, that they might not go home and tell the news.

And that when he arrived in the said Port there was a Pyrate Ship, called the Moca Frigat,[12] at an Anchor, Robert Culliford Commander thereof, who with his men left the same at his coming in, and ran into the Woods, And the Narrator proposed to his Men to take the same, having sufficient power and authority so to do,[13] but the mutinous Crew told him, if he offered the same, they would rather fire two Guns into him than one into the other, and thereupon 97 deserted, and went into the Moca Frigat, and sent into the Woods for the said Pyrates and brought the said Culliford and his men on board again; and all the time she staid in the said Port, which was for the Space of 4 or 5 Dayes, the said Deserters, sometimes in great numbers, came on board the said Gally and Adventure Prize,[14] and carried away great guns, Powder, Shot, small Armes, Sailes, Anchors, Cables, Chirurgeons Chest, and what else they pleased, and threatned several times to murder the Narrator (as he was informed, and advised to take care of himselfe) which they designed in the Night to effect but was prevented by his locking himself in his Cabin at night, and securing himselfe with barrocading the same with bales of Goods, and having about 40 small Armes, besides Pistols, ready charged, kept them out. Their wickedness was so great, after they had plundered and ransacked sufficiently, went four miles off to one Edward Welche's house,[15] where his the Narrator's Chest was lodged, and broke it open, and took out 10 Ounces of Gold, forty Pounds of Plate, 370 pieces of Eight, the Narrator's Journal, and a great many papers that belonged to him and the People of New-York that fitted them out.

That about the 15th of June, the Moca Frigat went away, being manned with about 130 Men and forty Guns, bound out to take all Nations. Then it was that the Narrator was left only with 13 Men, so that the Moors he had to pump and keep the Adventure Gally above Water being carried away, she sunk in the harbour, and the Narrator with the said thirteen men went on board of the Adventure-Prize, where he was forced to stay five months for a fair Wind. In the meantime some Passengers presented, that were bound for these Parts, which he tooke on board to help to bring the said Adventure-Prize home.

That about the beginning of April 1699 the Narrator arrived at Anguilla in the West-Indies and sent his Boat on Shore, where his men had the News That he and his People were proclaimed Pirates, which put them into such a Consternation that they sought all Opportunitys to run the Ship on shore upon some reef or Shoal, fearing the Narrator should carry them into some English Port.

From Anguilla they came to St. Thomas, where his Brother-in-law Samuel Bradley[16] was put on shore, being sick, and five more went away and deserted him, where he heard the same News, that the Narrator and his Company were proclaimed Pirates, which incensed the People more and more. From St. Thomas set saile for Moona, an Island between Hispaniola and Porto Rico, where they met with a Sloop called the St. Anthony, bound for Montego[17] from Curaso, Mr. William Bolton[18] Merchant and Samuel Wood Master. The men on board then swore they would bring the Ship no further. The Narrator then sent the said Sloop St. Anthony for Curaso for Canvas to make Sails for the Prize, she being not able to proceed, and she returned in 10 Dayes, and after the Canvas came he could not persuade the men to carry her for New-England, but Six of them went and carried their Chests and things on board of two Dutch Sloops, bound for Curaso, and would not so much as heele the Vessel or do any-thing; the remainder of the men not being able to bring the Adventure-Prize to Boston, the Narrator secured her in a good safe Harbour in some Part of Hispaniola, and left her in the Possession of Mr. Henry Boulton of Antego, Merchant, the Master, three of the old men, and 15 or 16 of the men that belonged to the said Sloop St. Anthony and a Briganteen belonging to one Burt of Curaso.

That the Narrator bought the said Sloop St. Anthony of Mr. Bolton, for the Owners accompt, and after he had given Directions to the said Bolton to be careful of the Ship and Ladeing and persuaded him to stay three months till he returned, and then made the best of his way to New-York, where he heard the Earl of Bellomont was, who was principally concerned in the Adventure Gally, and hearing his Lordship was at Boston, came thither and has now been 45 Dayes from the said Ship.

Wm. Kidd.

Boston, 7th July 1699.

Further the Narrator saith, That the said Ship was left at St. Katharina on the Southeast part of Hispaniola, about three Leagues to Leward of the Westerly end of Savano.[19] Whilst he lay at Hispaniola he traded with Mr. Henry Bolton of Antigua, and Mr. William Burt of Curracao,[20] Merchants, to the value of Eleven thousand two hundred Pieces of Eight, whereof he received the Sloop Antonio at 3000 Pieces of 8/8, and four thousand two hundred Pieces of 8/8 by Bills of Exchange, drawn by Bolton and Burt upon Messieurs Gabril and Lemont,[21] Merchants in Curracao, made payable to Mr. Burt, who went himself to Curracao, and the Value of four thousand Pieces of 8/8 more in Dust and barr-gold, which Gold, with some more traded for at Madagascar, being Fifty Pound Weight or upwards in Quantity, the Narrator left in Custody of Mr. —— Gardner of Gardner's-Island,[22] near the Eastern end of Long-Island, fearing to bring it about by Sea. It is made up in a bagg put into a little box, lockt and nailed, corded about, and sealed. Saith, He took no receipt for it of Mr. Gardner.

The Gold that was seized at Mr. Campbel's the Narrator traded for at Madagascar, with what came out of the Gally.

Saith, That he carried in the Adventure Gally from New-York, 154 Men; Seventy whereof came out of England with him. Some of his Sloop's Company put two Bailes of Goods on shore at Gardner's-Island, being their own proper. The Narrator delivered a Chest of Goods, viz. Muslins, Latches, Romals[23] and flowered Silke, unto Mr. Gardner of Gardner's-Island aforesaid, to be kept there for the Narrator. put no Goods on shore any-where else. Several of his Company landed their Chests and other Goods at several places.

Further saith, He delivered a small Bayle of course Callicoes unto a Sloop-Man of Rhode-Island that he had emploied there. The Gold seized at Mr. Campbell's the Narrator intended for Presents to some that he expected to do him Kindness. Some of his Company put their Chests and Bailes on board a New Yorke Sloop lying at Gardner's-Island.

Wm. Kidd.

Presented and taken, die praedict.[24] before his
Excellency and Council.

Isa. Addington, Secretary.

[1] Public Record Office, C.O. 5:860, no. 64 XXV. Printed in Commons Journal, XIII. 31-32, and by Dalton, but the same remark applies to this document (and to documents nos. 77, 79, and 82) as to no. 75; they are essential to an understanding of the story. A "protest" by Kidd, July 7, of similar purport, has just been published in Portland MSS., IX. 403.

[2] Three miles down the Thames from London Bridge. The Nore was a sandbank at the mouth of the river; the Downs is the roadstead off Deal.

[3] "At the Buoy in the Nore Captain Steward, commander of the Duchess, took away all my ship's crew; but Admiral Russell [one of Kidd's owners], upon my application to him at Sittingbourne, caused my men to be restored to me." Kidd's protest; Hist. MSS. Comm., Manuscripts of the Duke of Portland, VIII. 80. England and France were at war from 1689 to the peace of Ryswyk, Sept. 20, 1697 (War of the Grand Alliance, King William's War). In such times the royal navy always relied, for its supply of men, upon impressment, especially of merchant seamen. See J.R. Hutchinson, The Press-Gang Afloat and Ashore (London, 1913).

[4] See doc. no. 71, note 2.

[5] Cape Comorin, the southern point of Hindustan.

[6] I.e., Madras.

[7] The Rouparelle; her French pass (from the director of Surat for the French East India Company) showing a Mohammedan captain, Dutch pilot, and Dutch boatswain, is in Commons Journal, XIII. 21. It was one of the two passes whose absence at Kidd's trial was fatal to his case.

[8] "The Dutch-man seeing that, swore his countries oath, 'sacremente'." Bradford, History of Plymouth Plantation (ed. 1908), p. 35.

[9] The French pass of this ship, the Cara Merchant or Quedah Merchant (Kedah, in the Malay Peninsula) is in the Commons Journal, XIII. 21, signed by FranÇois Martin, the founder of Pondicherry and of the French empire in India. It is dated Jan. 14, 1698, at Hugli (Chandernagore). It names Armenians as commanders and owner, though the evidence given at Kidd's trials in London (Hargrave, State Trials, V. 287-338) constantly states an Englishman named Wright to have been commander. It should be remembered, in respect to these two captures, of vessels ostensibly French, in November, 1697, and February, 1698, that though the peace of Ryswyk was signed Sept. 20, 1697, the news of its signing did not reach the Indian Ocean till April, 1698; and by its terms (art. X.) captures made "beyond the Line" (Equator) within six months from the signing of the treaty were not illegal.

[10] I.e., an hour by the sand-glass.

[11] Wind.

[12] See doc. no. 74, note 2.

[13] One of the witnesses at Kidd's trial, a member of his crew, gives a very different account of the latter's attitude toward Culliford. It may be quoted, as a specimen of Kidd's unstudied conversational style. "On the Quarter-deck they made a Tub of Bomboo, as they call it, (it is made of Water, and Limes, and Sugar) and there they drank to one another; and, says Capt. Kidd, Before I would do you any Damage, I had rather my Soul should broil in Hell-fire; and wished Damnation to himself several times, if he did. And he took the Cup, and wished that might be his last, if he did not do them all the Good he could." State Trials (Hargrave), V. 306, 335.

[14] I.e., the Quedah Merchant.

[15] Edward Welch was a New Englander, who had come out to Madagascar as a boy, and had a house fortified with six guns near St. Mary's, where he ruled over a company of negroes. Cal. S.P. Col., 1699, p. 289.

[16] Kidd's wife's brother; see doc. no. 78, note 1, and N.Y. Col. Docs., IV. 128, 144, 179. General McCrady, History of South Carolina, I. 262-263, mentions two affidavits in an old manuscript book in Charleston, by two sailors of the Adventure's company, who declare that Bradley took no part with the piratical crew, but constantly protested against their course, and therefore was put ashore sick on a rock near Antigua.

[17] The manuscript (a copy) says Montego, which is in Jamaica, but the name should be Antigua. The Antonio belonged partly to Abraham Redwood of Antigua, afterward of Newport.

[18] Henry Bolton; see doc. no. 86. Samuel Wood's examination is in Commons Journal, XIII. 26.

[19] Savona, or Saona, a small island off the southeasternmost part of Santo Domingo. Santa Catalina is a still smaller island, a little farther to the west.

[20] Burt or Burke, an Irish trader, was of Dutch CuraÇao to Kidd, of French St. Kitts to Governor Codrington, but a British subject to the Danish governor of St. Thomas. See doc. no. 83.

[21] Walter Gribble (see doc. no. 86, note 7) and William Lamont.

[22] See doc. no. 79.

[23] Handkerchiefs.

[24] Die praedicta, on the day aforesaid.

77. Lord Bellomont to the Board of Trade. July 8, 1699.[1]

Boston, 8th July, 99.

My Lords,

I have the Misfortune to be ill of the Gout at a time when I have a great deal of business to exercise both my head and my hand.

It will not be unwellcome News to your Lordships to tell you that I secured Captain Kidd last Thursday in the Gaol of this Town with five or six of his men. He had been hovering on the Coast towards New-York for more than a fortnight, and sent to one Mr. Emot to come from New-York to him at a place called Oyster-Bay in Nassau Island[2] not far from New-York. He brought Emot from thence to Rhoad Island and there landed him, sending him hither to me with an Offer of his comeing into this port provided I would pardon him. I was a litle pussiled how to manage a treaty of that kind with Emot, a cunning Jacobite, a fast Friend of Fletcher's and my avowed enimie. When he proposed my pardoning Kid, I told him It was true the King had allowed me a power to pardon Pyrates; But that I was so tender of useing it (because I would bring no Staine on my Reputation), that I had set myselfe a Rule never to pardon Pyracy without the King's expresse leave and Command. Emot told me that Kid had left the great Moorish Ship he took in India (which Ship I have since found went by the Name of the Quidah-Marchant), in a Creek on the Coast of Hispaniola, with Goods to the Value of thirty Thousand pounds: That he had bought a Sloop, in which he was come before to make his termes: that he had brought in the Sloop with him severall Bailes of East India goods, threescore pound weight of gold in Dust and in Ingotts, about a hundred weight of Silver and several other things which he beleived would sell for about Ten Thousand pounds. Emot also told me that Kid was very innocent and would make it appear that his men forced him, locking him up in the Cabin of the Adventure Galley while they robbed two or three Ships, and he could prove this by many witnesses. I answered Emot that if Kid could make that appear he might safely come into this Port and I would undertake to get him the King's Pardon. I writ a Letter to Captain Kid inviteing him to come in,[3] and that I would procure a pardon for him, provided he were as innocent as Mr. Emot said he was. I sent my letter to him by one Mr. Campbell of this Town, and a Scotch as well as Kid, and his Acquaintance: within three or four days Campbell returned to me with a Letter from Kid, full of protestations of his Innocence, and informing me of his Design of coming with his Sloop into this Port. I must not forget to tell your Lordships that Campbell brought three or four small Jewells to my Wife, which I was to know nothing of; but she came quickly and discovered them to me and asked me whither she should keep them, which I advised her to do for the present. For I reflected that my shewing an over-nicety might do hurt, before I had made a full discovery what goods and treasure were in the Sloop. All this whole matter, even to my writing my Letter to Kid, was transacted with the privity and advice of the Councill.

Kid landed here this day Seven night; and I would not so much as speak with him but before Witnesses: I thought he looked very guilty, and to make me believe so he and his friend Livingston[4] (who posted hither from Albany, upon newes of Captain Kid's designe of comeing hither), and Campbell aforesaid began to juggle together and Imbezle some of the Cargo; besides, Kid did strangely trifle with me and the Councill three or four times that we had him under Examination. Mr. Livingston also came to me in a peremptory manner and demanded up his Bond and the articles which he sealed to me upon Kid's Expedition, and told me that Kid swore all the Oaths in the World that unless I did immediately indemnifie Mr. Livingston by giving up his Securities he would never bring in that great Ship and Cargo, but that he would take care to satisfie Mr. Livingston himself out of that Cargo. I thought this was such an Impertinence, in both Kid and Livingston, that it was time for me to look about me, and to secure Kid. I had notice that he designed my wife a Thousand Pound in Gold Dust and Ingotts last Thursday, but I spoyled his Complement by ordering him to be arrested and committed that Day, showing the Councill my orders from Court for that purpose. Two Gentlemen of the Councill, Two Merchants, and the Collector, have the Charge of all the Cargo, and they are preparing Inventories of every thing, which shall be sent to your Lordships by the next Ship.[5] I delivered up to those five persons the Jewells that I have formerly told you Kid sent by Campbell to my Wife, and that at the Councill Board.

If I had kept Mr. Secretary Vernon's Orders for seizing and securing Kid and his associates with all their Effects with less Secrecy, I had never got him to come in: for his Country men, Mr. Graham[6] and Livingston, would have been sure to caution him to shift for him selfe and would have been well paid for their pains. I received the Lords Justices[7] Orders about Kid, and likewise Mr. Secretary Vernon's, about three moneths before my leaveing New-York, but I never discovered them to any body, and when I heard people say, that the neighbouring Governors had Orders from Court to seize him, I laughed, as if I believed noe such thing. I wish they may not let him escape here, as they have Bradish, a notorious Pyrate. About a fortnight ago, Bradish and another Pyrate got out of the Gaol of this Town and escaped with the Consent of the Gaoler as there is great reason to beleive.[8]

As the Law stands in this Country a Pyrate cannot be punished with Death; therefore I desire to receive orders what to do with Bradish's Crew, and also with Kid, and those Men of his I have taken.[9]

Since my leaving New-York one of the four Ships has come in that went from thence to Madagascar last Summer and of which I informed your Lordships, and has brought Sixty Pyrates and a vast deall of Treasure. I hear that every one of the Pyrates paid 150 l. for his passage, and the owners, I am told, have cleared thirty Thousand pounds by this Voyage. It is observable that Mr. Hackshaw, one of the Merchants that petitioned against me to your Lordships, and Stephen Delancy, a hot headed saucy Frenchman and Mr. Hackshaw's Correspondent, are the cheife owners of this Ship. I hear there were 200 Pyrates at Madagascar when this Ship came away, who intended to take their passage in Frederick Phillips Ship and the other Two belonging to New York.

A great Ship has been seen off this Coast any time this Week; it is supposed to be one Maise, a Pyrate who has brought a vast deale of wealth from the red Seas.[10] There is a Sloop also at Rhoad Island, which is said to be a Pyrate. I hear the men goe a shoar there in the day time and return to the Sloop at night and spend their gold very liberally. We can do nothing towards the taking those Ships, for want of a man of War. I am manning out a Ship to go in Quest of the Quidah-Marchant left by Kid on the Coast of Hispaniola: by some papers which we seized with Kid, and by his own Confession, wee have found out where the Ship lyes;[11] and according to his account of the Cargo we compute her to be worth seventy thousand pounds. The Ship that carries this is just upon Sailing, and will not be persuaded to stay any longer; so that I cannot send your Lordships the Inventories of the Goods brought in by Kid, nor the Informations we have taken about him from his own men, till next opportunity. I am, with Respect,

My Lords
Your Lordships most humble
and obedient Servant
Bellomont.

[1] Public Record Office, C.O. 5:860, no. 62; Commons Journal, XIII, 18-19. Endorsed as received and read Aug. 31. Richard Coote (1636-1701), earl of Bellomont in the peerage of Ireland, was designated as governor of Massachusetts in June, 1695, and as governor of New York in July, three months before his agreement with Livingston and Kidd, but was not commissioned till June 18, 1697. He arrived in New York Apr. 2, 1698, and first came to Boston May 26, 1699. The part he had taken in sending out Kidd to capture pirates made Kidd's piracy a matter of special indignation and embarrassment to him, particularly when the affair was used in Parliament, in the session of 1700, as a means of attack on the Lord Chancellor Somers (see doc. no. 71, note 1). The agreement with Kidd was an unwise arrangement, but there is no doubt that Bellomont was an honest and zealous official.

78. Petition of Sarah Kidd. July 16 (?), 1699.[1]

To his Excellency the Earle of Bellomont, Captn. Gen. and Govr. in Chief of his Maj'tys provinces of the Massachusetts Bay, New Yorke, etca. in America, and of the Territorys thereon depending, and Vice Admiral of the same,

The petition of Sarah Kidd the wife of Captn. Wm. Kidd,

Humbly Sheweth

That on the sixth day of July Inst. some of the Magistrates and officers of this place came into your Pet'rs lodgings at the house of Duncan Campbell and did there Seize and take out of a Trunck a Silver Tankard, a Silver Mugg, Silver Porringer, spoons, forcks and other pieces of Plate, and two hundred and sixty pieces of Eight, your Pet'rs sole and proper Plate and mony, brought with her from New Yorke, whereof she has had the possession for several years last past, as she can truely make oath; out of which sd Trunck was also took Twenty five English Crowns which belonged to your Pet'rs Maid.[2]

The premisses and most deplorable Condition of your Pet'r considered, She humbly intreats your hon'rs Justice That Returne be made of the said Plate and mony.

Sarah S K Kidd.

In Council July 18, 1699.

Advised that Mrs. Kidd makeing oath that she brought the Plate and money above mentioned from New York with her, It was restored unto her. As also that Capn. Kidd and Companys wearing Apparel under Seizure be returned to them.

79. Narrative of John Gardiner. July [17], 1699.[1]

The Narrative of John Gardner of Gardners-Island, alias Isle of Wight, relating to Captain William Kidd.

That about twenty dayes agoe, Mr. Emot of New Yorke came to the Narrators House, and desired a boat to go for New Yorke, telling the Narrator he came from my Lord at Boston. Whereupon the Narrator furnished the said Emot with a boat, and he went for New Yorke, and that Evening the Narrator saw a Sloop with Six Guns rideing at an Anchor off Gardners Island. and two days afterwards in the Evening the Narrator went aboard said Sloop to enquire what she was, and so soon as he came on board Captain Kidd (then unknown to the Narrator) asked him how himselfe and Family did, telling him that he the said Kidd was going to my Lord at Boston, and desired the Narrator to carry three Negroes, two boys and a girle, ashore, to keep till he the said Kidd or his Order should call for them, which the Narrator accordingly did. That about two hours after the Narrator had got the said Negroes ashore, Captain Kidd sent his boat ashore with two bailes of Goods and a Negro Boy, and the morning after, said Kidd desired the Narrator to come immediately on board and bring Six Sheep with him for his the said Kidds Voyage for Boston, which the Narrator did, when Kidd asked him to spare a barrel of Cyder, which the Narrator with great importunity consented to, and sent two of his men for it, who brought the Cyder on board said Sloop, but whilst the men were gone for the Cyder, Captain Kidd offered the Narrator several Pieces of damnified[2] Muslin and Bengalls as a Present to his Wife, which the said Kidd put in a bagg, and gave the Narrator, and about a Quarter of an Hour afterwards the said Kidd tooke up two or three pieces of damnified Muslin and gave the Narrator for his proper Use. And the Narrators men then coming on board with the said Barrel of Cyder as aforesaid, the said Kidd gave them four pieces of Arabian Gold for their trouble and also for bringing him Wood. Then the said Kidd, ready to saile, told this Narrator he would pay him for the Cyder, to which the Narrator answered That he was already satisfied for it by the Present made to his Wife. And this Narrator observed that some of Kidds men gave to the Narrators men some inconsiderable things of small value, which this Narrator believes were Muslins for Neckcloths. And then the Narrator took leave of the said Kidd and went ashore, and at parting the said Kidd fired four Guns and stood for Block-Island.

About three Dayes afterwards the said Kidd sent the Master of the Sloop and one Clarke in his boat for the Narrator, who went on board with them, And the said Kidd desired this Narrator to take on shore with him and keep for him, the said Kidd, and Order, a Chest, and a box of gold and a bundle of Quilts and Four Bayles of Goods, which box of gold the said Kidd told the Narrator was intended for my Lord; and the Narrator complied with the said Kidds request and took on shore the said Chest, box of gold, Quilts, and bayles of Goods.

And the Narrator further saith That two of Kidds Crew, who went by the Names of Cooke and Parrat,[3] delivered to him, the Narrator, two baggs of Silver, which they told the Narrator weighed thirty pound weight, for which he gave receipt. And That another of Kidd's men delivered to the Narrator a small bundle of gold, and gold dust of about a pound weight, to keep for him, and did also present the Narrator with a Sash and a pair of worsted Stockins. And just before the Sloop sayled Captain Kidd presented the Narrator with a bagg of Sugar, and then tooke leave and sayled for Boston.

And the Narrator further saith, he knew nothing of Kidds being proclaimed a Pyrate, and if he had, he durst not have acted otherwise than he has done, having no force to oppose them, and for that he hath formerly been threatned to be killed by Privateers, if he should carry unkindly to them.

John Gardiner.

The within named Narrator further saith That whilst Captain Kidd lay with his Sloop at Gardners Island, there was a New Yorke Sloop, whereof one Coster is Master, and his Mate was a little black man, unknown to the Narrator by name,[4] who, as it was said, had been formerly Captain Kidds Quarter Master, and another Sloop belonging to New-Yorke, Jacob Fenick[5] Master, both which lay near to Kidds Sloop three dayes together, and whilst the Narrator was on board with Captain Kidd, there was several Bayles of Goods and other things put out of the said Kidds Sloop and put on board the other two Sloops aforesaid, and the said two Sloops sayled up the Sound. After which Kidd sailed with his Sloop for Block Island, and being absent by the Space of three dayes returned to Gardners-Island again in company of another Sloop belonging to New-Yorke, Cornelius Quick Master, on board of which was one Thomas Clarke of Setauket, commonly called Whisking Clarke, and one Harrison of Jamaica, Father to a boy that was with Captain Kidd, and Captain Kidds Wife was then on board his own Sloop.[6] And Quick remained with his Sloop there from noon to the evening of the same day, and tooke on board two Chests that came out of the said Kidd's Sloop, under the observance of this Narrator, and he believes several Goods more, and then sailed up the Sound. Kidd remained there with his Sloop until next morning, and then set saile intending, as he said, for Boston. Further the Narrator saith That the next day after Quick sayled with his Sloop from Gardners Island, he saw him turning out of a Bay called Oyster-pan Bay,[7] although the wind was all the time fair to carry him up the Sound; the Narrator supposes he went in thither to land some Goods.

John Gardiner.

Boston, July 1699.

The Narrator, John Gardiner, made Oath before his Excellency and Council unto the truth of his Narrative contained in this Sheet of Paper.

Isa. Addington, Secretary.

80. Sarah Kidd to Thomas Payne. July 18, 1699.[1]

From Boston Prison, July the 18 day 1699.

Captain Payen:

After my humble service to your selfe and all our good Friends this cometh by a trusty Friend of mine how[2] can declare to you of my great griefe and misery here in prison by how I would desire you to send me Twenty four ounces of Gold and as for all the rest you have in your custody shall desire you for to keep in your custody for it is all we have to support us in time of want; but I pray you to deliver to the bearer hereof the above mentioned sum, hows[3] name is Andrew Knott.[4] And in so doing you will oblige him how is your

Sarah S K Keede

the bare hereof can informe you more at large.

81. Petition of Sarah Kidd. July 25, 1699.[1]

To his Excell'cy the Earle of Bellomont,

Capt. Gen'll and Governor of his Maj'tys Collonies of the Massachusetts Bay in N. Engl'd etca. and to the honorable the Councill.

The Peticion of Sarah Kidd humbly Sheweth

That Your Petitioners husband Capt. Wm. Kidd, being comitted unto the Comon Goale[2] in Boston for Pyracie, and under Streight durance, as Alsoe in want of necessary Assistance, as well as from Your Petitioners Affection to her husband humbly pray's that your Excell'cy and Councill will be pleased to permitt the sd Sarah Kidd to have Communication with her husband, for his reliefe; in such due Season and maner, as by your Excelle'y and Councill may be tho't fitt and prescribed, to which Your Petitioner shall thankfully conforme herSelfe and ever pray etca.

Sarah S K Kidd

Boston 25 July 1699.

82. Lord Bellomont to the Board of Trade. July 26, 1699.[1]

Boston, 26th July 99.

My Lords,

I gave your Lordships a short Account of my taking Capt. Kidd, in my Letter of the 8th Instant:[2] I shall in this Letter confine myselfe wholly to an Account of my Proceeding with him.

On the 13th of last Month Mr. Emot, a Lawyer of New-York, came late at Night to me and told me he came from Captain Kidd, who was on the Coast with a Sloop, but would not tell me where: That Kidd had brought 60 Pound Weight of gold, about a 100 Weight of Silver, and 17 Bales of East-India goods, (which was less by 24 Bales than we have since got in the Sloop), That Kidd had left behind him a great Ship near the Coast of Hispaniola that nobody but himselfe could find out, on board whereof there were in bale goods, Saltpetre, and other things to the Value of at least 30,000 L.: That if I would give him a pardon, he would bring in the Sloop and goods hither, and would go and fetch the great Ship and goods afterwards. Mr. Emot delivered me that Night Two French Passes, which Kidd took on board the Two Moors Ships which were taken by him in the seas of India (or, as he alleges, by his Men against his Will). One of the Passes wants a date in the original, as in the Copy I send your Lordships; and they go No. I. and No. II.[3]

On Thursday, the 15 of June, I sent Mr. Campbel, the Post-Master of this town, Kidd's Countryman and acquaintance, along with Mr. Emot, to invite Kidd to come into this Port. Mr. Campbel returned hither on the 19 of June, and gave in a Memorial to my selfe and the Councel, containing what had passed between him and Kidd: The said Memorial goes No. 3.[4] On the said 19 June, as I sate in Councel, I wrote a Letter to Captain Kidd, and shewed it to the Councel, and they approving of it, I dispatched Mr. Campbel again to Kidd with my said Letter, a Copy whereof goes No. 4. Your Lordships may observe That the promise I make Captain Kidd, in my said Letter, of a kind reception, and promising the King's pardon for him, is conditionall; that is, provided he were as innocent as he pretended to be. But I quickly found sufficient Cause to suspect him very guilty, by the many lyes and Contradictions he told me. I was so much upon my guard with Kidd that, he arriving here on Saturday the [first] of this moneth, I would not see him but before witnesses; nor have I ever seen him since, but in Councel twice or thrice that we examined him; and the day he was taken up by the Constable, it happened to be by the door of my Lodging,[5] and he rushed in and came running to me, the Constable after him. I had him not seized till Thursday the 6th instant, for I had a mind to discover where he had left the great Ship, and I thought my selfe secure enough from his running away, because I took care not to give him the least umbrage of my Design of seizing him, Nor had I till that day that I produced my orders from Court for apprehending of Kidd, communicated them to anybody. And I found it necessary to shew my orders to the Councel, to animate them to join heartily with me in securing Kidd, and examining his Affair nicely, to discover what we could of his behaviour in his whole Voyage. Another reason why I took him not up sooner was that he had brought his wife and Children hither in the Sloop with him, who I believed he would not easily forsake. He being examined twice or thrice by me and the Councel, and also some of his men, I observed he seemed much disturbed, And the last time we examined him I fancied he looked as if he were upon the wing, and resolved to run away, and the Gentlemen of the Councel had some of them the same thought with mine, so that I took their Consent in seizing and committing him.[6] But the officers appointed to seize his men were so careless as to let 3 or 4 of his men escape, which troubled me the more because they were old New-York Pyrates. The next thing the Councel and I did, was to appoint a Committee of trusty persons to search for the goods and Treasure brought by Kidd and to secure what they should find till the King's pleasure should be known as to the Disposition thereof, as my orders from Mr. Secretary Vernon import. The said Committee were made up of Two Gentlemen of the Councel, Two Merchants, and the Deputy Collector, whose names are to the inclosed Inventory of the goods and Treasure. They searched Kidd's Lodging, and found hid and made up in Two sea-beds, a bag of gold dust and Ingots of the value of about 1000 L. and a bag of silver, part money and part pieces and piggs of silver, value as set down in the said Inventory. In the above bag of gold were several litle bags of gold; all particulars are, I believe, very justly and exactly set down in the Inventory. For my part, I have medled with no manner of thing, but put every thing under the management of the Councel, and into the Custody of the before mentioned Committee, that I might be free from the Suspicion and Censure of the World. The enameled box mentioned in the beginning of the Inventory is that which Kidd made a present of to my wife by Mr. Campbel, which I delivered in Councel to the said Committee to keep with the rest of the Treasure. There was in it a stone ring, which we take to be a Bristoll Stone;[7] if it were true, it would be worth about 40 L. And there was a small stone unset which we believe is also counterfeit, and a sort of a Locket, with four Sparks which seem to be right diamonds; for there is nobody here that understands Jewels. If the Box and all that is in it were right, they cannot be worth above 60 L.

Your Lordships will see in the middle of the Inventory a parcel of Treasure and Jewels delivered up by Mr. Gardiner, of Gardiner's Island, in the Province of New-York, and at the East End of Nassau-Island, the Recovering and saving of which Treasure is owing to my Own Care and quickness. I heard by the greatest accident in the world, the day that Captain Kidd was committed, That a Man had offered 30 L. for a Sloop to carry him to Gardiner's Island, and Kidd having owned he had buried some Gold on that Island, (though he never mentioned to us any Jewels, nor, I believe, would he have owned the gold there but that he thought he should himselfe be sent for it), I presently reflected that that man (whom I have since discovered to be one of Kidd's Men) was to defeat us of that Treasure; I privately posted away a Messenger by Land with a peremptory order to Mr. Gardiner in the King's name to come forthwith, and deliver up such Treasure as Kidd or any of his Crew had lodged with him; acquainting him That I had committed Kidd to Goal, as I was ordered to do by the King. My Messenger made great haste, and was with Gardiner before anybody, and Gardiner, who is a very substantial man, brought away the Treasure without delay, and by my direction delivered it into the Hands of the Committee. If the Jewels be right, as it is supposed they are, but I never saw them, nor the gold and silver brought by Gardiner, then we guesse that the parcel brought by him may be worth (Gold, Silver and Jewels) 4500 L. And besides Kidd had left Six bales of goods with him, one of which was twice as big as any of the rest; and Kidd gave him a particular Charge of that bale, and told him it was worth 2000 L. The six bales Gardiner could not bring, but I have ordered him to send them by a Sloop that is since gone from hence to New York, and which is to return speedily. We are not able to set an exact value on the goods and Treasure we have got, because we have not opened the bales we took on board the Sloop; But we hope when the six bales are sent in by Gardiner, what will be then in the hands of the Gentlemen appointed to that Trust, will amount to about 14000 L. I have sent strict orders to my Lieutenant Governor at New York,[8] to make dilligent Search for the Goods and Treasure sent by Kidd to New York in Three Sloops mentioned in Gardiner's affidavit,[9] which I send with the other affidavits and Informations to your Lordships; and I believe I have directed him where to find a Purchase in a house at New York, which by a hint I have had I am apt to believe will be found out in that house. I have sent to search elsewhere a certain place, strongly suspected to have received another depositum of gold from Kidd. I am also upon the hunt after Two or Three Arch Pyrates, which I hope to give your Lordships a good Account of by next Conveyance. If I could have but a good able Judge and Attorney General at York, a Man of war there and another here, and the Companies recruited and well paid, I will rout Pirates and Piracy entirely out of all this north part of America, but as I have but too often told your Lordships, it is impossible for me to do all this alone in my single person.

I wrot your Lordships word in my last letter of the 8 Instant That Bradish the Pyrate and one of his Crew were escaped out of the goal of this Town. We have since found that the Goaler was Bradish's kinsman, and the Goaler confessed they went out at the prison door, and that he found it wide open; we had all the reason in the world to believe the Goaler was consenting to the escape: by much ado I could get the Counsel to resent the Goaler's behaviour, but by meer Importunity I had the fellow before us; we examined him, and, by his own Story and accounts given us of his suffering other prisoners formerly to escape, I prevailed to have him turned out and a prosecution ordered against him to the Attorney Generall. I have also, with some difficulty, this late Session of Assembly here, got a bill to pass, That the Goal be committed to the Care of the High Sheriffe of the County, as in England, with a Salary of 30 L. per Annum, to the said Sheriffe: I would have had it 50 L. per Annum, for the Sheriff's Incouragement to be honest and carefull, but I could not prevail. I am forced to allow the Sheriff 40 s. per Week for keeping Kidd safe; otherwise I should be in some doubt about him. He has without doubt a great deal of gold, which is apt to tempt men that have not principles of honour; I have therefore, to try the power of dull Iron against gold, put him into Irons that Weigh 16 Pound. I thought it moderate enough, for I remember poor Doctor Oates[10] had a 100 weight of Iron on him when he was a prisoner in the late Raign. There never was a greater Lyar or Thief in the World than this Kidd; notwithstanding he assured the Councel and me every time we examined him That the great Ship and her Cargo waited his return to bring her hither, and now your Lordships will see by Two severall Informations of Masters of Ships from Curacao, that the Cargo has been sold there, and in one of them it is said they have burnt that noble Ship, and without doubt, it was by Kidd's order, that the Ship might not be an evidence against him, for he would not own to us her Name was the Quidah-Marchand, though his men did. Andries Henlyne, and Two more, brought the first news to York of the sale of that Cargo at Curacao; and never such pennyworths heard of for Cheapness; Captain Evertz is he who has brought the news of the Ship's being burnt. She was of about 500 Ton, and Kidd told us at the Councel, there never was a stronger or stancher Ship seen. His Lying had like to have involved me in a Contract that would have been very chargeable and to no manner of purpose, as he has ordered Matters. I was advised by Counsel to dispatch a Ship of good Countenance to go and fetch away that Ship and Cargo. I had agreed for a Ship of 300 tons, 22 Guns, and I was to man her with 60 men, to force (if there had been need of it) the Men to yield who were left with the Ship. I was just going to seal the writing, when I bethought myself it were best to presse Kidd once more to tell me Truth: I therefore sent to him Two Gentlemen of the Councel to the Goal, and he at last owned That he had left a power with one Mr. Henry Bolton, a Marchand of Antegoa whom he had Committed the Care of the Ship to, to sell and dispose of all the Cargo: upon which Confession of Kidds I held my hand from hireing that great Ship, which would have cost 1700 L. by Computation. And now to-morrow I send the Sloop Captain Kidd came in, with Letters to the Lieutenant Governor of Antegoa, Colonel Yeomans, to the Governors of St. Thomas's Island and Curacao, to seize and secure what effects they can, that was late in the possession of Kidd, and on board the Quidah-Marchand. There is one Burk, an Englishman, that lives at St. Thomas, who has got a great Store of the goods and mony for Kidd's account. St. Thomas belongs to the Danes, but I hope to retrieve what Burt has in his Hands.[11] The sending this Sloop will cost but about 300 L. if she be out Three moneths. I hope your Lordships will take care, that immediate orders be sent to Antegoa to secure Bolton, who must have plaid the Knave egregiously; for he could not but know that Kidd came knavishly by that Ship and Goods. It is reported That the Dutch of Curacao have loaded Three Sloops with those Goods, and sent them to Holland; perhaps it were not amiss to send and watch their Arrivall in Holland, if it be practicable to lay Claim to them there.

Since my Committment of Kidd, I hear That upon his approach to this port, his heart misgave him, and he proposed to his Men the putting to Sea again and going to Caledonia,[12] the new Scotch Settlement near Darien, but they refused.

I desire I may have orders what to do with Kidd, and all his and Bradish's Crew; for, as the Law stands in this Country, if a pyrate were Convict, yet he cannot suffer Death: And the Counsell here refused the bill to punish Privateers and Pyrates which your Lordships sent with me from England with a direction to recommend it at New York and here, to be passed into a Law. I shall by next Conveyance acquaint your Lordships what a prejudice I have found in some of the Counsel to the Laws of England this Session, but having writ myself almost dead, I must till another Opportunity forbear to treat of the affairs of this Province; but when I do, I must tell your Lordships beforehand, I will not dissemble with you to favour any man or number of men; I am both above it, and I should thinke I did not do the part of an honest man, if I concealed any thing from you that tends to the prejudice of the Interest of England.

You will observe by some of the Informations I now send, That Kidd did not only rob the Two Moors Ships, but also a Portugueze Ship; which he denied absolutely to the Counsel and me.

I send your Lordships 24 severall Papers and Evidences relating to Captain Kidd. It is impossible for me to animadvert and make remarks on the several matters contained in the said papers, in the weak Condition I am at present; but must leave that Trouble to Mr. Secretary Popple,[13] whose excellent clear method in business fits him incomparably beyond me for such a Work.

I will always continue to be, with much Respect,

My Lords,
Your Lordships most humble
and obedient Servant,
Bellomont.

83. The Danish Governor of St. Thomas to Lord Bellomont. September 1, 1699.[1]

Aen Syn Excell. Bellomont

St. Thomas de 1 Septembris anno 1699

Myn Heer

Hebbe d'Eere gehadt, uw Excell. aengename Missive van den 26 July door Capt. —— Carry t'ontvanghen, en daer uyt ten volle verstaen het gheen uw Excell. aengaende den Zeeroover Will Kidd heeft gelieven te schryven, waerop uw Excell. met naervolgende Antwoort dienen Sall. voorschryven Will Kidd is voor deesen Haeven met zyn voerende Schip onder Engelse Vlagge buyten Schoot Van't Kooninghs Fortress ten Anker gekoomen, en heeft daerop zyn Chaloupe met een Brief aen My aen Lant gesonden, waerin hy Protectie van my was begehrende, Vaerder pretenderende onschuldigh te weesen in't Rooven van de Subjecten van den Mogol in Oostjndien. Zyn Bedryf my toenmaels nogh Onbekent Zynde, Schreef hem Wederom, by aldien hy een Eerlyk man was, dat ick hem protegeren woude, maer hy heeft Verzekeringh willen hebben, dat ick hem aen gheen Oorloghs schepen van syn Majestat van Groot Britannien, die hem souden Koomen Opeyschen Overleveren soude, 't welck hem geweygert hebbe, waerop by Verstaen hebbende, dat ick alle Habitanten verbooden hadde, gheen Provisie aen hem te vercoopen, wederom onder Zeyl is gegaen; zedert die Tyt hebbe hooren seggen, dat hy omtrent het Eylant Moone ten Anker lagh, en dat een Bolton van Antigua by hem geweest hadde, om met hem te negotieren. Naederhant quam in deesen Haven eenen Bergantin, toebehoorende aen Barbades, waerop eenen Will Burcke Coopman was, van welcke ick gheen suspitie hadde nogh minder de gedachten, dat hy hem soude onderstaen dÖrfen eenighe Zeerover goederen hier intevoeren; Nochtans hebbe des Andern Daeghs verstaen, dat hy by Nacht een Party Goet aen Lant hadde gebrocht, dewelcke hy volghens seggen aen de Heer Pedro van Bellen, General Directeur voor de Ceurvorsth. Brandenborgse Privilegeerde soude vercocht hebben, dewelcke ook in't Brandenborgse Magazyn zyn Opgeleght. ick hebbe aen voorschryven goederen niet kÖnnen koomen dewyl voorschryven Brandenborgse Privilegeerde hier ter Plaetse haer eyghen Recht en Privilegien hebben, maer voorschryven Will Burcke hebbe laeten arresteren, en naerdien hy Borghtocht heeft gestelt, hebbe hem laeten vertrecken met de Bergantin, dogh met de Conditie, dat hy syn verantwoordinghe aen Barbades (dewyl hy een Subject van Syn MajestÄt van Engelant en aldaer woonachtigh was) soude doen. Naederhant is hy van Barbades wederom hier gekoomen, medebrengende een Recommendatie van de Heer Gouverneur Grey aen my, en ophoudt sigh hier nu nogh in't Brandenborgse Loge, maer alle voorschryven Goederen zyn (soo geseght word) naer aendere Plaetse getransporteert. Deeses is all het gheen, daervan Uw. Excell. aengaende deese Saeke onderrechten kan, daerby verzekerende dat gheen Subjecten of inwoonders van Syn Cooninglyke MajestÄt van Denemarck myn Souverain Heer met voor[schryven] Kidd gehandelt hebben, dewyl daerin Goede ordre hebbe beschickt. Ondertuschen hebbe aenstonts een Persoon uyt den Raet naer Denemarck gesonden, om aen Syn Cooninglyke MajestÄt myn allergenadigste Kooning ende Heer van all het gheen, soo als het passeert is, alleronderdaenigst Rapport te geven. Hiermede Sluytende recommenderende Uwe Excell. alle Goede Vrientschap en Vaerdere goede Correspondentie t'Onderhouden, Waermede verblyve

Uwe Excell.
Ootmoedigen Dienaer
J. Lorents.

[Addressed:] To Milord Bellomont Earl,
Gouvernor of New England, Yorck and other
places, In Boston

Translation.

St. Thomas, September 1, 1699.

To His Excellency Bellomont:

My Lord:

I have had the honor to receive by way of Captain —— Carry[2] Your Excellency's agreeable letter of July 26, and to understand fully from it what Your Excellency has been pleased to write as to the pirate Will Kidd, upon which I shall serve Your Excellency with the following reply. The aforesaid Will Kidd, with his freight-ship under the English flag, came to anchor off this harbor, out of range of the King's fortress, and then sent his shallop to land with a letter to me, in which he asked me for protection, further declaring that he was innocent as to robbing the subjects of the Mogul in the East Indies. His course of conduct being at that time still unknown to me, I wrote him in reply that, in case he was an honorable man, I would protect him, but he wished to have assurance that I would not give him up to any war-ship of His Majesty of Great Britain that should come to demand him. This I declined to give, whereupon he, understanding that I had forbidden all inhabitants to sell him any provisions, set sail again.[3] Since that time I have heard that he lay at anchor near the island of Mona, and that one Bolton of Antigua had been with him, to transact business. Afterward there came into this harbor a brigantine belonging to Barbados, on which one Will Burcke[4] was merchant, concerning whom I had no suspicion, still less the thought that he would dare to undertake bringing in here any pirate goods; yet I learned the other day that he by night had brought a quantity of goods to land, which, according to reports, he had sold to Mr. Pedro van Bellen, general director for the Electoral Brandenburg Privileged Company, and which are also stored in the Brandenburg warehouse.[5] I have not been able to get at the aforesaid goods, because the said Brandenburg patentees have here their own law and privileges, but I have caused the said Will Burcke to be arrested, and on his giving bail have let him return with the brigantine, yet on condition that he should discharge his responsibility to Barbadoes, he being a subject of His Majesty of England and resident there. Since that time he has come here again from Barbados, bringing with him a recommendation from Governor Grey[6] to me, and is living here still at the Brandenburg Lodge, but all the aforesaid goods have, it is said, been transported to other places. This is all the information that I can give Your Excellency respecting this matter, at the same time assuring you that no subjects of his Royal Majesty of Denmark, my sovereign Lord, or inhabitants here, have traded with the aforesaid Kidd, for in that matter I have enforced good order. Meanwhile I have forthwith sent a member of the council to Denmark, to report most submissively to His Royal Majesty, my most gracious King and Lord, all these matters just as they have occurred. Herewith closing, and commending myself to Your Excellency, to maintain all good friendship and further good correspondence, I remain

Your Excellency's
Humble Servant
J. Lorents.

84. Declaration of William Kidd. September 4, 1699.[1]

Boston September 4, 1699

Captain William Kidd declareth and saith That in his chest which he left at Gardiners Island there was three small baggs or more of Jasper Antonio or stone of Goa,[2] severall pieces of Silk stript with silver and gold, Cloth of Silver, about a Bushell of Cloves and Nutmegs mixed together and strawed up and down, severall books of fine white callicoes, severall pieces of fine Muzlins, severall pieces more of flowred silk, he does not well remmember what further was in it. he had an Invoyce thereof in his other chest. all that was contained in the said Chest was bought by him and some given him at Madagascar, nothing thereof was taken in the ship Quedah Merchant. he esteemed it to be of greater value than all else that he left at Gardiners Island except the gold and silver. there was neither gold or silver in the chest. It was fastned with a Padlock and nailed and corded about.

Further saith That he left at said Gardiners Island a bundle of nine or tenn fine India Quilts, some of them Silk with fringes and Tassells.

Wm. Kidd.

85. Lord Bellomont to the Board of Trade. November 29, 1699.[1]

Boston the 29 November 99.

My Lords

I gave your Lordships an account in my Letter of the 24th of last moneth[2] by the last ship that went hence for England, of my taking Joseph Bradish and Tee Wetherley, the two Pyrates that had escaped from the Goal of this town;[3] and I then also writ that I hoped in a little time to be able to send your Lordships the news of my taking James Gill[am] the Pyrat that killed Captain Edgecomb, Commander of the Mocha frigat for the East India Company,[4] and that with his own hand while the Captain was asleep, and Gillam is supposed to be the man that Incouraged the Ship's Company to turn Pyrats, and that ship has ever since been robbing in the Red Sea and Seas of India, and taken an Incredible deal of wealth; if one may believe the reports of men that are lately come from Madagascar, and that saw the Mocha frigat there, she has taken above two millions sterling. I have been so lucky as to take James Gillam, and he is now in Irons in the Goal of this town, and at the same time with him was sie[ze]d one Francis Dole,[5] in whose house he was harboured, who proves to be one of Hore's Crew, H[ore] one of Colonel Fletcher's Pyrates commissioned by him from New York; Dole is also committed to Goal. My taking of Gillam was so very accidentall that I cannot forbear giving your Lordships a narrative of it, and one would believe there was a strange fatality in that m[an's] Starrs. On Saturday the 11th Instant late in the evening I had a letter from Colonel Sanford,[6] Judge [of] the Admiralty Court in Rhode-Island, giving me an account that Gillam had been there, but was come towards Boston a fortnight before, in order to ship himselfe for some of the Islands, Jamaica or Barbados, that he was troubled he knew it not sooner, and was affraid his Intelligence would come too late to me; that the Messenger he sent knew the Mare Gillam rode on [to] this town. I was in despair of finding the man, because Colonel Sanford writ to me that he was g[one] to this town so long a time as a fortnight before that; however I sent for an honest Constable I had made use of in the apprehending of Kidd and his men, and sent him with Colonel Sanford's Messenger to examine and search all the Inns in Town for the mare, and at the first Inn they went to, they found her tied up in the yard; the people of the Inn reported that the man that brought her thither, had lighted off her about a quarter of an hour before, had there tied her, but went away without saying anything to anybody. Upon notice of this I gave order to the Master of the Inn that if any body came to look after the mare, he should be sure to seize and secure him, but no body came for her. The next morning which was Sunday I summoned [a] Council, and we published a Proclamation, wherein I promised a reward of 200[l.] for the seizing and securing Gillam, whereupon there was the strictest search [all that] day, and the next, that was ever made in this part of the world, but we had missed him, if I had not been Informed of one Captain Knot, as an old Pyrate and therefore likely [to k]now where Gillam was concealed.[7] I sent for Knot and examined him, promising h[im if h]e would make an Ingenious Confession, I would not molest or prosecute him; he seemed [mu]ch disturbed, but would not confesse anything to purpose. I then sent for his wife and examined her on oath apart from her husband, and she confessed that one who went by the [name] of James Kelly had lodged severall nights in her house, but for some nights past [lo]dged as she believed in Charlestown Crosse the River. I knew he went by the name of Kelly, [the]n I examined Captain Knot again, telling him his wife had been more free and ingenious [tha]n him, which made him believe she had told all; and then he told me of Francis Dole in Charlestown, and that he believed Gillam would be found there. I sent half a dousin men immediately over the water to Charlestown and Knot with them, they beset the house, and searched it but found not the man, Dole affirming with many protestations he was not there, neither knew [of] any such man. Two of the men went through a field behind Dole's house, and passing [thr]ough a second field they met a man in the dark (for it was ten a clock at night) whom they [seize]d at all adventures, and it happened as oddly as luckily to be Gillam, he had been treating [some] young women some few miles off in the Country, and was returning at night to his Landlord Dole's house, and so was met with. I examined him, but he denied everything, even that he came with Kidd from Madagascar, or ever saw him in his life; but Captain Davies,[8] who also came thence with Kidd, and all Kidd's men, are positive he is the man and that he went by his true name viz. Gillam, all the while he was on the voyage with them, and Mr. Campbel the Postmaster of this town (whom I sent to treat with Kidd) offers to swear this is the man he saw on [bo]ard Kidd's sloop under the name of James Gillam. He is the most impudent hardened V[illai]n I ever saw in my whole life. That which led me to an Inquiry and search after this man [was t]he Information of William Cuthbert on oath, which I sent your Lordships with my packet of the 26th of this last July,[9] wherein Cuthbert Informs that being lately in the East India Company's service [it w]as commonly reported there that Gillam had killed Captain Edgecomb with his own hand, that he had [s]erved the Mogul, turned Mahometan and was Circumcised. I had him searched by a [su]rgeon and also by a Jew in this Town, to know if he were Circumcised, and they have both declared on oath that he is. Mr. Cutler the surgeon's[10] deposition goes (No. 1) and Mr. Frazon the Jew's (No. 2).[11] The rest of the Evidences about Gillam and some other Pyrates go numbered from 3 to 23 inclusive, which I recommend to your Lordships perusall, as what will inform you of the strange Countenance given to Pyrats by the Government and people of [Rhode]-Island. I have numbered the papers in order of time and according to their dates: most have reference to Gillam, some to Kidd. In searching the forementioned Captain Knot's house [a smal]l trunk was found with some remnants of East India goods, and a Letter from Kidd's wife to Captain Thomas Pain an old Pyrat living on Canonicot Island in Rhode Island Governm[ent.][12] The affidavit he made when I was at Rhode-Island goes numbered among the other evide[nce.] He then made oath that he had received nothing from Kidd's sloop when she lay at anchor by [torn] Island, yet by Knot's deposition your Lordships will find, he was sent with Mrs. Kidd's letter to Pa[in for] 24 ounces of gold, which Knot accordingly brought; and Mrs. Kidd's Injunction to Pain to keep a[ll the] rest that was left with him till further order, was a plain Indication that there was a good deal of [trea]sure still behind in Pain's Custody, therefore I posted away a messenger to Governor Crans[ton][13] and Colonel Sanford to make a strict search of Pain's house before he could have notice; it see[ms] nothing was then found, but Pain has since produced 18 ounces and odd weight of gold, as appears by Cranston's Letter of the 25th Instant and pretends it was bestowed on him by Kidd, hoping that may p[rove (?)] a salvo for the oath he made when I was in Rhode-Island, but I think it is plain he forswore himselfe then, and I am of opinion he has a great deal more of Kidd's gold still in his hands. [But] he is out of my power, and being in that Government I cannot compell him to deliver up th....

Your Lordships will find in Captain Coddington's narrative number 35[14] and sent with my Report dated the 27th Instant an Inventory of gold and Jew[els] in Governor Cranston's hands which he took from a Pyrat. I see no reason why he should keep them ... so far from that, that he (with submission) ought to be called to an account for Conniving at the Py[rats] making that Island their Sanctuary, and suffering some to escape from Justice. If there be an order sent to him to deliver what gold and jewels is contained in the said Inventory, and also the formentio[ned] parcel of gold which he received from Pain, with all other goods and treasure which he has at any time rec[eived] from Privateers or Pyrates, into my hands for the use of his Majesty, and that upon oath, I will [see] the order executed, and will give a faithfull account thereof according to the order I shall re[ceive].

Four pound weight of the gold brought from Gardiner's Island which I formerly acquainted your Lordships of, and all the Jewels, belonged to Gillam, as Mr. Gardiner's Letter to Mr. Dummer,[15] a Marchand in t[he] town and one of the Committee appointed by me and the Council to receive all the treasure and goods which [were] brought in Kidd's sloop, will prove; and there is some proof of it in Captain Coddington's b[efore men]tioned narrative, and in Captain Knot's deposition of the 14th Instant. I am told that as Vice A[dmiral] of these provinces I am entitled to 1/3 part of Gillam's said gold and Jewels; I know not whe[ther I] am or no, but if it be my right I hope your Lordships will please to represent to the King the ext[reme] pains and vigilance I have used in taking these severall Pyrates, and that I may have my [por]tion of the said gold and Jewels, if there be any due to me. It is a great prejudice to the King's s[ervice] that here is no Revenue or other fund to answer any occasion or service of Majestys. I have [been] forced to disburse the 200 pieces of 8/8 for the taking of Gillam out of my own little stock and also to [de]fray my journey and other expences in going to Rhode-Island to execute the King's Commission [and] Instructions. Both accounts I now send, and beg your Lordships favour in promoting and Countenancing the payment of that mony to Sir John Stanley for my use. Captain Gullock[16] tells [me] that 15 or 16 of the ship's Company that would not be concerned with Gillam and his accomplices in murdering Captain Edgecomb, and afterwards turning Pyrates, went home to England in [the] Ship America belonging to the East India Company, Captain Laycock Commander. I should thi[nk an] advertisement in the Gazette requiring some of those men to appear before one of the Sec[retaries] of State to give their evidence of what they know of that matter, would be proper.

[Your] Lordships will meet with a passe among the other papers, number 5, to Sion Arnold, one of the [pirat]es brought from Madagascar by Shelley of New York, the said passe signed by Mr. Basse,[17] [Go]vernor of East and West Jerzies, which is a bold step in Basse after such positive orders as he received from [Govern]or[18] Vernon, but I perceive plainly the meaning of it, he took severall Pirats at Burlington [in West] Jerzey, and a good store of mony with them as it is said, and I daresay he would be glad they [should] escape, for when they are gone, who can witnesse what money he seized with them? I know [the] man so well, that I verily believe that is his plot. John Carr mentioned in some of the [papers to (?)] be in Rhode Island, No. 6, was one of Hore's Crew. There are abundance of other Pyrats in that [Is]land at this time, but they are out of my power. Mr. Brinley,[19] Colonel Sanford, and Captain Coddington are honest men, and of the best estates in the Island, and because they are heartily [wea]ry of the male administrations of that Government, and because too I commissioned them (by [virt]ue of the authority and power given me by his Majesty's Commission and Instructions so to do) to [make] Inquiry into the Irregularities of those people, they are become strangely odious to them and [are o]ften affronted by them, neither will they make them Justices of the peace; so that when they [w]ould commit Pyrates to Goal, they are forced to go to the Governor for his Warrant, and very ... ly the Pyrates get notice, and avoid the Warrant for that time. You may please to o[bser]ve too that Gardiner the Deputy Collector[20] is accused to have been once a Pyrat, in one of the [paper]s. I doubt he will forswear himselfe rather than part with Gillam's gold which is in his hands. [It is] impossible for me to transmit to the Lords of the Treasury these proofs against Gardiner. [I am] so jaded with writing, that I cannot write to them by this Conveyance, but I could wish [your Lordships might be (?)] made acquainted with Gardiner's Character, and that they would send over honest In——t men to be Collectors of Rhode Island, Conecticut, and New Hampshire; and that they [would h]asten Mr. Brenton[21] hither to his post, or send some other Collector in his room. I could [wish] that Mr. Weaver were ordered to hasten to New York. Your Lordships may please to observe that [Knott] in one of his depositions accuses Gillam to have pyrated four years together in the [Sou]th sea against the Spaniards.

We have advice that Burk an Irishman and Pyrat that committed severall robberies on th[e] [coast] of Newfoundland, is drowned with all his ship's Company, except 7 or 8 persons somewh[ere to the] southward. It is said he perished in the hurrican that was in those Seas about the end of [July and] beginning of August last. It is good news, he was very strong if we may believe report, [and is s]aid to have had a good ship with a 140 men, and 24 guns.

[Bra]dish and Wetherley have a slight extraordinary in attempting to escape, they [made] two attempts since they were last committed, once they broke the floor of the prison and thought to escape that way, but that failing them, within a night or two they filed off their fetters, upon which I ordered them to be manicled, and chained to one another. I believe this new Goaler I have got is honest, otherwise I should be very uneasy for fear these Pyrats should escape....[22]

I conclude with all respect

My Lords
Your Lordships most humble and obedient Servant

Bellomont.

86. Information of Henry Bolton. February 4, 1701.[1]

Information of Henry Bolton.

4th of February 1700

Being required by the Right hono'ble the Commission'rs for Executing the office of High Admiral of England, Ireland etc. to informe their Lord'ps of the place of my nativity, manner of Living for some time in the West Indies, and particularly of my meeting and Transactions with Capt. Kidd, I presume to make the following Answer, being the best and fullest I can make at present having neither my Books or papers in this Kingdome.

That I was born in Worcestershire about the yeare 1672 and in the year 1697 was Deputed by the Commissioners of his Maj'ties Customes for the Leeward Islands to be Collector for the Island of Antigua.

That in the year 1698 following I quitted that Imployment[2] and followed Merchandizing about the said Leeward Islands.

That in February 1698/9 I sailed from Antigua in the Sloop St. Antonie, Samuel Wood Master, on a Trading Voyage amongst the Dutch and Spaniards. The Markett at Curacoa (a Dutch Island) not answering my Ends I went to Rio De la Hacha,[3] and there sold my Cargoe, and Loaded my Sloope with Stock Fish [and] Wood on Freight for Curacoa aforesaid, which I there Landed and departed for the Island of Porto Rico with intention to Trade with the Inhabitants of that Island, having a Cargo on Board for that purpose.

That in that Voyage in the Moneth of Aprill 1699 being becalmed to the N.N.E. of the Island Mona the Men belonging to the Sloop discovered a Sail E. and B.S.[4] from Mona which the Pilote of the Sloope supposed to be a Guarda Costa, a small vessell fitted out by the Spanish Governors to clear the Coast of Foreign Traders. A few houres after Wee discovered a Cannoa, which drawing near the Sloope, Wee hailed the said Cannoa. They answered from Whitehall. Wee demanded who Commanded their Shipp. They Replyed Capt. Kidd. Then he that stired[5] the Cannoa was desired to come on Board. After he came he told me his name was John Ware, and that he was Master of Capt. Kidd's Ship, requesting that I would goe on Board in the Cannoa to see Capt. Kidd which accordingly I did. When I came there Captain Kidd askt me to sell him my Sloope in regard his Ship was disabled and could not well proceed the voyage he intended for New Yorke, and finding me unwilling he then askt if I could not procure him a Vessell. I answered possibly I might at Curacao, upon which he desired me to use my Endeavors there to get him a Sloope, and procure him some Buyers or Chapmen[6] for his Calicos and Muslings, And that he would consider me for my paynes.

That thereupon I departed from Capt. Kidd and went for Curacao where I applyed my selfe to Mr John Stonehouse and Mr Walter Gribble[7] (Acquaintance of Captain Kidd) who promised to send A Sloope to him. I also Endeavored to procure him some Buyers for the Muslings and Callicos.

That after doing my Errand and business at Curacao I ordered the Master of the Sloope to shape his Course for the West End of Porto Rico, But the Wind proving Northerly Wee fell in with the East end of Savona and plyed to Winward for Mona in order to meet Captain Kidd, which I there did according to Appointm't and with him a Dutch Sloope, Jean Vander Bist Master, and a French Turtler, the Master's name I have forgot; Captain Kidd waited at Mona for the Curacao vessells But the Wind being about No. and from thence to NNE they could not possibly Fetch Mona, So Captain Kidd's patience being tyred gott his ship under Saile and intended to Weather point Esperdo,[8] the Eastermost part of Hispaniola, but the Deficiencies of his Ship being so great he bore away for the West end of Savona, and there Anchored. a Day or two afterwards came into Our Company the Brigandin Mary Gold, George Lorriston Master, and the Elenora, John Duncan Master. Then Cap't Kidd weighed Anchor with the sloop Spey, John Vander Bist Master, and Brigandine Mary Gold, sailed for the River Higuey in the Island Hispaniola where Arriving he moored his ship across the River to the Stumps of Trees or Rocks on shoar.

That there Capt. Kidd disposed of wine, part of his Cargoe, to severall that came on Board to him And that at the same time I sold him the Sloope St. Antonio.

That Capt. Kidd tooke severall Goods out of his ship, and put them on Board the Sloope I sould him and left his owne ship in the River Higuey and desired me to doe him all the service I could in selling and disposeing of the Goods left on Board of the said ship for Account of the Owners of the Adventure Galley.

That Captain Kidd told me that my Lord Bellomont and my Lord of Orford[9] and himselfe were some of the Adventure Galleys owners and to the best of my Remembrance Sir John Somers.

That Capt. Kidd shewed me a Commission under the Great Seale signed at the Topp William Rex and another Commission signed by the Lords of the Admiralty, the purport of neither of which I can remember, onely Capt. Kidd sayd his Commissions impowred him to take pirates and the subjects of the French King.

That Capt. Kidd at his going to New Yorke promised to return himselfe or send some other persons in two Moneths time to bring Necessaryes for refitting his said ship the Adventure Prize and also a Condemnation for the said ship and Goods and to indempnifye all persons that should purchase any of the said Goods, alledging that the said ship was a lawfull prize being taken with a French passe which Captain Kidd shewed me, and actually in the time of War with France.[10]

That after the Departure of Capt. Kidd the Seamen shiped by him in the said ship did plunder and convert to their owne uses the best and most choicest of the goods of the said ships Cargoe, which did not come to my Knowledge till they had been near Five Weeks on board the said ship, and indeed it was out of my power to prevent them had I discovered it sooner being only myselfe and Negro Boy, And they were Eighteen in numbers.

That the said Seamen belonging to the said ship as afores'd when they found I was not ignorant of their villanies openly declared they would not stay longer on board the said ship, but being terrified with the thoughts of Capt Kidds returning, they Joyned all (saving the Boatswaine) and came on the Quarter Deck and said I might remain in the ship and be damned for they would stay no longer. The Man that thus affronted me I shoved on the main Deck[11] and ordered the rest to go on the Main Deck likewise and told them they had engaged themselves to Capt. Kidd to stay on board the ship as long as I should be there, And that I was resolved to stay till the two Months in which Capt. Kidd promised to return were expired unless some Extraordinary Accident intervened: I also charged them with stealing out of the Ships Hould severall Bales of Goods And that if they went from the Ship before Capt. Kidd's Arrivall I was oblidged as his Friend and in my owne Justification to write to all Governm'ts in those parts to have them secured; this calmed them for two or three dayes.

That the said Seamen did again Joyne and draw up a Paper directed to me setting forth their Resolution of leaving the Ship and signed with their names within a Circle commonly called a Round Robin, so gott on board A Sloope and went for the Island Curacao leaving the Ship to me and three more.

That after the departure of the said Seamen I stayd about a Week in the ship and would have stayed longer had not a Friend of myne sent a Sloope Express from Curacao to informe me the Spaniards of the Citty of St. Domingo[12] were arming out a Brigandine to come and take us, which induced me to leave the said ship Adventure Prize in the said River Higuey and went to the Island Curacao in order to protest ag't the Seamen as aforesaid and to get what satisfaction the Law would allow, For at that time they had most of them three or Four hundred pounds a Man. But the said Seamen had gained their Ends so farr in the Governm't that the Governor would not admitt me to stay in Curacao tho' at the same time John Ware Master of Capt. Kidd's ship and the said seamen were there openly protected; I do not charge this on the Govern'r[13] (who is since dead) For I should be very sorry to disturbe the Ashes of so good a Gentleman as I believe he was, but on some of his Councill that did not desire I should face them.

That I have not received of the produce of the Goods Capt. Kidd left upwards of three hundred and Eighty peices of Eight, all the rest is in Debts outstanding which is much less than my Charges.[14]

This is the full that presents to my Memory in Answer to their Lord'ps Demands February 4th, 1700.

Hen. Bolton.

[1] From the manuscripts of the Duke of Portland at Welbeck Abbey, a copy having been kindly furnished by the Rev. Richard W. Goulding, librarian to the duke. The date Feb. 4, 1700, means Feb. 4, 1701, new style. Bolton's previous history and his relations with Kidd are sufficiently shown by this and preceding documents. In 1700 he had been shipped to England from Jamaica, and he was now, or at any rate on Dec. 22, 1700, in Newgate prison under charges of piracy. Cal. St. P. Col., 1700, p. 760.

87. William Kidd to the Speaker of the House of Commons (Robert Harley). April (?), 1701.[1]

May it please Y'r Hon'r

The long Imprisonment I have undergone, or the tryall I am to undergoe, are not soe great an affliction to me, as my not being able to give your Hon'ble House of Commons such satisfaction as was Expected from me. I hope I have not offended against the Law, but if I have, It was the fault of others who knew better, and made me the Tool of their Ambition and Avarice, and who now perhaps think it their Interest that I should be removed out of the world.

I did not seek the Commission I undertook, but was partly Cajold, and partly menac'd into it by the Lord Bellomont, and one Robert Livingston of New York, who was the projector, promoter, and Chief Manager of that designe, and who only can give your House a satisfactory account of all the Transactions of my Owners. He was the man admitted into their Closets, and received their private Instructions, which he kept in his own hands, and who encouraged me in their names to doe more than I ever did, and to act without regard to my Commission. I would not Exceed my Authority, and took noe other ships than such as had French passes, which I brought with me to New England, and relyed upon for my Justification. But my Lord Bellomont seized upon them together with my Cargoe, and tho he promised to send them into England, yet has he detained part of the effects, kept these passes wholly from me, and has stript me of all the Defence I have to make, which is such Barbarous, as well as dishonorable usage, as I hope Your Hon'ble House will not let an Englishman suffer, how unfortunate soever his Circumstances are; but will intercede with his Maj'ty to defer my tryall till I can have those passes, and that Livingston may be brought under Your Examination, and Confronted by me.[2]

I cannot be so unjust to my selfe, as to plead to an Indictment till the French passes are restored to me, unlesse I would be accessary to my own destruction,[3] for though I can make proof that the ships I took had such passes, I am advised by Council, that It will little avail me without producing the passes themselves. I was in great Consternation when I was before that great Assembly, Your Hon'ble House, which with the disadvantages of a mean Capacity, want of Education, and a Spirit Cramped by Long Confinem't, made me Uncapable of representing my Case; and I have therefore presumed to send your Honor a short and true state of It, which I humbly beg Your Honors perusall, and Communication of to the House, if you think it worthy their Notice.[4]

I humbly crave leave to acquaint Your Honor that I was not privy to my being sent for up to Your House the second time, nor to the paper lately printed in my name[5] (both which may justly give Offence to the House) but I owe the first to a Coffeeman in the Court of Wards who designed to make a shew of me, for his profit; and the latter was done by one Newy a prisoner in Newgate to get money for his support, at the hazard of my safety.

I humbly beg the Compassion and protection of the Hon'ble House of Commons, and Your Honors intercession with them on behalfe of

Your Honors
Most Dutifull and Distressed Serv't

Wm. Kidd.

88. William Kidd to Robert Harley [?]. May 12, 1701.[1]

S'r

The Sence of my present Condition (being under Condemnation) and the thoughts of haveing bene imposed on by such as seek't my destruction therby to fulfill their ambitious desieres makes me uncapable of Expressing my selfe in those terms as I ought, therefore doe most humbly pray that you will be pleased to represent to the Hon'bl. house of Commons that in my late proceedings in the Indies I have Lodged goods and Tresure to the value of one hundred thousand pounds[2] which I desiere the Government may have the benefitt of, in order thereto I shall desiere no manner of liberty but to be kept prisonner on board such shipp as may be appointed for that purpose, and only give the necessary directions, and in case I faile therein I desiere no favour but to be forthwith Executed acording to my Sentance. if y'r honbl. house will please to order a Committee to come to me I doubt not but to give such satisfaction as may obtaine mercy, most Humbly submitting to the wisdom of your great assembly I am

S'r Y'r Unfortunate humble servant
Wm. Kidd

New Gate
12th May 1701

89. Captain Kid’s Farewel to the Seas; or, the Famous Pirate’s Lament. 1701.[1]

To the Tune of Coming down.

[Listen]