John Phillips was bred a carpenter, but sailing in a West Country ship to Newfoundland, was taken by Anstis, who soon persuaded him to join with him, making him Carpenter of the Vessel, in which station he continued till they broke up at Tobago, when he came Home in a Sloop that was sunk in Bristol Channel. But he did not stay long in England; for hearing of some of his companions being taken in Bristol Gaol, he moved off to Topsham, and there shipped himself with one Captain Wadham for Newfoundland, where when the ship came he ran away, and hired himself a splitter in the Fishery for the season: but he soon combined with others in the Fishery, to go off with one of the vessels that lay in the Harbour, and turn Pirate, and accordingly fixed upon the 29th of August, 1713, at Night; but of 16 Men that promised five only were as good as their Word. Notwithstanding, Phillips was for pushing on, assuring them that they should soon increase their company. Hereupon they seized a vessel, and went out to sea, when they soon began to settle their Officers to prevent dispute, appointing, John Phillips, Captain; John Nutt, Navigator of the Vessel; James Sparks, Gunner; Thomas Fern, Carpenter; and William White was only a private man among them.

Before they left the Banks, they took several small fishing vessels, out of which they took some more Hands, and then sailed to the West-Indies: Among those that were taken, was one John Rose Archer who having been a pirate under Blackbeard was made Quarter-Master to the company: They came off Barbadoes in October, and cruised about the Islands about three Months, without meeting with a vessel, so that they were almost starved for want of provisions, when at length they fell in with a Martinico Man of 12 guns and 35 hands, upon which they hoisted the Black Flag and ran up along side of the Sloop, with piratical Colours flying, swearing, If they did not strike immediately, they must expect no quarters; which so frightened the Frenchman, that he never fired a gun. Having got this supply, they took her provisions, and four of her men.

Having occasion to clean their vessel, Phillips proposed Tobago; and just as they had done, a Man-of-War’s boat came into the Harbour, the ship cruising to the Leeward of the Island; which was no sooner gone, but they warped out, and plied to the Windward for safety.

In a few days they took a Snow with a few Hands in it, on board of which they sent Fern the Carpenter, William Smith, Philips Wood, and Taylor; but Fern being dissatisfied at Archer’s being preferred before him to be Quarter-Master, persuaded the rest to go off with the prize; but Phillips gave them Chase, and coming up with them, shot Wood, and wounded Taylor in the leg; upon which the other two surrendered.

From Tobago they stood away to the Northward, and took a Portugueze bound for Brazil, and two or three Sloops for Jamaica, in one of which Fern endeavouring to go off, was killed by Phillips, as was also another man for the like attempt, which made all the others more fearful of discovering their Minds, dreading the villany of a few hardened wretches, who feared neither God nor Devil, as Phillips was often used blasphemously to say.

On the 25th of March, they took two ships from Virginia, the Master’s name of one was John Phillips, the Pirate’s Name-sake; of the other, Robert Mortimer, a stout young man. Phillips staid on board Mortimer’s Ship, while they transported the crew to the Sloop, when Mortimer took up a hand-spike and struck Phillips over the Head; but not knocking him down, he recovered and wounded Mortimer with his sword; and the other two Pirates who were on board, coming to Phillip’s assistance they cut Mortimer to pieces, while his own two men stood and looked on. Out of the other Virginia Man, they took Edward Cheesman, a carpenter, to supply the Place of Fern, who being averse to that way of life, proposed to J. Philamore, who was ordered to row Cheesman on board Mortimer’s ship, to overthrow their Piratical government; which from time to time, as occasion offered, they consulted how to do. The Pirates, in the mean time, robbed and plundered several ships and vessels, bending their course towards Newfoundland, where they designed to raise more men, and do all the mischief they could on the Banks, and in the harbours. Towards which country, Phillips making his way, took one Salter in a Sloop on the Isle of Sables, which he kept, and gave Mortimer’s Ship to the Mate and crew; also a Schooner, one Chadwell Master, which they scuttled in order to sink: But Phillips understanding that she belonged to Mr. Menors of Newfoundland, with whose Vessel they first went off a-Pirating, said, We have done him injury enough already, and so ordering his Vessel to be repaired, returned her to the Master.

In the Afternoon, they chased another vessel, whose Master was an Inward Light Man, named Dependence Ellery, who told Phillips he took him for a Pirate as soon as he saw him, otherwise he would not have given him the Trouble of chasing him so long. This so provoked Phillips and his Crew, that they made poor Dependence, for his Integrity, dance about the Ship till he was weary. After which they took 10 other ships and vessels; and on the 14th of April, they took a Sloop belonging to Cape Anne, Andrew Harradine Master; which looking upon to be more fit for their purpose, they came on board, keeping only the Master of her Prisoner, and sending the crew away in Salter’s vessel. Cheesman broke his mind to Harradine, to destroy the crew. Upon this, it was concluded to be 12 a Clock at Noon, when Cheesman leaves his working-tools on the deck, as if he had been going to use them, walks off. But perceiving some signs of fear in Harradine, he fetches his brandy bottle, and gives him and the rest a dram, saying, Here’s to our next Meeting; then he talks to Nutt, in the mean while Philamore takes up an axe, while Cheesman and Harradine seize Nutt by the Collar, and toss him over the Side of the Vessel.

By this Time the Boatswain was dead; for as soon as Philamore saw the Master laid hold on, he up with the axe, and cut off the Boatswain’s head, which Noise soon brought the Captain upon Deck, whom Cheesman saluted with the blow of a mallet, which broke his jaw-bone, but did not knock him down; upon which Harradine came to the Carpenter’s aid, when Sparks the Gunner interposing, Cheesman trips up his Heels, and flung him into the arms of Charles Ivemay, who at that moment threw him into the Sea; and at the same Time Harradine throws Captain Phillips after him, bidding the Devil take them both. This done, Cheesman jumps from the deck into the Hold, to knock Archer on the Head, when Harry Gyles came down after him, desired his Life might be spared; which being agreed to, he was made a Prisoner, and secured.

All being over, they altered their course from Newfoundland to Boston, where they arrived the 3rd of May, to the great joy of the Province, and on the 12th of May, a special Court of Admiralty was held for the Trial of these Pirates, when John Philamore, Edward Cheesman, John Cobs, Henry Gyles, Charles Joymay, John Bootman, and Henry Payne, were honourably acquitted; as also three French Men, John Baptis, Peter Taffery, and Isaac Lassen, as also three Negroes, Pedro, Francisco, and Pierro. John Rose Archer, the Quarter-Master, William White, William Taylor, and William Phillips were condemned; altho’ the two latter got a Reprieve, and the two former, Archer and White, were executed the 2nd of June following.