A letter concerning Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet

"Philadelphia Dispatch of October 24, 1717" Boston News Letter November 11, 1717.

          Arrived Linley from Antigua, Codd from Liverpool and Dublin with 150 passengers, many whereof are servants. He was taken about 12 days since off our Capes by a Pirate Sloop called the Revenge of 12 guns 150 men commanded by one Teach who formerly sailed Mate out of this Port. They have arms to fire five rounds before they load again. They threw all Codd's cargo overboard, excepting some small matters they fancied. One merchant had a 1000 pounds cargo on board, of which the greatest part went overboard, he begged for cloth to make him but one suit of cloths, which they refused to grant him. The Pirates took two Snows outward bound Spotford loaden with staves for Ireland and Badger of Bristol in the Sea Nymph loaden with wheat for Oporto, which they threw overboard and made a prize of the said Snow and put all the prisoners on board of Spossord out of which they threw overboard about a thousand staves, and they very barbarously used Mr. Joseph Richardson Merchant of the Sea Nymph. They also took a Sloop inwards bound from Madera Peter Peters Master out of which they took 27 pipes of wine, cut his masts by the board after which she drove ashore and stranded.

They also took another Sloop one Grigg master, bound hither from London with above 30 servants, they took all out of her, cut away her mast and left her at anchor on the sea. They also took another Sloop from Madera bound to Virginia out of which they took two pipes of wine and then sunk her. It is also said they took a Sloop from Antigua belonging to New York and put some of the London servants and other things aboard her. The Pirates told the prisoners that they expected a Consort Ship of 30 guns and then they would go up into Philadelphia, Others of them said they were bound to the Capes of Virginia in hopes to meet with a good Ship there, which they very much wanted. On board the Pirate Sloop was Major Bennet, but has no command, he walks about in his Morning Gown, and then to his Books of which he has a good library on board. He was not well of his wounds that he received by attacking a Spanish man of war what Kill'd & wounded him 30 or 40 men. After which putting into Providence, the place of rendezvous for the pirates, they put the aforesaid Captain Teach on board for this cruise.

Witness testimonies from pirate trials

These testimonies are excerpted from the trials of the six pirates from the Whydah who were eventually hanged for piracy in Boston, Massachusetts in 1717 and the third one is from the trial of Thomas Davis, also from the Whydah, who was found not guilty and released.

Thomas Checkley Mariner saith, That he knows John Shuan the Prisoner at the Bar, That he belonged to the Tanner Frigot one John Stover Master, and sometime in March last left the said Ship or Frigot was taken in the prosecution of her Voyage from Pettyguavus to Old France, by Capt. Samuel Bellamy and Monsieur Lebous, they pretended to be Robbin Hoods Men. That Shuan declared himself to be now a Pirate, and went up and unrigged the Main-top-mast by order of the Pirates, who at that time forced no Body to go with them; and said they would take no Body against their Wills.  

          Owen Morris Mariner was first Examined upon Oath, Who Solemnly Testifyed & Declared, That he knew the Prisoner at the Bar, That he belonged to the Ship St. Michael whereof James Williams was Master; And in the Month of Sept. 1716. they left Bristol bound to Jamaica, & in Decemb. following the said ship was taken by two Pirate Sloops, one commanded by Capt. Sam. Bellamy, & the other by Loues Lebous, about Twenty Leagues off Sabria, That they gave the said Williams his Ship and detained the Prisoner because he was a Carpenter & a Single Man, together with Three others of the Ships company. And further the Deponent saith, That the Prisoner was very unwilling to go with Bellamy, and prevailed with him by reason of his Intreaties to promise that he should be discharged in the next Vessel that was taken: And afterwards the Deponent was again taken in the Ship Whido, commanded by Capt. Prince by the said Capt. Bellamy, who was then commander of the Ship Sultania, taken from Capt. Richards, as the Deponent understood, and then he saw the Prisoner aboard the said Ship; at which time the Prisoner reminded the said Bellamy of his promise: when he asked him, If he was willing to go, He answered, Yes; and then the said Capt. Bellamy replied, If the company would consent he should go: And thereupon he asked his company, If they were willing to let Davis the Carpenter go? Who expressed themselves in a violent manner, saying, No, Damn him, they would first shoot him or whip him to Death at the Mast.

          Capt. Thomas Glynn being brought into Court by the Sheriffs, and Interrogated upon Oath, saith, That he never knew the Prisoner till he was committed to Goal for Piracy, that he frequently afterwards conversed with him, but knew nothing against him.

          After which the Prisoner was desired by the President to speak for himself, Who said, That he was Carpenter of the Ship St. Michael whereof James Williams was Capt. and Sailed out of Bristol in Great Britain in the Month of Sept. 1716. bound for Jamaica; and in Decemb. following the Ship was taken about Twenty Leagues off Sabria by two Pirate Sloops commanded by Capt. Samuel Bellamy, and Monsieur Lebous, who carryed the Ships company to the Island of Blanco where they were detained till the Ninth day of January  last, when he and fourteen other Prisoners were put on board the Sultan Galley, then under the said Bellamy's command who had taken her from Capt. John Richards: And afterwards took another Ship called the Whido, in which Ship to his great grief & sorrow, he was forced to come upon this Coast, where she was cast-away: And he with one John Julian only escaped Drowning. He further saith, That he was no way active among the Pirates, only as he was compelled by them.