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
[Footnote 3: Capt. Bartholomew Sharp, who figures largely in this
narrative and the next, as chief commander of the buccaneers during
most of the periods of their adventures, was also the author (or
source) of two histories of their expedition. The first, _The Voyages
and Adventures of Capt. Barth. Sharp and others in the South Sea_
(London, 1684), is mainly a reproduction of the captain's journal or
log; the second, "Captain Sharp's Journal of his Expedition, written
by Himself," published as part II. of Capt. William Hacke's _A
Collection of Original Voyages_ (London, 1699), is more literary in
form. Neither describes the period covered by the present document;
both begin, like document 45, with Apr. 5, 1680.]
In december about the Latter part in the yeare 1679 we meetts all up
at port amorrant,[4] where the party Concluded to make Capt. John
Coxon their Chiefe and to wood and watter at Porttamorrant, and after
make all expedition to take Portavella.
[Footnote 4: Port Morant, near the southeastern point of Jamaica.]
January the 7th, Ditto. Thes Commanders above expresed Sett Sayle with
a fresh gail of wind, at S.E. and E.S.E. [_cut off_] we stands over
Close hailed with our Larbourd tackes abord[5] steming S.S.W. and
S.b.W., keeping the Reefes of our Topesayles in, for the most part of
our Vessells proved Leacke, that Capt. Cornelies Essex was vayne[6] to
would his shipp Together with Two Hassers[7] to keep her together.
Capt. Bartholomew Sharpe Lost his Bolsprit, that he was forced to
Beare away large.[8] they gott into Ankour at the Island of Pine lying
in the Samblowes in North Lattitud 9 deg. 40'.[9] As we weare Coming out
of portamorrant, about 6 Leagues from the Port, we meetts with a
french Brickanteen, on[e] John Row Commander. he understanding our
Designe, was willing to Concert with us. the weather growing very bad
and lickly to Continue soe sum time, that as much as Ever sum shipps
was abell to goe through the Sea, Capt. Essex by name his vessell
being ould gave way in her boue that if shee had not been wolded,[10]
Could never a he[ld] together. Capt. Coxon Calls and orders that he
would make the Best of his way to the Isle of Forta, and gave order
that those that gott thear first, to Leave a Noat one the Sandy point,
to Sattisfie the Rest which are to com after, and them that first gott
to forta, to goe over to the frinds Islands, Islands which lyeth about
12 Leagues to the westwards of Cathergeane,[11] about 8 leagues from
Forta. our Admirall, the french Brickenteen, and the two slopes[12]
getts to forta first, which finding Neither Capt. Essex nor Capt.
Sharpe thear, Feared they had binn Suncke in the Sea. Capt. Coxon went
over to the frinds Islands with one Slopes Crew and the Brickenteens
Crew, Leaveing a Sayling Crew abord: goe to ly amongst thes frinds
Islands to take pery agoes[13] and Canoes to Land our people at
Portavella. 2 dayes after a Rives Capt. Cornelyes Essex at forta, But
noe news of Capt. Bartholomew Sharpe.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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