The Major was a Gentleman of Fortune and Distinction in the Island
of Barbadoes, who before his Piracy bore the character of a
worthy honest man, and no-body could ever account for this his
undertaking, for he wanted neither learning nor understanding. He
fitted out a Sloop with ten guns and sixty men, which he named the
Revenge, at his own expence, and sailed from Barbadoes for
the Cape of Virginia, where he took the Anne from
Glasgow, the Turbet from Barbadoes, the Endeavour
from Bristol, the Young from Leith, and many
others. From thence he went to New York, and there took a Sloop,
and then stood in at Gardiner's Island where he bought
provisions, and went off. August, 1717, he came off at the Bar
of South Carolina, and took a Sloop and Brigantine, which they
plundered, and then he dismissed the Brigantine, but took the Sloop
with him to an Inlet in North-Carolina, where he careened, and
set her on fire.
Afterwards he put to sea, but could not agree with the men what
course to take; for the Major being no sailor, was obliged to submit to
many things his men imposed upon him, when falling in with Edward
Teach, alias Blackbeard, who was a good sailor, but a
hardened villain, Bonnet's Crew joined with him, and put
Bonnet aboard Blackbeard's Ship.
But Blackbeard losing his Ship at Topsail Inlet,
surrendered to the King's Proclamation; when Bonnet re-assumed
the command of his own Sloop, and sailed directly for Bath Town
in North-Carolina, where he also surrenders himself, and
receives a certificate. There getting a clearance for his Sloop, he
pretended to sail for the Island of St. Thomas, to get the
Emperor's Commission to go a-Privateering upon the Spaniards.
But returning to Topsail Inlet, he found that Blackbeard
and his gang were gone, with their effects; and that they had set on
shore, on a small sandy island about a league from the continent,
seventeen men, without any provisions, or vessel to escape. There they
had been two nights and one day without any sustenance, when, to their
inexpressible joy, they saw Major Bonnet, who had been informed
of their being there by two of Blackbeard's crew, who had
escaped to avoid his cruelty.
Then he steered his course towards Virginia, where meeting
with a Pink having Provisions on board, and they being in want, he took
out of her ten barrels of pork, and five hundredweight of bread, and
gave her, in exchange, ten casks of Rice, and an old cable.
Two days after they took a Sloop of sixty tons, from which they took
two hogsheads of rum, and two of molasses, and then put in her eight
men, to take care of the Prize; but they not liking her new
acquaintance took the first opportunity to get off with her.
After this the Major threw off all restraint, and became a downright
Pirate, by the name of Captain Thomas, taking and plundering all
the vessels he met with. He took off Cape Henry, two Ships from
Virginia, bound to Glasgow; the next day a small Sloop from
Virginia bound to Bermudas; from which they took twenty
barrels of pork, and gave her in return, two barrels of rice, and as
much molasses. The next day they took another Virginia man,
bound to Glasgow, out of which they took two men, and a few
small things, and gave her a barrel of pork, and another of bread. From
thence they sailed to Philadelphia, where they took a Schooner
coming from North Carolina to Boston, from which they
took two men, and two dozen of calves skins, to make covers for guns.
In the latitude of 32°, off of Delaware River, near
Philadelphia, they took two Snows bound to Bristol, from
which they took money and goods to the value of two hundred pounds; as
also a Sloop of sixty tons, from Philadelphia to Barbadoes, from which they took a few goods, and let her go. The 29th of July, they took a Sloop of fifty tons, bound from Philadelphia to
Barbadoes, laden with provisions, which they kept; as also another
of sixty tons, from Antegoa to Philadelphia, having on
board, rum, molasses, sugar, cotton and indigo, to the value of five
hundred Pounds, all of which they kept. Then they left Delaware
Bay, and sailed to Cape Fear River, where they staid almost two
months to repair their Sloop, which proved very leaky, till news came
to Carolina of a Pirate's Sloop, with her Prizes, being there
a-careening.
Whereupon Colonel William Rhet offered to go with two Sloops
to attack them; which being by the Governor and Council approved of, he
was commissioned on board the Henry, with eight guns and seventy
men, commanded by Captain John Masters; and the Sea Nymph, commanded by Captain Farier-Hall, with as many guns and men; both
under the Direction of the Colonel, who went on board the Henry
the 14th of September, and sailed from Charles Town to
Swillivant's Island, in order to cruise: where he was informed, by
a small ship from Antegoa, which in sight of the Bar, was taken
and plundered by Charles Vane, in a Brigantine of sixteen guns,
and a hundred men; that he had taken two Sloops, one Captain Dill, Master, from Barbadoes; the other Captain Thompson, from
Guinea, with seventy negroes, which they put on board one Yeats
his consort, being a small Sloop with twenty-five men, who being weary
of this course of life, ran into Edisto River, and surrender'd
to his Majesty's Pardon, by which the owners got their negroes again,
and Yeats and his men had their certificates sign'd.
Vane cruised for some time thereabouts, in hopes to take
Yeats, and be revenged on him; during which time, he took a ship
bound to London, to whom he gave out, that he designed to go to the
southward; which Colonel Rhet hearing, sailed over the Bar the
15th with the two Sloops, and went after the Pirate Vane; but
not meeting with him, tack'd and stood for Cape Fear, according
to his first Design; and on the 26th following he entered the River,
where he saw Bonnet, and the three Sloops his Prizes, at anchor;
but the Pilot running the Sloops a-ground, hindered their getting up
that Night. The Pirates seeing the Sloops, and not knowing who they
were, mann'd three canoes, and sent them down to take them; but finding
their mistake, Bonnet took all the men out of the Prizes to
engage them. Colonel Rhet's Sloops the next morning getting
under sail, stood for the Pirates, who designed only to make a running
fight; but the Colonel getting upon his quarters, he edged in upon the
shore, and ran his Sloop a-ground. The Colonel's Sloops were soon in
the same condition: The Henry grounded within pistol-shot of the
Pirate, on his bow; the other, right a-head of him, almost out of
gun-shot, which made it of but very little use to the Colonel. By this
time the Pirate had a very great advantage: For his Sloop lifted from
Colonel Rhet's, which converted them all over; and the Colonel's
Sloop lifting the same way, was much exposed for about five hours,
whilst they lay a-ground. The Colonel's Sloop being first a-float, he
got into deeper water, and after mending his rigging, he stood for the
Pirate, to go directly on board him; which they prevented, by hoisting
a flag of truce, and surrendering soon after. The Colonel lost in this
action ten men, and had fourteen wounded. The Sea Nymph had two
killed, and four wounded. Among the Pirates were none killed, and three
were wounded. The next day the Colonel weighed from Cape Fear,
and arrived at Charles Town the 3d of October, to the no
small joy of the people of Carolina.
There being no publick prison, Bonnet was committed into the
custody of the marshal, and his Men were kept at the Watch-house under
a strict guard; a little before the trial, David Harriot the
Master, and Ignatius Rathe Boatswain, the evidences, were
removed from the Crew, to the Marshal's house, from whence on the 24th
Bonnet and Harriott made their escape; which as soon as the
Governor heard of, he published a Proclamation, promising a reward of
700_l. to any one that would take him, and also sent several boats with
armed men in pursuit of him.
Bonnet stood to the northward, in a small vessel; but through
stress of weather, and want of necessaries, he was forced to
Swillivant's Island. Of which information being given to the
Governor, he sent for Colonel Rhet, and desired him once more to
go in pursuit of him; which the Colonel readily accepted of; and having
got all Things ready, went that Night for Swillivant's Island,
where, after a long search, he discovered them. After the Colonel's men
had fired upon them, and killed Harriott, Bonnet
immediately surrendered himself, and was, next Morning, brought back to
Charles Town, and confined under a strong guard till his trial,
which was hastened for fear he should give them the slip again.
On the 28th of October, 1718, a Court of Vice-Admiralty was
held at Charles Town, and, by several adjournments continued to
the 12th of November following, by Nicholas Trot, Esq;
Judge of the Vice-Admiralty, and Chief Judge of Carolina, and
other Assistant Judges; where, after the King's Commission was read,
and a Grand Jury sworn, Judge Trot gave them a learned Charge:
And then the Grand Jury went out, and found the Bills; upon
which, a Petit-Jury was sworn, and the following Persons were
arraingn'd and try'd.
Stede Bonnet, alias Edwards, alias Thomas,
late of
Barbadoes, Merchant.
Robert Tucker, late of Jamaica, Merchant.
Edward Robinson, late of Newcastle-upon-Tine,
Mariner.
Neal Peterson, late of Aberdeen, Mariner.
William Scot, late of Aberdeen, Mariner.
William Eddy, alias Neddy, late of Aberdeen,
Mariner.
Alexander Annand, late of Jamaica, Mariner.
George Rose, late of Glasgow, Mariner.
George Dubin, late of Glasgow, Mariner.
John Ridge, late of London, Mariner.
Matthew King, late of Jamaica, Mariner.
Daniel Perry, late of Guernsey, Mariner.
Henry Virgin, late of Bristol, Mariner.
James Rattle, alias Robbins, late of London,
Merchant.
James Mullet, alias Millet, late of London,
Mariner.
Thomas Price, late of Bristol, Mariner.
James Wilson, late of Dublin, Mariner.
John Lopez, late of Oporto, Mariner.
Zachariah Long, late of the Province of Holland,
Mariner.
Job. Barley, late of London, Mariner.
John William Smith, late of Charles Town in
Carolina, Mariner.
Thomas Carman, late of Maidstone in Kent,
Mariner.
John Thomas, late of Jamaica, Mariner.
William Morrison, late of Jamaica, Mariner.
Samuel Booth, late of Charles Town, Mariner.
William Howet, late of Jamaica, Mariner.
John Kent, late of North Carolina, Mariner.
William Livres, alias Evis, late of Carolina,
Mariner.
John Brierly, alias Timberhead, late of Bath
Town
in North Carolina, Mariner.
Robert Boyd, late of Bath Town in North
Carolina,
Mariner.
Thomas Nicholas, late of London, Mariner.
Rowland Sharp, late of Bath Town, Mariner.
Jonathan Clark, late of Charles Town, Mariner.
Thomas Gerrard, late of Antegoa, Mariner.
All of whom, except the four last, were found Guilty, and received
Sentence of Death, upon two Indictments, for Robbing upon the High Sea
the Francis, Peter Manwaring, Commander; and for seizing,
in a Piratical Manner, the Sloop Fortune, Thomas Read,
Commander: To which they all pleaded Not Guilty, except James Wilson
and John Levit, who pleaded Guilty to both Indictments, and
Daniel Piercy to one only. Bonnet moved to go through both
the Indictments at once; but the Court overruling it, he was found
Guilty of one, and retracted his Plea to the other. They made but
little Defence, pretending they were taken off a Maroon Shore,
and were shipped with Major Bonnet to go to St. Thomas's,
but wanting provisions they were obliged to do what they did; and the
Major himself pretended it was Necessity and not Inclination
that compelled them to do it. But that not appearing, they having all
shared ten or eleven Pounds a man, except the four last, they were all
found Guilty. After which the Judge set forth the enormity of their
Crimes: And then pronounced Sentence of Death upon the persons
aforesaid, except Major Bonnet, who not being brought back in
time, was not tried till the 10th of November; and being then
also found Guilty, he received Sentence in like manner as the others;
before whom Judge Trot made an excellent speech, saying
afterwards.
And now, having discharged my Duty as a Christian, I must do my
Office as a Judge, which is
You the said Stede Bonnet shall go from hence, to the
Place from whence you came, and from thence to the Place of Execution,
where you shall be hanged by the Neck till you are dead.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: CAPTAIN WILLIAM KID]
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