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Deposition – Capt. Richard Taylor (non-pirate) - Dec 1721 p.2 |
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Deposition – Capt. Richard Taylor - Dec 1721 |
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"Don Mascharinas ffebry 13th 1721. Capt Taylor you find by your Orders given you by the Concerned that you are to follow my directions in all things, therefore as you have now your Vessel fitted & prepared with all things in Order for the Sea, It is my Order that you make the best of your way to Dingley de Crouch [Daingean Uí Chúis; Dingle Harbour] in Ireland avoiding if possible to speak with or goe on Board any Ships & when you are arrived there you are to send your Letter's by an Express to Alderman [James] Lenox in Cork[1][2] to be forwarded to London & Bristoll, & there to stay till you have farther Order's from the concerned & then you are to proceed according to their directions, Given from under my hand this 13th of ffebry 1721. Henry Baker" With the above Order's Capt Baker delivered to Capt Taylor two Packetts of Letter's one directed to Mr. John Smallwood in London & the other to Mr. John Baker in Bristoll, These are the Letter's that were directed in the above mentioned Orders to be forwarded by Alderman Lenox The Capt having thus rece[ive]d his Dispatches sett Sail the next day. being the 14th ffebry for Dingley de Crouch [Daingean Uí Chúis] & mett with nothing materiall till the 22. March - When in his way he fell in with a Ship which proved to be the Rebecca Snow Capt Timothy Tysack [Tyzack] Master who said he belonged to Capt [Joseph?] Stratton [of Prince Eugene?] & came from Young Owle in the Isle of Madagascar & had 79 Slaves on board & was bound for Virginia, the two Snows kept Company together 'till 27. Aprill, & having spared each other some small necessaries they parted. 9 July 1721 - The Coker Anchored in the harbour of Dingley de Crouch [Daingean Uí Chúis] & the next day dispatched away an Express to Cork with the two Packetts of L[ett]res lies[?] received from Capt Baker, together with one of his own directed to Mr. Smalwood giving him an Acco[un]t. of the whole Voiage & some particulars of the Goods he had on board. 3d. Augt. --- Capt Taylor rec[eiv]ed. a Letter in Answer to that he sent to Mr. Smallwood of the same Agents hand writing dated 25th day of July at London but without any name Subscribed thereto. This Letter was sent under Covert of a Letter to Mr[']s. [Henry?] Boyle [3] & Lenox & they sent the same to Capt Taylor in one Subscribed by themselves & directed to him. Smallwood's Letter is to the Effect following. "London July 25th. 1721. Capt Richard Taylor Sr. I have your favour of the 10th Currant. I note the several Species of Goods you have on board which Must not be brought to this Markett, the Concerned thinks it proper for their & your safety to proceed with all Expedition to Mr. Peter Bruze [French; d. 19 Apr 1751] Merchant at Altona [large Jewish community] on the Elbe near Hambourgh [Germany] [4]. And upon your arrivall there apply yourself to him, but before you proceed from Dingley it may be necessary you discharge such of your people there, that may be suspected of discovering your proceedings abroad, if all or the best part of your people are desirous to be discharged, we have given Orders to our ffriends Messrs, Boyle & Lenox to pay them their wages, which must be left to your prudent management, It's my Strict Orders you do not mention me on any Acco[un]t. drawing Bills or otherwise. That you take care to secure yourself & those of your ffriends that are with you, the reason of this Caution is that the Carpenter [Phillip Nicholas]that was formerly in the Ormdud[?] & went out Carpenter with Capt Challoner Williams in that Ship is come home & had been with the East India Company & informed agt. all the Ship's that went that way, from which you may be assured they will endeavour to Intercept you, Therefore it's my advise you Act with all the Caution possible. Ffearing you should meet with any trouble in Ireland by the Information of your People to any Custome house Officer there we have desired our ffriend to assist you in getting you clear, by giving such Officers money. What Letters & papers you have received from me at any time that my name is wrote at Length or otherwise lett them be destroyed. We have wrote Messrs. Boyle & Lenox to supply you with what money you shall want. If your people are not Inclineable to be discharged, It's my Opinion you cannot force them to leave you, but such of them as are desirous to go these discharge taking it under their hands, it was at their request, more especially those you are sensible will be rogues & discover your proceedings. When you come to your Port then you may discharge all, of which shall further advise, also what shall be done with the Vessell. After you have pu[ru]sed[?] this & what other Letters you may receive from me & taken out the heads of what I write you destroy them. Take no notice to your people who are concerned, but that the property of your Ship is in fforeigners, the moment you arrive in Altona apply yourself to your Merchant I desire you'll lett me know if the Pyrates gave your men any money or goods & how much & near to what vallue each man had. It's my advise you Treat your people Civilly maybe means to Tye their Tongues.” The Letter of Boyle & Lenox Inclosing that of Smalwood is as follows. "Corke 1st. Augt. 1721. Sr. this Moment we rec[eiv]ed the Inclosed from John S------d of London with directions to supply you with what money you may have occasion for, in Order to discharge any men that you think improper to keep aboard, but as we cannot send you a Credit, nor do we know whither or no you will want money, we desire that in Case you discharge any of them you give them Bills on us which shall be paid at sight. We presume you are to proceed for Hambourgh therefore begg you may with all Expedition get under Sail for our ffriends express a great uneasiness for any delay. they write you the needful no doubt." 4. Augt. - Capt Taylor wrote Mr. Smalwood an Answer & sent it inclosed to Lenox & Boyle to be transmitted to him & therein (among other things) gave him a further Acco[un]t. of the particulars of his Cargoe - Also an Acco[un]t. what his Sailors had of the Pyrates, what men he had discharged & what wages he had agreed to pay others in their Stead, and also the Condition his Ship was in. 6th. . . And having so done sailed for Hambourgh - and 28th . . Came to Anchor at Altona about a Mile this side Hambourgh where the Capt went a shoar to the abovenamed Mr. Bruze & so from thence he went to Hambourgh & entred his Ship & Cargoe & got a Broker. 29th . . Capt Taylor received a Letter from Mr. Smallwood dated London ye 18th. Augt. 1721. Wherein he desired a Sample of the Cowris Saffron & Corall & most English Vessell & Taylor to send him an Acco[un]t. of his disbursmts. his Seamans wages & a small peice of Ebony if he cou'd [in margin] The Mate of ye Coker now in London. Then he goes on & says I think it is an Extravagant price you give your Men for the run - Necessity had no Law - Inclosed is a Letter from your Spouse, I think it Childish in Deer to write from Dover to his Landlord, he can have no business of consequence with him but may be of Ill consequence to he concerned Then he says I am to Answer yours from Dover of the 16th. which gives the concerned uneasiness that you shou'd come up the Channell I wish you safe to Port where I am persuaded you'll meet with no Interruption, get your goods out with all Expedition & discharge your People, If you have no occasion for Gilbert send him home telling him it's my request he see no person 'till he has been with me - Let me know by the first post if Capt Baker had any Servt. with him or if any one of the people staid to come home with him from Don Mascareen [La Bourbon; La Reunion], we have no news of him as yet, I pray God send us good news of him & so concluded yours. 31. Augt. - Taylor began to unload & in two or three Days got his Cargoe a shore & safely housed & 3d. Septr. - Transported the Ship to Mr. Bruzes Wharf where he Moored her & then discharged his Seamen - Capt Taylor sent severall Letters to Mr. Smallwood of the following dates vizt. 2d. 4th. 6th. 16. 23. & 29. Septembr. 3d. 10. 13. & 28. October 3d. 4. $ 5. Novr. 8th. & 19. December. In Answer to which Smallwood sent several Letters vizt. one dated 5th. Septr. 1721. Which came under Covert to Mr. Bruze Subscribed J S.[John Smallwood] & was all of the Same hand writing with the former. In this Letter he says . That he expected Pres[en]t post the Acco[un]t. of disbursemts. & Seaman's wages & the Contents of what was on board & the Condition of the Ship, no news of Capt Baker, the Ships you mentioned that were to touch at Don Mascareen are both arrived at Port Lewis [Port Louis on Mauritius?] in fframe & no Acco[un]t. of him & said he was impatient to know if any English Servt. was with him & concluded he was for the concerned - his reall ffriend JS [John Smallwood]. 12. Septr. - One other dated the 12th. Septr. 1721. Subscribed JS [John Smallwood]. & all of the same hand writing as the former, & therein amongst other things devised the Capt to send him a Sample of each Specie of the Cargoe by Wm. Gilbert And says the Captns. omission in not writing about Capt Baker gave him much concern & was the more so since he had no White men with him prays the Capt to send what his thoughts abt. it since he did not come in those 2 Ships mentioned in the Captns. Letter for they were both arrived in ffrance. Says ye Capt had given the concerned satisfaction in ye Acco[un]t. given of the Cargo 22 Septr. 1721 - One other dated the 22th. Septr. 1721. but not Subscribed at all, of the same hand Writing; & says Pray Inquire if we can have the Cowries sent from Hambourgh to Holland without runing the risque of their being seized by the Dutch East Indies Compa. if so what may ne the charge - Give my respects to Capt. Markham. Wm. Gilbert is not arrived neither have any News of Capt Baker which gives me vast concern. 29. Septr. - Two others dated the 29. Septr. 1721. Subscribed JS [John Smallwood] of the same hand Writing of the last. In one of which he says. No News as yet of Capt B--- or Capt. H----t. In the other Letter he says. “This day had a L[ett]re from T:H[Thomas Hebert]. .. he leaves the Ship in Virginia & is coming home. & Concludes thus I cannot think the English Companys writing to their ffriends in England can hurt you but of that you shall know more Pres[e n]t” 10th & 17th. Octo: - Capt Taylor rec[eiv]ed. 2 L[ett]res of the sd, Dates from Smalwood handwriting & corresponds with the proceeding matter & by admitting the last wte. was of the hand Writing aforesd. to be his, he does consequently affirm all the others of the same hand to be his also. The Contents of the first Letter dated 10th. Octo: 1721 are as foll: "London Octo: 10th. 1721. Capt Richard Taylor. Sr. my last was the 29th. ulto [ultimate-instant] to which referr you, shall now confirme the Orders given to dispose of the Vessell for the most she'll yeild. "I am now to request you'll send me 2 or 3 peices of the largest & finest of the Ebony so much I mean as will make me a Cabinet send but one peice in a Vessell, And let it be sent as for your self. "No News yet of the arrivall of Capt T: H...bt, there is a report that Capt H. B... is arrived in ffrance PS: This Moment the News is Confirmed to me of the arrival of H: B. in ffrance no Letter from him/ The Contents of the 2d. L[ett]re dated London 17th. Octo: 1721 "Sr. my last to you was the 10th. Currt. to wch. referr, have no farther Acco[un]t. of Baker since my last wch. observe you could not be satisfied whether the Cowries might be safely landed in Holland[.] I am now fully satisfied in that affair, so you need not give your self any further trouble. 24th. Octo: 1721 - One other Letter dated sd. 24th. Octo: 1721. of Mr. Smalwoods own hand writing but not Subscribed, wch. in part is as follows "London. Octo: 24th. 1721. Captn R[ichard]. T[aylor]. Sr. I have your favours of ye 10th. Currt. &c. "I wish you had disposed of the Vessell that you leave that place & come away for Rotterdam, where upon your arrivall[,] I begg you will write me & stay for farther Orders, No further News of Capt Baker for have had no Letter from him, God send it may be good when it comes, Mr. Deer does not yet appear when he comesI do not desire to see him leaving had some Acco[un]t. of his behaviour which is not at all agreable. "I sho[ul]d. be pleased to hear the Ship was sold, our ffriends will write Mr. Bruze the next post, the needfull in relation to the Security he is to give which I hope will be to his satisfaction, as you are not limited in the price of the Vessell, get what you can & sell her. for the Concerned will not repair her "Capt T: H...t is coming passenger by way of Bristoll & laid up the Ship in the ffreshes, he is under no manner of Trouble more them that[that] he is apprehensive if he appear publickly, the India Compa. may give him trouble, so that neither he nor you when come home shall appear in publick "There will be ways & means found out to send you abroad again on the Coast of Affrica without your appearing publick, the Ships that arrived in ffrance toucht at Mascareen as our ffriends advise us. I salute you with respect & am your assured ffriend &c” Decembr. 1721. One other of that Date Subscribed by Mr. Smalwood himself of the foll[owing]. Contents. "London Decbr. 12th. 1721. Sr. I have your favour of the 8th. Curr[en]t. by wch. I observe your arrivall in Rotterdam, your Letter favours same to hand, I am now to request you'll at the receipt of this make the best of your way for London in the first Sloop, you are to observe that you be silent in relation to your Voiage & the Moment you come to London come to me, sho[ul]d. not the Vessell got up above Gravesend when you come over, then come up in a Wherry from thence. No News of Capt Baker & it's feared Capt Hebert is lost he has been out of Virginia near three months & no news of him, all his Effects are with him, your Spouse is at Epou with the Deane & his Lady. I presume she'll be in Town before you get over. "I am Informed there is at Amsterdam at least 20. of Congdons Men, but are now come to Rotterdam & in particular Wm. Knight who it's said is aboard a large Bristoll Galley called the Gardner, if she's not Sailed pray Inquire after him. Lampoon abt. Tom Jones is at Rotterdam & appears in an Old Jackett & Old Trowsers. I bega you'll look out for him, & if you can find or meet with any you know press them hard to know how they came there & what is become of Capt Baker it's Ten to one but you see some of them there is also George Goodman at the same place. "I am Impatient 'till I see you & wish you a good passage over My ffamily Joines with me in sincere respects or Concludes me your assured ffriend & humble Servt. J. Smallwood Whereupon Capt Taylor took passage for London, in the London Sloop & arrived in the Pool the 29th. of the same month Upon Capt. Taylors arrival in London he was Complimented by his Owners with the Comand of the Henrietta wch. was then at Virginia, And having received his Instruments from Mr. Smalwood signed by the send Mr. Smallwood went for Virginia accordingly - But there finding the said Ship Henrietta to have been Condemned returned again Instantly to London.
[noted in pencil] Dec 1721, E. I. Co.
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[1] From: Ordnance Survey of the County of Londonderry (Dublin: Hodges and Smith, 1837), 82, 87, & 107: 82 ------- 1703, September 2 — James Lenox, Esq., Derry. Charles Norman, Esq , Derry. James Lenox had been elected [parliamentary rep.] in 1696 for the county, but unseated on the petition of William Jackson, Esq. 87 ------- 1692. William Squire. . . . jjohn Harvey. Within three days after Mr. Squire was sworn in, he died, when Mr. James Lenox was elected and sworn mayor. 1693. James Lenox Ditto.
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107 ------- Alderman Lenox, whose name is connected with the [Jacobite Siege of Derry in Nov. 1688], is interred on the south of the Cathe- dral: on his tombstone is the following epitaph : —
" Underneath is the body of Alderman James Lenox, merchant, of this city, who served as Mayor and Member of Parliament for some time for the same [1703-1713], well known and esteemed for his generosity and usefulness in it — who departed this life August the fourth, 1723, aged 71 years."
[2] Alderman James Lenox referenced in ADM 106/536/21, 1700 Mar 25; ADM 106/533/130, 1700 Mar 7; ADM 106/553/384, 1702 May 1; ADM 106/541/307, 1701 July 17; & ADM 106/553/233, 1702 Jan 29 [3] Cullen, Anglo-Irish Trade, 1660-1800 (), 194: "... and the Boyle, who as a partner with Lenox, was another of La Touche's Cork correspondents, is almost certainly of the firm of Boyle, Calwell and Barrett, merchants in the provision trade and embryonic bankers." Note: Henry Boyle (MP in 1715) became Speaker of the Irish House of Commons in 1733 and the dominant interest in Co. Cork for the rest of his life. He was a grandson of the 1st Earl of Orrery, and in 1726 he married Lord Burlington's sister, Henrietta (name given by Smallwood to the former Gascoigne Galley - Boyle may have courted Henrietta in 1720-1721 and Smallwood chose to favor his Cork business partner, Boyle). [4] Hamburg: Second largest city of Germany, situated in the north at the river Elbe, because of the seaport well known as a city of merchants. In the early 18th century, Hamburg, a republican city state in Northern Germany, needed a constant coming and going of laden merchant ships under any (but preferably under its own) flag for its weal. Only ships of a European nation that was at peace with Hamburg's cometitot of Algiers could do intense merchant shipping, contemporarily known as cabotage, in the Mediterranean. This led to an unusual concentration of English and French ships in this region from the second half of the 17th century onwards. In 1727 Hamburg had no longer seen any perspective to maintain its shipping towards Southern Europe. Hampered by either the Barbary corsairs, or a general European war, the city could not maintain its neutrality as part of the Empire. |