Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period: Illustrative Documents
History
Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period: Illustrative Documents
Pirates; Privateering; United States -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 -- Sources
That on Sunday being the 28th day of April last past Capt. John
Aldred, Comander of his Maj'tys Shipp the _Essex Prize_, came on
Shoare to Collo. William Willson at Kyquotan and informed his
Excellency Francis Nicholson, Esqr., his Maj'tys Lieut. and Governor
Gen'll of Virginia, and Capt. Passenger, Comander of his Maj'tys Shipp
the _Shorham_ Galley, in the hearing of this depon't, that he had
been on board of a Pink and was there informed that there was a Pirate
lay in Lyn haven bay and that she made her Escape from them, upon
which information soe as aforesaid given Capt. Passenger immediatly
went on board his Maj'tys shipp the _Shorham_ and got her under saile,
designeing to goe downe in the night, and this depon't further saith
that upon the aforesaid 28th day of April in the Evening his
Excellency, accompaned with Capt. John Aldred, Peter Heyman, Esqr.,[2]
and this depon't, went on board his Maj'ty's ship the _Shorham_. the
next morning about six of the Clock wee came up with the Pirate (which
this depon't since understands is called the _La Paix_, the Captaines
name said to be Lewis Guittar). we threw abroad the Kings Jack, flagg
and Ancient,[3] the Pirate hoisted up blood red Colloures and refused
to submit, whereupon wee immediatly Engaged with them and Continued
the fight till about four a Clock in the afternoone. Peter Heyman,
Esqr., standing on the left hand of this depon't within a foot of him,
made severall shots into the Pirates Shipp, and about one or two of
the Clock was by a shott from the Pirates shipp unhappily slaine.
about four in the afternoone the Pirate struck his bloody Collours and
hoisted up a flagg of truce and then fired no more Gunns, whereupon
Capt. Passenger Comanded a boat and hands to board the Pirate, who
brought back with them about 124 Pirates Prisoners, and it was
supposed there was about 25 or 30 kill'd in the fight and that about
40 or 50 English Prisoners were redeemed, whome the Pirate had taken.
And this deponant Yet further saith that two of the Pirates men, being
left on board the shipp called the _Nicholson_, Robt. Lurten Master,
which was taken by the Pirates the 28th of April, were upon the coming
up of his Maj'tys ship the _Shorham_ seized and brought on board us as
prisoners, that this deponant was on board the _Shorham_ Galley all
the time of the Engagement upon the quarter deck near to his
Excellency, and saw all the Transactions, and further says not.
JOSEPH MAN.
Sworne to before the Court for tryall of Pirates
Test, PETER BEVERLEY C. Arr.
A true copy, C.C. THACKER C. Sec. Off.[4]
[Footnote 2: Heyman was collector of customs for the lower district of
James River. Gov. Nicholson caused a tombstone to be set in
commemoration of him, with a laudatory inscription which is printed in
the _Southern Literary Messenger_, IX. 695.]
[Footnote 3: Ensign. See doc. no. 33, note 15.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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