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Henry Bostock deposition, 19 Dec 1717 |
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Depositions – Henry Bostock, 19 Dec 1717 |
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St. Christophers Before the Honble William Mathew Lieutenant General of His Majesty's Lands and Lieutenant Governor of this Island Etc.
The Deposition of Henry Bostock Marriner This Deponent being duly Sworne on the Holy Gospel Says that in the Sloop Margaret of this Island whereof he was Master he on the 5th day of this Instant December at Break of Day turning up from Porto Rico met about ten Leagues to the Westward of Crab Island [Bequia] a large ship and a Sloop. The Ship fired a Small Arm at him and then Hal'd him ordering him to come on board which he with of his Men did in his Cause Being conducted to the Quarter Deck to the person that was called the Captain by the name (as he thinks) of Capt Tach, he asked this Deponent what he had on board to which this answered he had Cattle and Hogs then he said Capt Tach ordered his own boat to be hoisted out to go on board and fetch them which they did (they were four Beeves and about five and thirty Hogs) they took from him besides two thirds of a Bll of Gunpowder five small arms two Cut-laces, His Books and lnstruments and Some Linnen. This deponent declares the Ship to be as he thinks Dutch Built, was a French Guinea man (he heard on board) that she had then thirty Six Guns mounted, that she was very full of Men he believes three Hundred that they told him they had taken her about Six or Seven Weeks before, that they did not seem to want provisions. That they kept him on board about Eight Hours did not abuse him or any or his Men except the forcing of two of [his men] To Stay With them whose Names were Edward Salter a Cooper formerly Sailed with Capt George Moulton and Martin Towler. But one of his men by name Robert Bibby... a Leverpool man voluntarily took on with them. that he Saw a great deal of plate on board of them Tanka[rds?] Cups &tc. particularly one his men took Notice of a very fine Cup which they told him they had taken out of one Capt Taylor whom
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they had taken going from Barbados to Jamaica which Captain Taylor they much abused, and as he this Deponent hears burnt his Ship that they told this Deponent they bad burnt Several Vessels, among them two or three belonging to these Islands, particularly the day before they had burnt a Sloop belonging to Antego one Mr Gill owner they owned they had met with the Man of Warr on this Station [HMS Scarborough], but said they had no business with her, but if she had chased them they would have kept their Way. This Deponent further Says that he told them an Act of Grace was expected out for them but they Seemed to Slight it. This Deponent Says the Captain was a tall Spare Man With a very black beard which he wore very long. That among the Men one Is a Nephew [Rowland Sharp; b.1692] to Doctor Rowland of this Island that sailed in Captain Joseph Wood from this Island to London about three years ago, made himself known to this Deponent enquiring after his said Uncle &tc. They asked this Deponent whether there were any more Traders on the porto Rico Coast which he this Deponent would not give them an Account of but his men owned to them that there were two Traders on the Coast one a French Sloop and the other a ["Dunc": Dutch?] from St. Thomas's that while he was on board they ordered their Consort Sloop (on board of which he heard there were about Seventy Men, to make Sail and Chace along [the] Shoar to look for these Traders. This Dept Says that by all he could guess from their Discourse they intended for Samana Bay in Hispaniola to Careen and thence to lye in Wait for the Spanish Armada that they expected should immediately after Christmas come out of the Havana for Hispaniola and & Porto Rico With ye money to pay the Garrisons this they declared to him the Captain Saying (they think We are gone but we will Soon be on the Backs of them unawares) they having been hereto- fore on these Coasts.
This Deponent farther Says that they enquired of him where was Captain Pinkethman that he told them he heard he
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was at St Thomas's with a Commission from the King to go on the Wrecks.
This Deponent further saith that among other Riches he believed they had much Gold Dust on board for that an Indian and a Negro belonging to Bermuda (as this Defendent was informed at Tortola &by the above Said Robert McGill) having got from tha? at Sta Cruix, got with the said McGills men on board a Danish Sloop and in her to Tortola. That one George Hanns an Englishman formerly belonging to this Island was then Master of the Said Danish Sloop, who when he had the Said Negro and Indian on board, Searched them and found on them as this Deponent heard about fifteen ounces of Gold Dust, which this deponent was told at Tortola by one Henry Norton the said Hanns Mc G———-? a Doctor on board shar'd between them. And further this Deponent Saith not.
Henry Bostock Sworne before me this 19th Decr 1717 William Mathew A True Copy WI Hamilton
source: PRO CO 152/12
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