Deposition with description of Paulsgrave Williams

The capture of the vessel Tryal has always been accredited to Paulsgrave Williams. Even though this deposition doesn't specifically name him, it does include a bit of a description of his ship and of the man himself. For that [art alone this deposition stands out as there are almost never physical descriptions of the pirates in these depositions! 

I left in most of the original spelling from the deposition for authenticity. 

"Deposition of John Lucas, Master of the Ship Tryal of Brighthelmstone of Great Britain before John Hart, Governor of Maryland". Annapolis. April 13, 1717. Colonial Office Papers 5/1318 no.16iii.

John Hart Esqr., Captain Generall, Governor & Vice Admiral of the Province of Maryland etc. To all to whom these presents shall come,

Greeting,

            Know ye that on the thirteenth day of Aprill Anno Domini Seventeen Hundred and seventeen came before me John Lucas Master of the Ship Tryal of Brighthelmstone of Great Britain, and deposed on ye Holy Evangelist of Almighty God that on Tuesday the ninth Instant about six of ye clock in the morning he being with his sd. ship & compy consisting of seven men & two boys about three Leagues to ye East South East of Cape Henry as he was standing into ye Capes of Virginia, he saw a Sloop lying under the Land, which _____ bore down to him, and commanded their boat on board them, Acquainting him at the same time that they were Pyrates, and threatning that if he not immediately comply they would sink his Ship. Whereupon he the sd. Capt. John Lucas went with his boat & four hands on board the sd. Pyrate's vessell where he and his men that went with him, were forcibly & against their wills detained from seven of the clock in the morning, until three in the afternoon, when & not before he the sd. John Lucas was permitted to go with his boat & men on board his said ship. That severall of the Pyrate's crew went on board his Ship and remained on board her till about Six of the Clock in ye afternoon And then as he supposes the Pyrates Spying a Ship coming out of the Capes and being afraid, stood off with their Sloop to Sea, Commanding him the sd. John Lucas with his Ship and Saylors to follow after them, upon the ______ of his and his Saylors lives. But the sd. John Lucas finding the wind spring up did not obey them but ran into the Capes and so got away from them with his said Ship & Company.

            The sd. John Lucas further deposed that as soon as he came on board his ship, he was told by his Mate and Sailors, that the Pyrates had been aboard her, whilst he was detained on board their Sloop near nine hours & had rumaged her hold, and had taken from on board her three Boat's Lading of goods, and thrown severall things overboard _____ as boxes, trunks & a Chest of Drawers etc. Besides which he does not know of any other damage done to the sd. Ship's Lading, and that he himself nor any other Person whatsoever by his knowledge or procurement, directly or indirectly hath not done, committed or suffered any Wast or Imbezelment of any part of the sd. ship's Cargo. And the sd. John Lucas Further deposed that the sd. Pyrate's Vessell was a Sloop seemingly of New England built, about the burthen of fourty or fifty tuns her Quarter  being spotted with blew and yellow, as likewise her stern spotted with blew, and having no windows, That her Mast was sprung at the head and near the deck and that She had old patcht sails, That they had a St. _______ Jack hoisted at the Boltspritt and that the sd. Sloop had twelve guns, Six on carriages, four in Swivells and two more in the hold, and seem'd to be mann'd ______ about fourty men, most of which seemed to be English, & Especially the Pyrate's Captain, who was a middlesized man of a dark brown complexion wearing a peruke That he the sd. John Lucas observed there were Five Frenchmen, five Negros & an Indian on board the sd. Pirate's sloop.