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.
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