Benjamin Street, Samuel Thornton and John Pastree, were placed on their
trial for the murder of one of the midshipmen and a sailor of the
Vulcan. It appeared on the trial that a schooner, of which the parties
charged were part of the crew, commanded by one Hovey, belonging to
Boston or some part of New England, was found trading in the Bay of
Fundy and supplying the French with provisions, etc. Capt. Kenzey sent a
boat aboard Hovey's shallop, under the idea that he had contraband goods
on board. The crew refused to allow the man-of-war boat to come
alongside, and fired into her, killing Mr. Jolly and wounding several
others. Hovey, the master, appears to have gone below and hid himself
during the whole affair. He was discovered in his berth by the officer
in command of the man-of-war boat, after the sloop had been captured.
This affair occurred in July, 1754, and the trial took place before the
Chief Justice in Michaelmas Term of that year. This was the first
sitting at which Chief Justice Belcher presided. The three prisoners
were acquitted of the murder, but it would appear they were found guilty
of the minor offence, as they were sentenced to six months imprisonment,
and afterwards placed on board a man-of-war (1755). Joseph Hovey, the
master, was discharged, the grand jury refusing to find a bill of
indictment against him.
The following appointments were made by the grand jury in Michaelmas
Term, 1754: Gaugers of Casks, Paul Pritchard and Lewis Piers; Surveyors
of Pickled Fish, Henry Ferguson and Daniel Hills; Cullers of Dry Fish,
Charles King and E. Gerrott; Cullers of Hoops and Staves, Dennis
Heffernan and Benoni Bartlett; Surveyors of Lumber, etc., Joseph Scott
and Joseph Marshall; Surveyors of Cordwood, Samuel McClure, Josiah
Milliken and Joseph Wakefield.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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