A letter concerning Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet

"Philadelphia Dispatch of October 24, 1717" Boston News Letter November 11, 1717.

          Arrived Linley from Antigua, Codd from Liverpool and Dublin with 150 passengers, many whereof are servants. He was taken about 12 days since off our Capes by a Pirate Sloop called the Revenge of 12 guns 150 men commanded by one Teach who formerly sailed Mate out of this Port. They have arms to fire five rounds before they load again. They threw all Codd's cargo overboard, excepting some small matters they fancied. One merchant had a 1000 pounds cargo on board, of which the greatest part went overboard, he begged for cloth to make him but one suit of cloths, which they refused to grant him. The Pirates took two Snows outward bound Spotford loaden with staves for Ireland and Badger of Bristol in the Sea Nymph loaden with wheat for Oporto, which they threw overboard and made a prize of the said Snow and put all the prisoners on board of Spossord out of which they threw overboard about a thousand staves, and they very barbarously used Mr. Joseph Richardson Merchant of the Sea Nymph. They also took a Sloop inwards bound from Madera Peter Peters Master out of which they took 27 pipes of wine, cut his masts by the board after which she drove ashore and stranded.

They also took another Sloop one Grigg master, bound hither from London with above 30 servants, they took all out of her, cut away her mast and left her at anchor on the sea. They also took another Sloop from Madera bound to Virginia out of which they took two pipes of wine and then sunk her. It is also said they took a Sloop from Antigua belonging to New York and put some of the London servants and other things aboard her. The Pirates told the prisoners that they expected a Consort Ship of 30 guns and then they would go up into Philadelphia, Others of them said they were bound to the Capes of Virginia in hopes to meet with a good Ship there, which they very much wanted. On board the Pirate Sloop was Major Bennet, but has no command, he walks about in his Morning Gown, and then to his Books of which he has a good library on board. He was not well of his wounds that he received by attacking a Spanish man of war what Kill'd & wounded him 30 or 40 men. After which putting into Providence, the place of rendezvous for the pirates, they put the aforesaid Captain Teach on board for this cruise.