I was
formerly directed by H. E. Genll. Nicholson to render to your Lordships an
accot. of the state and condition of ye Bohamia Islands wch. has a long time bin without
governmts., The want of wch. has laid those Islands open to be a recepticall
and shelter of pirates and loose fellows and gives ye inhabitants as well as ye
trading vessuals from other parts ye liberty and opportunity of inriching
themselves by sideing and dealing with, entertaining and releiveing such
villians who from time to time resort there to sell and dispose of their
piraticall goods, and perfusely spend wtt they take from ye English French and
mostly Spaniards, and as I am an inhabitant of New Providence have bin an eye
witness to those ellegiall and unwarrantable practises committed both by ye
pirates and inhabitants and others tradeing there, and have used ye uttmost of
my endeavours to put by and prevent them, as alsoe by my goeing to the Havana
hath bin a means of preventing ye design of ye provoked Spaniards comeing to
cut those Islands off for the piracies yett. has since ye peace bin commited
even by some of the inhabitants of those Islands...
The pirates daly increase to
Providence and haveing began to mount ye guns in ye Fort for there defence and
seeking ye opportunity to kill mee because I was against their illegall and unwarrantable
practices and by no means would consent to their mounting of guns in ye Fort
upon such accots. I was thereupon forced
with my wife and family to acquitt ye Island to my great expence and damage and ye latter part of June last [1716] arrived
safe to this Province where I remaine upon [my own] expence in hopes that H.M.
will be graciously pleased to take those Islands under his care and
protection...that ye Islands may become a flourishing plantation...
His Honr. the Governr. of this
Province has lately granted commissions against ye pirates thatt resorts att
Providence by virtue of wch. commissions ye grand Pirate Capt. Benja. Hornigold
man of warr sloop of tenn guns is taken and destroyed, though he has escapted
himself. This step in some measure has disabled him from doeing such damages
upon ye heigh seas as he would have done if he had continued his command in the
said sloop wch. did accomidate 135 men, when he last sayled out of Providence ,
and by some commission granted as aforesaid great quanties of piraticall goods
traded for att Providence was reprized & brought into this Port, and most
justly condemnd. wch. has bin a great service to H.M. and ye said Governour by
his granting such commissons, I hope will put a stop to ye Island of Providence
falling wholly under ye command, and into the hands and possession of pirates
as 'twas like to doe when I left ye place and seemingly ye pirates were
increasing and groweing so strong under ye resolution of fortifieing and
strengthining the place and haveing got to so great a head that consequently
will putt ye Crown to some expence and charge to reduce and subdue them, if
speedy measures, be not taken from hence and other Governmts. to putt a stop to
their designs and if let alone will be of ill consequence.
Letter “to the Council of Trade and Plantations"
South Carolina. August 1716. Colonial Office Papers 5, 1265 no.52.
Laura's note: Always keep in mind when reading things from this era that they were written before dictionaries and standardized spelling s were created.
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