Tales of Piracy - How Six Pirates were Captured and Killed

My latest article about the pirates of the Whydah Galley was published today!

You may read it here:

Tales of Piracy - How Six Pirates Were Captured and Killed


http://www.historyisnowmagazine.com/blog/2016/5/30/tales-of-piracy-how-six-pirates-were-captured-and-killed#.V0yn2se9jHg

Warrant and order for Execution of Pirates

"Warrant and order for Execution of Pirates" November 9, 1717.  Boston.

Province of the Massachusetts Bay                    

By his Excellency Samuel Shute Esq. Captain General and Governour & C. SS                             

President of His Majesty's Special Court of Admiralty          

                                                                                          

To the Sheriffs of the County of Suffolk their Under Sheriffs and Deputys and to the several Constables within the Town of Boston, Greeting,

            Whereas Ambrose Vincent, Gentleman, Provost Marchall hath lately received my Orders and Directions to cause Simon Von Vorst, John Brown, Thomas Baker, Hendrick Quintor, Peter Cornelius Hoof and John Shuan to be Carryed from the Prison in Boston to the place of Execution and there to be Hanged up by the Neck untill they and each of them be Dead on Friday the fifteenth day of November Currt. between the hours of two and five of the clock in the afternoon of the Said Day pursuant to the Decree and Sentence of his Majesty's Justiciary Court of Admirality held at Boston in October last they being Convicted at the said court of Pyracy Robbery and Felony on the high seas upon a fair Tryal. 

            These are therefore in his Majesty's Name to Desire and require you, and each of you To be Aiding and Assisting to the Sd. Provost Marshall in Conducting the said Simon Van Vorst Thomas (sic) Brown Thomas Baker Hendrick Quintor Peter Cornelius Hoof and John Shuan from ye Goal to the place of Execution where the Said Provost Marshall is to cause them to be Executed According to the Said Sentence: Here of fail not upon your Peril, Dated in Boston the Ninth day of November in the Fourth Year of his Majesties Reign Anne Domini 1717.

Some words of Cotton Mather concerning the execution of the pirates of the Whydah

"Diary of Cotton Mather"  MHS Collections, Series Seven Vol.8 (herinafter Cited as MD) p.481.

October 17, 1717: G.D. Tho' Satan by frequent Assaults upon me, designs and labours to discourage my unceasing Projections to serve the Kingdom of God; for I am satisfied, I should not suffer what I do from him, and his Instruments, if my continual contrivances to do Good were not such as they are: Yett, I will in this way make myself much more vile; and be stedfast and immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; beleeving a good Issue of all.

            What I now think of, is; how to render the conditon of the poor Pyrates, who are coming on their Trial, serviceable unto the Interests of piety in the World.

MD:481

October 21, 1717: G.D. I would entertain the Flock, with a discourse agreeable to the Said Occasion given, in a Number of Wicked Pirates, who are speedily to be destroyed among us. A Discourse on the Folly of getting Riches, and not by Right.

MD:491.

November 26, 1717: I had sometimes made a Prayer, that the Condition of the late Pirates, might be so ordered, as to furnish me with some special Opportunities to do Service for the Kingdome of GOD. After the Execution of the Criminals, I had some thoughts of writing down the conference I had with them in the way from the Prison to the Gallows: adding the strange story of their capture, and the Sermon I preached unto my Flock on their occasion. But my thoughts were so feeble and flitting that I laid them aside. However, I resumed them; and remaining still entirely at a loss what to do, I betook myself unto the Lott. I wrote one Bitt of Paper, "Proceed," on another, "Forbear," and after a solemn Invocation of the glorious Lord, I drew the Lott, which fell to be "Proceed." I sett myself to the Work, and in a few Hours I made a Strange Dispatch of it. The Bookseller for whom I intended the Work, declined it; which caused me to wonder at my Direction to Proceed. But some other Booksellers, from whom I least expected it, without any offer of Mine to them, accepted it, and print no less than twelve hundred of them; and the Cause of Piety, is likely to be more than a little served.

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.

John Shuan

In his interrogation before his trial for piracy in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1717 John Shuan provided this information:

 

John Shuan declares That he was born in Nantes [France], 24 years old, a Mariner. That two months and a half ago he was taken by Bellamy in an English ship coming from Jamaica [=The Tanner Frigate], commanded by a Englishman and a Frenchman, bound from Pettiguavas to Rachel [=Rochelle], with sugar. This Examinate Knows nothing of the Scotch vessel's being sunk. When Crumpste­y's Pink was taken on this coast, He desired Bellamy to give him leave to go on board her, but could not obtain it, by reason he had not taken up arms, Yet afterwards Bellamy let him go. He further declares that he was never upon the list as the rest were; That in the Ship he belonged to the Pirates found 5000 livres and on board of Bellamy's there was a great quantity of silver and gold.

 

Side note: Nantes during this period of time was France’s largest port, and had been built on a trade in rum, sugar, and slaves.

 

During the trial, John had to make the court aware that he did not understand the proceedings:

 

And then all the Prisoners held up their hands again at the Bar, and severally pleaded, Not Guilty, Except John Shuan a French-man, who made known to the Court, That he did not understand English, and therefore was ignorant of what he was charged with in the Indictment. And there upon Mr. Peter Lucy of Boston, Merchant (being a person of good Credit) was Sworn Interpreter between the Court and the said Shuan; and then by the Courts direction the said Lucy informed the said John Shuan in his own Language of the Several Articles Alledged against him in the said Indictment, and then he held up his hand at the Bar and pleaded, Not Guilty.

The Prisoners having severally pleaded to the Indictment, desired Copies thereof, and a further day to prepare for their Trial.

 

These witnesses testified about John during the course of the trial:

 

            Thomas FitzGyrald late Mate of the Pink Mary Anne of Dublin in Ireland, Testifyeth and saith, That on or about the Twenty-fourth day of April last past, the said Pink left Nantasket in New-England, bound for New York, under Command of Capt. Andrew Crumstey; and on Friday the 26th day of the said Month, between the Hours of Four & Six of the Clock in the Morning, they discovered two Sail a-Stern, viz. a large Ship and a Snow, between Nantucket Shoals & St. Georges Banks, which came up with the Pink in the Morning, with the Kings Ensign and Pendant flying; the large Ship was found to be the Whido, whereof Samuel Bellamy a Pirate was Commander, Who ordered the Pink to strike her Colours, and then hoisted out their Boat, and sent the Seven Prisoners, now at the Bar, on board the said Pink, all Armed with Musquets, Pistols and Cutlasses, except Thomas South and John Shuan. And further the Deponent, Declares & saith, That the said Thomas South, soon after he came on board, Declared to him the Deponent his Intention to make his escape from the Whido, as soon as he could but Shuan was very forward & active on board the Pink, altho' he had no Weapon with him.

 

 

James Dunavan Mariner, late belonging to the Pink Mary Anne, and Brother-in-Law to Captain Crumpstey late Master thereof saith [cf.17/05/06/03], That the said Pink belonged to Ireland, was Owned by the Subjects of the King of Great-Britain, and was Taken on the 26th Day of April last past, under English Colours by Samuel Bellamy Commander of the Pirate Ship Whido, That Simon Van Vorst and the rest of the Prisoners at the Bar came on Board the Pink Armed, and had their Pistols Charged with Powder and Ball, except Thomas South and John Shuan, and Ordered the Captain with Five Hands more to go on Board the Ship with his Papers: And that the Prisoners at the Bar steer'd the Pink after Bellamy's Ship, as he gave Orders. That they drank plentifully of the Wines on Board; That Thomas South's Behaviour in the Pink was civil and peaceable. The Deponent further saith, That he heard John Baker  threaten to shoot Mackcona­chy, Cook of the Pink, thro the head, because he steer'd to the windward of his Course; and said moreover, That he would make no more to shoot him, than he would a Dog; and that he should never go on shoar to tell his Story

 

 

            Alexander Mackconachy, late Cook of the Pink Mary Anne of Dublin, saith, That on the 26th day of April last past, in the course of their Voyage from Nantasket to New York, they were taken by a Pirate Ship called the Whido, Commanded by Capt. Samuel Bellamy, That all the Prisoners at the Bar came on board the said Pink armed, except Thomas South and John Shuan, and made themselves Masters of the Pink; and that Simon Van Vorst ordered the Captain to go on board the Ship Whido, with his Papers and five of his hands. The Deponent further saith, That the Pink was cast away opposite to an Island, called Slutts-bush; and after the Prisoners were carryed to the Main Land they looked very sorrowful, and made all imaginable speed in order to escape from the hands of Justice. That Thomas South behaved himself Civily.  That Thomas Baker cut down the Fore-mast & Mizen-mast of the Pink when she run on shoar.

 

 

            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.

 

 

            John Shuan by his Interpreter saith, That he was sick at the time when Capt. Bellamy took him and went on board the Pirate Vessel at the Instance of Capt. Bellamy's Doctor, who advised him to stay with him till his Cure.  And that when he went on board the Pink Mary Anne he did not carry Arms with him; and that he hoped by going on board the Pink he could the sooner make his escape from the Pirates, for that he had a better way of getting his living than by Pirating.

 

The Reverend Cotton Mather spoke with the pirates as they walked to the gallows. He recorded his conversations with them afterwards. Since there is no evidence that he had any sort of scribe or other type of secretary with him, these conversations must be filled through the filter of his memory.

 

            The Last among the Sons of Death, was a poor Frenchman (called John Shuan,) to whom inasmuch as he understood not English and had been a Roman Catholick, the Minister thus applied himself.

CM:  O Pecheur tres-miserable. Vous estes un Prisonnier de la Justice; Mais Vous estes a Prisonnier de L'Esperance.

            Notre Seigneur et Sauveur JESUS CHRIST, est
L'Esperance des Pecheurs; Et il ny a point de salut en aucun autre.

            Cette parole est certaine, et digne d'etre 'Entierement receue; C'est que JESUS CHRIST est venu au monde, pour Sauver les pecheurs. Mais il est fort necessaire, d'invoqeur votre Saveur. Yous pleurez d'une manieve Lamentable; Las! Miserable Ie fuis; qui me delivra?

            JESUS CHRIST Le Grand Saveur du Monde, respond, Regardez vers moi et foyez Sauvez. Entendez vous!

JS: Ouy, Monsieur. Ie l'entende bien.

CM: Ah, Mon Frere! Les Cordeaux de la Mort vous avoient Environnez; Et Les destresses d'Enfer vous aveient rencontrez. Mais, Invoques Le Nom de l'Eternal, disant, Ie te prie, Eternal, Delivre mon Ame.

            O Meschant, Retourntz a L'eternal, et [P.32] il aura pitie du vous, et il pardonner a tant et plus Entendez vous?

JS:  Ouy! Monsieur; le vous remercy.

CM: Mais il faut que vous vous contentions du soul sacrifice, et de L'Intorcession de JESUS CHRIST. Nul n'obtient pardon de fes pechez, par fa propres merites, ou par la Mediation de quelque creature. Il faut, que votre prieve fost, O L'Obeissance de JESUS CHRIST a ta loy, O mon Dieu, est ma seule Justice. En consider­ation de cette seule Justice, fai que l'Obtienne pardon et Faveur aupres de Toi, Ie Renonce, Ie Renonce a tous autres Mediateurs.

            Que dites Vous!  Renouncez vous tous autre Mediuateurs!

JS: Ie ne scay pas ce quele diray.

CM: Ie remets votre spirit en la main de votre Redempteur JESUS CHRIST.

           

Translated into English, at the Desire of the Bookseller.

CM: Most Miserable Sinner; You are a Prisoner of Justice, but you are yet a Prisoner of Hope.  Our Lord and Savious JESUS CHRIST is the Hope of Sinners; and indeed there is not Salvation in any other.

            This is a Saying most certain, and worthy to be of all Entirely received; That JESUS CHRIST is come into the World, for to save Sinners.

            But it is most Necessary, that you call upon your Saviour.

            You make this Lamentable Outcry; O wretched man that I am; who shall deliver me!

            JESUS CHRIST, the Great SAVIOUR of the World, gives this Answer, Look unto me, and be saved. Understand you what I say?

JS:  Yes, Syr: I understand you very well.

CM: Ah, My Brother; The Cords of Death compass you, the Anguishes of Hell come upon you. But now, Call on the Name of the LORD, and say, O Lord, I beseech thee, Deliver my Soul.

            Sinful Man, Return to the Lord and He will have pity on you; and He will abundantly pardon you. Do you understand me?

JS:  Yes syr; and I thank you.

CM: But you must then take up with the only Sacrifice and Intercession of JESUS CHRIST. No one comes at the Pardon of his Sins, on the account of his own Deserts, or thro' the Mediation of any Creature. Your Prayer must be this: O my GOD, The Obedience of JESUS CHRIST unto thy Law is my only Righteousness. For the sake of that Righteousness only grant that I may find pardon and mercy with thee! I Renounce, I Renounce all other Mediators? What do you say to This? Do you Renounce all other Mediators?

JS:  I can't well tell, what to say to it?

CM:  I commit your Spirit into the Hand of JESUS CHRIST, your Redeemer.

At the Place of Execution, a Prayer was made by a Minister of the City; The Chief Heads whereof were

 

 

Sources

 

“The Trials of Eight Persons Indited [sic] for Piracy,” in British Piracy in the Golden Age, edited by Joel H. Baer. Pickering & Chatto, 2007, 2: 289-319.

Mather, Cotton. "Instructions to the Living, from the Condition of the Dead" in British Piracy in the Golden Age, edited by Joel H. Baer. Pickering & Chatto, 2007, 4: 129-144.