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.