Letter of Joseph Doane to Lt. Governor William Dummer - Original Document

With permission of Massachusetts Archives, today I present an electronic copy of this letter, with the text printed below.

Justice Doane captured the pirates who had been shipwrecked on the Mary Anne, plus Thomas Davis and John Julian. He took them on horseback to Boston Gaol.

Several months later he was required to be in Boston for their trial. This is his petition to be reimbursed for his expenses. 

Enjoy!

"Letter of Joseph Doane to Lt. Governor William Dummer" Massachusetts Archives Collection, 63:447. SCI/series 45X. June 2, 1717. Massachusetts Archives. Boston, Massachusetts.

            To the Honourable William Dumer Esqr: Lieutt. Governor & Command­er In Chieff In & over His Majts. Province of the Massachusetts Bay in & to the His Majts. Councill & Representa­tives in Genll. Court Assembled--

          The Petition of Joseph Doane of Eastham one of the members of the House of Representatives humbly sheweth that your Petitioner In the Month of April Anno:1717 Being Informed that a number of Men were cast on shoar on the backside of the Town of Eastham the night before who were suspected to be pirates and had that Morn­ing passed through Town inquiring the way to Rhoad Island.

          And your Petitioner being one of his Majts. Justices of the Peace in the County there did Judge it his Duty so to do [He] took with him a Deputy Sheriff persu'd, overtook, seized, exam­ined & [commited?] Seven of the Pirates that belonged to the Ship Whida comanded by Samuel Belleme Capt. of the Pirates which sd. Pirates were cast on shore in a Pink by them taken the day before & two days after he your Petitioner seized, examined & _____ one Man more that got alive ashore out of sd. Ship Whida which was also cast on Shore the same night with the sd. Pink. In Octo­ber next after, being the time when sd. Pirates had their tryall in Boston your Petitioner living one hundred Miles distant was directed by his Excellency Samuel Shute Esqr. Governour & Coman­der in Chief to be present in Boston at the tryall of sd Pirates to Inform & c. which accordingly he attended & notwithstanding he travelled fifty miles a day, yet was necessitated on his Majts. Sarvis  ten days from home, and tho he hath often had Incouragem­ent from his Excellency yet hath not had anything to Respond either for him or expenses, Your Petitioner therefore prays the [?] they be taken into consideration & he be [alowed?] what shall be Judged agreeable to Justice.