|
Professional Research & Maritime Historian, Author, & Conservator |
|
Petition of Richard Taylor and crew of Cassandra—26 Apr 1723 p2 |
|
Petition—Richard Taylor and crew of Cassandra—26 Apr 1723 |
|
From the author of Quest for Blackbeard, the genealogies of various pirates will be explored in similar depth in Brooks’ Dictionary of Pyrate Biography, currently in the planning stages. Brooks has over 35 years of experience in genealogical research, has worked as a professional genealogist, and lately studied in the Maritime Studies Program at East Carolina University as a professional historian. His peer-reviewed article, “ ‘Born in Jamaica of Very Creditable Parents’ or ‘A Bristol Man Born’? Excavating the Real Edward Thache, ‘Blackbeard the Pirate’ “ in the July issue of North Carolina Historical Review includes the genealogy of the most famous pirate of them all! It’s expanded upon in Quest. |
|
Webpage designed by Baylus C. Brooks—Copyright 2015-2017 Baylus C. Brooks All Rights Reserved |
|
—————————————————————————————-
Coppy of a paper Sent by Captn: Laws which he received Portabell May the 14th 1723 This Morning returned the Sloop from the pirates, & brought two of their officers, with two other hands, who wait here for their pardon, & to return to the rest With it, who are all inclined to accept on it; some body having told them, it would not be granted at Jamaica, & that there were Ships of war coming from thence to attack them, they likewise complain, that as your brother did not give them any hopes, but to the contrary assured them, there would be no pardon granted, they have accepted of the Spaniards with the follg. Articles Vizt: That there are but some of them Roman Catholicks, they desired those that were not Should not be forced so. That their Jewels, gold, plate; & merchandize should not be molested or taken from them, but remains with them, as subjects of ye King of Spain. That they should have liberty to go to Europe, or any place they desired. That they shall have liberty to Sell their Slaves merchandise & without being any ways molested. That as they are informed, there is a Ship of war upon the coast, & more coming from Jamaica, they desire the Governor to Send up two Sloops with soldiers to defend her coming down to this Post & to defend the said Ship, & in case they meet with a man of war to burn the Ship, & make their escapes in Small craft, but if the said Ship comes safe into Post it is with all the rigging, powder, Balls, & victuals to be delivered up to the Governor, but if any of them will Serve the King of Spain as a Sailor or Soldier, they are to make use of their own arms, every man having a gun, pistol, & Cutlace.
————————————-
Letter to Captn: Laws on board the Mermaid Man of War. Sir Kingston May 21st: 1723 I have had the favour of two Letters from you, concerning the pirates on board the Cassandra at the Isle of Pines from whom also I have received two petitions imploring my pardon. I have duely weighed & considered the nature of Such an affair as being wholly inconsistent with the honour of the English nation, & my own Character & therefore have thought fitt, to take no notice of their applicatiob to me, but to leave them to the management of Captn: Dent and your Self, according to what instructions, you shall both have received from your Commodore & I hope notwithstanding the Situation, & x flattered Securety they may think them selves in, You will be able to give some good account of them at your return hither I am &Ca. Portland
-----------------------
Captn: Laws Letter to the Governor of Panama, dated the 31st May 1723 - Sir I take this oppertunity to acquaint your Excell:ice the fifth in Same, wrote to the Governor of Portabell, relating to the pirates; which now is in your port, & acquainted him of their repeated petitions to his Grace the Duke of Portland Captn: General & Governor of Jamaica,, likewise who the Ship belonged to, and as much of their & his proceedings as I then know of, whih Suppose your Excell:ice are no Stranger; and as the King My Royal Master, & his Catholick Majesty are now in the Strictest alliance amity & friendship, I can't but remonstrate to your Excellencie, how hainous it will appear in all Courts of Europe that an English pirate who has plundered the Subjects of most Princes except his Catholick Majesty, should only have protection and Shelter from the Governors of Panama & Portabell, & that without even the formality of a tryall, but by expressed Articles, that are in themselves contrary to equity & the known Laws of nations, when at the Same time your Excell:cie very well knew for this two months last past, the said pirates have been petitioning to his Grace the Duke of Portland for mercy who in these parts represents the King my Royal Master, whose subjects they were, and as the Ship belongs to the English East India Company Subjets of my Royall Master, in whose name I'm obliged to demand her & all the men that Surrendred; as to their effects & treasure belonging to the Subjects of so many Princes, I can't doubt but your Excell:cie will Secure; so in expectation of your Excellencie's complying with my request, or your reasons to the contrary I am Your Excell:cie's humble Servant Jos: Laws
—————————
Captain Laws Letter to the Governour of Panama Dated the 3d of June 1723 - Sr This comes to acquaint your Excell:cie I have Sent two Letters, and am surprised I have no answer, when they are on the King my Royale Master's Service. I here inclose the coppys and am Your Excell.cie's humble Servant J: Laws
--------------------
Capt. Laws Letter from the Grout dated the 4th June 1723 To his Grace the Duke of Portland My Lord. I have the favour of your Lordship's Letter by Captain Dent, & am very Sorry, not to give your Grace a better account of the Cassandra then she arrived at Portabell the 23rd of last month, at which time, I was off Chagre twelve leagues to the westward of that port, for at this time of year is westerly winds & Easting Currents, so expected the pirate would have kept the Ocean, & fallen down as low as Schuda, they had orders so to do, but the winds would not let them, so am disappointed. My Letters to the Governor of Panama likewise Portabell and the pirates have inclos'd, & shall be very sorry should they be disappointed of; I must confess to your Grace, the Letters to the pirates were too candid, not but I would have performed them to a tittle had they Surrendred & brought them to Jamaica; what would have been determined on their tryall am not a Judge. I must acquaint your Lordship amongst the indians on this coast are ninety odd french pirates, besides Seventy indians that joyn them, my boat with the purser which I sent to the pirate Ship last was taken by them, there was 160 odd together, so that if this 100 & odd on board the Cassandra had joyned them. I don't See what Sloop would lay on this coast no doubt but it is a detriment to the trade; their going into the Spaniards, for the Governor of Portabell have publickly declared, that he will encourage the Villains, & then See what Sloop will lay on the coast. for these reasons before mentioned induced me to give them some encouragement, & indeed when it was not in my power to Suppress them. Your Grace may assure your Self, what I have done design'd for the best, & this Satisfaction without any view of private interest; I have no answers from the Governors to My Letters Yesterday inclos'd coppys & Sent to the factory who has promised to deliver them; if answered before Captn: Dent Sails, they shall likewise be inclosed I am &c: Jos: Laws
———————— [8 Aug 1723?] His Grace the Duke of Portland's Letter to the President of Panama, concerning the pirates of the Cassandra Sr It being the undoubted right of all nations to enter their claim to any Ship or Vessell or any part or parcell of its cargo, that shall appear to have been pyratically taken to the interruption of free trade, & the Destruction of commerce & afterwards to have been received / by a treaty with Such pirates / into any port of Such a nation, with which the Sufferers are at peace and in alliance And whereas I am well informed / who have the honour of bearing My Master the King of Great Brittain's Commission of Captain General and Governor in Chief of this Island of Jamaica and all other the Territories thereunto belonging, so nearly neighbouring upon your government of Panama under you Master the King od Spain / that the Ship called the Cassandra, not long Since taken by pirates, whih was the known property of the King my Masters Subjects, and the greatest part of her Cargo did belong to the British East India Company, has not only been encouraged, but invited to come into Porto Bello within your Government, upon a free and absolute pardon, and an indemnity first granted, and some of the King your Master's Subjects Sent on board to protect her against any attempt that might be made against her, by any of the King my Master's Ships As the terms of such treaties can only referr to your own nation, no way exclusive of the proper claims & demands of other nations. I do therefore in the name of his Britannick Majesty on behalf of the East India Company aforesaid, & of all the trading subjects of Great Britain, enter my claime in the strongest & most pressing manner to the said Ship called the Cassandra & to any part or parcell of the cargo, that shall be found to be the property of any of the Subjects of Great Brittain And I do in the same manner make my demand that imediate restitution be made of the said Ship & effects according to the common expectation of justice, & the Law of nations not doubting, but you will cause the said Ship & what else may belong to her to be delivered to Captn: Dent Commander of his Majesties Ship the Launceston by whom this Letter is Sent This Sir, being a Representation of a publick nature but wherein the Interest of Great Britain is more partiularly concerned, I'm oblig'd to press it with the greater earnestness, and as I cannot but promise my self a Suitable any chance on your part, Since I must think your own honour & justice to bear no Small Share therein, so I do with great Sincerity assure you, that no occasion Shall after of this or any other nature recommended to me from you which shall not meet with an equale regard from Sr &d Portland --------------------------- The President of Panama's answer to his Grace the Duke of Portland Most Excellent Sir My Lord, By Mr. Bartholomew Stewart Factor for the Royall Assiento Company of Great Brittain in this Kingdom, I reced your Excellencie's Letter, of the eighth of August last, and duely regarding the Contents, is all I shall be able to do, for the present Since I have already received and taken under the protection of his Catholick Majesty the Ship Cassandra & her Crew, the only motive that could induce me thereto, is to advance the Securety of commerce which I take to be an indispensable part of the duty of my Station, as also to Signify the Same to his Royal Majesty which I have done without loss of time; I am extremely mortified that it is not in my power to assent to what your Excellencie was pleased to Signify in yours, nor do I know of any method to be taken, but by application of the persons interested, to the Court of Spain, for in my Station I can't take the least cognizance of the matter, if I may, your Excellencie may be Sure of a chearfull and ready compliance God preserve Your Excellencie happy years Excellt. Sir Panama 5th October 1723 - kiss your hands, and am your most Obliged Servant J. Ger:mo [Gerónimo] Badillo [Governor of Cartagena de Indias and Panama] |
|
Baylus’ Blog: |
