Sam Bellamy, From Penniless to the Richest Pirate of All - Part One

Now available online!

Read it here:

Sam Bellamy

John King - The Boy Pirate

My latest article is now published! You may read it here:

http://www.cindyvallar.com/JohnKing.html

A further story of Henry Jennings

Captain Samuell Liddall master of the Sloop Cocoa Nutt attending was called in and being duly Sworne and Examined declared to the Effect following,

            That Sometime in the Month of March last he cleared  from this Island for Carolina, but had orders from Mr. James Knight and Mr. John Lewis his owners to go look for the Wreck, and after his departure from Jamaica mett with Capt. Jennings in the Barsheba and Capt. Ashworth in the Mary near the west end of [The Isle of] Pines and in two or three days after mett with Captain Carnega near Cape Antonio in a Sloop, the name whereof he Cannot recollect, and Joyning them agreed to go to the Wrecks and in order thereto Kept together till they Came to the Bay of houndo where they found a french Ship and there Came to anchor, and afterwards Capt. Jennings sent a small Canoa with the Companie's Quarter Master  and Two Men More on board the Said French Ship who returning again gave an Account that she had about fourteen or Sixteen Guns and forty five Men or there­abouts on board her, after which they Endeavoured to prevaile with the said depont. to Joyne with them to Attack her which he refusing alleadging that he had seen her at Vera Cruz, and beleived she was there a trader on a Lawfull occation. Capt. Jennings thereupon answered he designed to be a Long side of her that Night, and this Depont. desired him Not to Attack the said french Ship till next Morning alleadging he would goe on board with him to See if they could make a Lawfull prize of her, and afterwards about ten a Clock that Night Capt. Jennings of the Barsheba, and Capt Ashworth of the Mary were Towed in by Two piraguas that came from the Bay and the said Depont. Declared that about Thirty Small Arms were fired by the assailants upon the French Ship and one Great Gun which was said to be fired by Capt. Jennings himself, and the French fired not So Much as a Pistoll, and that Allen Bernard the Captain's Quarter Master was then on board her whome he believed had lately had the Belly ache and was then weakly, but Declared the Said Capt. Jennings' Quarter Master Allen Bernard did not appear to be forwarder than the rest of the Company & that the said Captain Carnegie remained without the Barr, but Came in the next Morning and Joyned with the Barsheba and the Mary and lay along Side the French Ship, and that twenty-three of the said Deponent's Men left him, and Joyned with the rest of the Assailants, Some of them going on before the Attack was Made, of which Number the Company's Quarter Master named Thomas, to the best of the said Deponent's remembrance was one, and others Joyning them the day following, and after Capt. Carnegie was in the harbour he was towed out, and it was reported he went to take a french Sloop or vessell at Marian but what further happened this Deponent Knowed Not, he having left them, and afterwards returned to Jamaica and further this Deponent Saith not, Save that he returned to Jamaica with six or Seven white Men and about twenty Negroes.

"Deposition of Samuel Liddell" Jamaica. August 7, 1716. Jamaican Council Minutes

 ff.49-50.

Some more about Henry Jennings

"Extract of a letter from Don Juan Francisco del Valle to the Marquis de Monteleon" Jamaica. March 18, 1716. Calendar of State Papers, Col. Series (America & W.Indies) 29:#158I.

 

            The writer was sent by the Governor of the Havana to the Governor of Jamaica [Lord Archibald Hamilton] to complain, that he suffered ships to be fitted out in the Island, under pretext of cruising upon pirates, but that instead of that they committed many hostilities on the ships and dominions of the King of Spain.

That some of them had landed near the Havana and committed hostilities there That on the 26th Jan. one of these vessels arriv'd at Jamaica, who in company with another [=Henry Jennings & John Wills] had cast anchor in the Canal of Bahama  on the coast of Florida, near the Spanish camp, under Spanish colours, they laid still till night, and then landed their people, who the next morning march'd to the camp with their arms; upon which the Spanish Commanding Officer ask'd them, if it was war, they answered no, but that they came to fish for the wrecks, to which the Officer said, that there was nothing of theirs there, that the vessels belonged to his Catholick Majesty and that he and his people were looking for the said treasure; but seeing that his insinuations were of no use, he profer'd them 25,000 pieces of eight, which they would not be satisfy'd with, but took all the silver they had and stript the people taking likewise away four small cannon, two of them brass, and nail'd [the touch-holes of] two large ones (all which were to defend a parapet they had thrown up to defend themselves from the Indians). They carried away to the value of 120,000 pieces of eight, besides the wrought silver, this is what the captors own themselves, from whence it is inferr'd, that there was a great deal more. That he demanded of Lord Archibald Hamilton, (l) that he should issue a Proclamation agst. those who should fit out vessels on the like account. (2) That one of the two English men of war [HMS Diamond & HMS Jamaica] that were then in Jamaica should be sent to their camp to order all the privateers to return. (3) That the silver taken by these two vessels should be returned. (4) That the captors should be punish'd.

That the 7th of Feb. another Spanish vessel came into this port from Vera Cruz and was bound for the Havana; a few days after she sail'd from hence she met with bad weather, which oblig'd her to throw overboard her guns and some of her cargo and being come in sight of the Havana she met an English ship [=Bennett,] who was one of them who had been at the Spanish camp [sic.], the English sent on board her, and finding that she was loaded with silver, corn etc. they took her, alledging that this vessel was taken by the Spaniards on the coast of Porto Velo [=Bello?], with several goods on board, and that they would keep her till restitu­tion was made. This vessel was [originally] taken by the Spaniards being [that] she was trading to places where strangers are not suffer'd to trade. That the English Captain [=Francisco Fernando] had told him that the Govr. own'd a fourth part of his vessel. This vessel was worth 150,000 pieces of eight, several Gentlemen of Jamaica say publickly that the Governor is part owner of all the vessels which have been sent to our camp. That the inhabitants of Jamaica still went on to fit out privateers in the most publick manner. That their final answer was that what the two privateers [Henry Jennings & John Wills] had taken should be put into the Royal Treasury, until the Spaniards had made satisfaction to the inhabitants of Jamaica for what they had taken from them.

 

A Story of Henry Jennings, Part Two

Allen Bernard's deposition continued...

At ye same time ye Sloop which was Captn. Young's was sett a fire and burned. Some while after they all Sayled in Company with the French Ship for Providence where they in a little time arrived. And in two or three daies after and in an Evening George Dossitt [=the company's quartermaster] came on board at which time there was a Discourse and a Caballing among the People of ye Bersheba about the sharing [of] the goods that were taken on board the French Ship in ye Bay of Honda.

That ye deponent ye next morning was ordered ashore to Captn. Jennings to acquaint him that ye People were all (excepting some four or five People) gone on board ye Ship to gett and take ye Goods out of her, whereupon Captain Jennings said  that must not be,  and said to ye Deponent  go on board and dissuade them from it if you can under a Colour [=pretence] that we have a Prospect of making a Voyage in case we delay no time, tho between you and I, if I can gett her out to Sea again with ye Goods in her I will run her up to Jamaica and Secure her, for these fellowes have drawn me into this [Paemumiee?] and will doubtless, when they have shared ye goods, leave me to answer all,  That he [=the deponent] advised Captn. Jennings to goe on Board, who made answer that he would not be concerned with such Rogues.

At which time Captn. Ashworth and Captn. Carnegie came up to this Depont. and learned the matter and offered to go on Board with the Deponent and [Ashworth?] went on board his own Sloop to diswade his People then on board and Captn. Carnegie went on board ye Ship. And ye Depont. [also] endeavoured to diswade them, but could not, they still kept hoysting ye goods out, and carried them on Hogg Island, at which time the Deponent went ashore and acquainted Capt. Jennings who desired the Deponent to go and see what they did, but bid him not concern himself nor take anything without they gave it [to] him.

The Deponent saith that they divided ye goods into three shares, two of which was for ye Vessells Company in generall and was imediately distributed and shared, the other third part being putt on board ye Sloop Dolphin Captn Spatchers Master (the Depont. saith he is not certain whether some few goods were not putt on board to be sent up to ye Freinds of some Saylors) after which ye Deponent saith he applyed himself to Capt. Jennings and desired leave to return to Jamaica having pretty well recovered his health which Captn. Jennings readily agreed to, and gave him a letter directed to Mr. George Dawes and Company, telling this Depont. that he had referred them to him to learn ye whole proceedings as to what he knew and heard of ye matter.

That acccordingly ye Deponent sett Sayl together with ye said Vessell for Jamaica where he was sett on shore at Cow Bay and from thence proceeded directly for Kingston and delivered ye letter to Mr. George Dawes directed to them from Captn. Henry Jennings, The Deponent saith Mr. Dawes sent for Captn. Willis who came.

Ye Letter being opened he said he was referred to learn of him what had been done, the Deponent saith that after he had related to them what he Knew, Mr. Dawes and Captn. Willis both made answer and said they wished he had not told them so much And gave him a letter directly to carry over to Mr. Daniell Axtell wch. this Depont. delivered into ye hands of Mr. Axtell upon which Mr. Axtell said he was sorry they had done so ill a thing but since it was done, they must take care and gett ye goods on shore, That Joseph Eales Captain Ashworth's Quartermaster came up with him in ye said Dolphin from Providence and had a letter or letters to ye owners of the three Sloops comanded by Captn. Jennings Captn Ashworth and Captn Carnegie in which ye sd Joseph Eales told him this Deponent there was an Invoyce of all ye goods contained in ye Sloop Dolphin, The said Deponent saith that Being at Mr. Axtell's house he heard ye Sloop Dolphin was siezed in Mannatee Bay by Capt. Fernando by ye instigation of Mr. Bendysh, The said deponent saith that he went over to Kingston and acquainted Mr. Dawes who was sick in Bedd and said he did not believe Mr. Bendysh had a hand in it and that he the said George Dawes wished he had never heard of them however he bid this Depont. go and acquaint Captn. Willis and Mr. Warner which he did and went home.

That ye said depont. slept at Mr. Daniel Axtells on Port Royall ye Saturday night following and on ye Sunday morning following [at] about Gun firing he waked, or upon [the] opening [of] a Door, and the said Depont. saith that ye sd. Daniell Axtell came into ye Room where he lay and said to this Deponent 

What ye Devill was in that great chest in ye Hold?  We could not get it out whereto ye said Depont answered he beleived it was speckled linnen. And afterwards Mr. Axtell said that ye goods that were taken out of ye Sloop were gone towards Kingston and were to go on Board a Ship and ye sd. Depont. soon after took a Boat and went towards Kingston and saw a Canoa alongside Captn Flemming.

That he went on board Captn. Flemming and that he saw ye same Bale Goods as he believes as were in ye said Sloop hoysting into Captn. Flemming's Ship. That ye said Depont saw Michael Dodd standing upon ye Quarter Deck near ye Gangway of Flemmings Ship and that Mr. Dodd asked him if all ye things were out.

That ye sd. Depont. saw Captn. Naylor standing by Mr. Dodd, that he went upon ye Quarterdeck and there saw Mr. Warner in his Gown walking with Captn Flemming. That Mr. Warner said to him  tis late ye Sun is up and we are seen,  the said Depont. saith Mr. Dodd and Captn. Naylor went away together.

And ye sd. Deponent being asked whether Mr. Naylor seemed to be [in] any waies concerned in the said goods he answered he did not perceive that he was.

 

"Deposition of Allen Bernard" Jamaica. August 10, 1716. Jamaican Council Minutes ff.63-68.

 

A Story of Henry Jennings, Part One

The Deposition of Allen Bernard Captaine's Quarter Master of ye Sloop Bersheba Captn. Henry Jennings Comander who being duly Sworn Deposeth and Saith as followes,

 

            That having been indisposed he was advised to go to Sea for his health and applyed himself to Captn. Henry Jennings who told him he should be his Quarter Master which would be an easy Post for him. He thereupon accepted of it and engaged himself to go on Board the Sloop Bersheba and Sayled for Blewfields [Jamaica] from whence they sailed in Company with ye Man of Warr and a Man of Warr Sloop and severall other Sailes and being seperated that night they joyned again at Peyns [=Isle of Pines, Cuba] And proceeded and came to an Anchor at Cape Corrantes [=Corrientes] where they entred in Consortship with Captn. Lyddall Captn. Ashworth and Captn. Carnegie to fish upon ye Wracks; from thence they proceeded toward ye Bay of Florida. And that ye Deponent being sick of ye Belly Ache heard some persons Cry out,  A Sayl,  And afterwards heard others say that  they stood Stem to Stem with them  And beleived they designed to be on board of them [="to Board"], after which he heard them say that  there was two Periauga's putt off [from] ye said Sloop and Rowed directly in ye Wind's Eye [=to windward] 

And that he heard they were making their escape with ye money  And that he heard them hayl ye Sloop that Stemmed with them. And that ye Commander of her came on board of ye Bersheba who was one Captn. Young from ye Bay [of Honduras] who informed them that the People that went away from them in ye two Periaugas were a parcell of Villains that had obliged him from ye Bay to bring them over there. After which they made ye best way towards the Bay of honda and came to an Anchor without the Barr. That in ye afternoon he heard them talk of weighing ye Anchor At which he asked, being in ye [great] Cabbin, whither they were going. And was answered into ye Bay of honda. 

At which the Deponent said  he thought we had been in already  And that after coming to an Anchor in ye Bay of honda he heard ye Voice of George Dossitt and Francis Charnock (the first being ye Companies Quartermaster) and heard these words spoken among ye People  What are you come out for?  To look upon one another and return with your fingers in your mouth?  At which Capt. Jennings said the Sloop Bersheba must not go [only] to be taken. And that if they went alongside they probably might be sunk. 

Sometime after he heard a General hurra from the Severall Vessells after that [the words] One and All. That some short time after a Pistoll or Small arm went off upon which somebody asked who fired? And some others answered he ought to be cutt down, others said  it was done by accident  after which the Doctor came down to ye Deponent and told him  that the two Periauga's [men] were coming all in their Skins or Buff with their Cartouch Boxes  and naked Cutlaces [=cutlasses] & Pistols And that he had never seen such a sight before  After­wards he heard somebody hayl from ye [French] Ship and asked  Where they were coming?  and some voice made answer,  Aboard, where do you think? and then a hurra again.

And then he heard [someone] say a Canoa or boat was putt off from the ship and that one of the Periauga's was on board [the French Ship] and one [periauga] rowed after that Canoa or Boat which putt off from ye Ship. At ye same time a great Gun went off from on board ye Bersheba, and somebody asked who fired it? Some made answer,  it was an accident,  at which time the Deponent saith, he heard a voyce hayl from ye Ship  not to fire for all was well  And that he heard [them] say afterwards among ye People of ye Periaugas That they told them [=the French] that in case a Gun was fired they would give no Quarters.

And that Captn. Carnegie being the worst Sayler did not come in that night but came in ye next day And to the best of his Knowledge joyned them again. Afterwards Captn. Carnegie and one of the Periaugas sayled out of ye Bay of Honda in Quest of a French Sloop [=Marianne] as [it] was said and in two or three daies after returned again, at which time we saw two Sayl off ye Barr who was said to be Captn. Hornegole and a French sloop.

At ye same time they weighed in generall with ye Ship and went out, as was said, after Hornigole ye Pirate. After being some little time out the Deponent was upon Deck and was bid to go down least He gett a Relapse and [he] did go down. At ye same time it was concluded and agreed upon to go in again to ye Bay of Honda to an Anchor, which they did, the Ship being then about two or three Leagues in ye offin[g] .

Some little time after she came in and those people on board her hailed and said they had done finely to leave them, for ye Marooners had risen upon them and the Frenchmen and had carried away all ye money, at which there was a murmuring among ye People. At ye same time Captn. Carnegie's Sloop was halled alongside ye Ship and everything was taken out of her and putt on board ye Ship which he afterwards comanded, his sloop being given to ye French Captain.


                                                       -- To be continued--