Ten Persons Tried at Nassau - 9-10 Dec 1718 p2

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Ten Persons Tried for Piracy at Nassau—9-10 Dec 1718, part 2

Trials – Ten Persons Tried for Piracy at Nassau-9-10 Dec 1718

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Ordered.

That the Evidences for the King be Severally Sworn & Examined

James Ker - The Examination of James Ker Gentleman upon Oath, saith that he being Super Cargoe in trust and outward bound from Providence a trading Voyage in the Sloop Mary and in about two days Sail from the said Island did arrive at Green Key with two other vessels in bound also on the Same trading Acco: Where on the 6th Octr. last one Phincus [Phineas?] Bunce one of the Said Vessels Company, and the head Mutineer of the Pirates now at the Bar but Since deceased did then and there come on board and take the Said Sloop Mary and Cargoe and very Vilely beat this Deponent and in the Evening turned the Deponent ashore upon the Said Green key a desolate Island, and this Deponent further Saith that Dennis McKarthy one of the Prisoners now at the the Bar was the only Person of all the said Pirates and Mutineers that Shew'd this Deponant any civil treatment and that the said McKarthy did not reflect on the King and Government as others of them now at the Bar did in this Deponants hearing.

Wm. Greenway - The Examination of Capt. Wm. Greenway upon Oath, Saith that on the 6th October Last John Hipps one of the Prisoners now at the Bar wth. some others of them came on board the vessel under this deponents comand & then riding at Green Key with Pretensions of acting tobacco?, and told this deponant that Mr. Ker had a Mind to Sail that night, and this deponant having ordered his boat to go on board the Schooner then belonging to the Same Compa. to give them notice of the Said Kers design, in which intrim came on board, John Augur, George Rounsival, both Prisoners now at the Bar James Mathews and John Jenson who wanted this deponant to go on board the Scooner which he did, where Phineas Bunce since deceased met this deponant at the Side, upon wch. the deponant demanded of the said Bunce the reason he did not prepare for Sailing as the rest did whereupon Bunce the head Mutineer askt this deponant to walk down into the Cabbin and when the sd. Bunce askt him to Sit down by him whereupon the said Bunce told this deponant He was his Prisoner upon which Dennis McKarthy now at the Bar presented a Pistol to this deponants Breast & told him if he Spoke a word He was this deponant a dead Man and the said Phineas Bunce told this Deponant He had best be easie for that the best part of the People belonging to the Sloop Mary was of his Side as was some of the People he had wth. him And then the Said Phineas Bunce with other the Mutineers went on board the Sloop Mary and took her, But the deponant cannot Particularize the Names of the Men that were with Bunce

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being night time, afterwards the said Bunce, and the Prisoners now at the Bar except John Hipps put Mr. James Ker, Richard Turnley, Thomas Rich, John taylor, & John Cox all ashore at Green Key a desolate Island, and had the Boat ready prepared to carry this Deponant ashore also, But Bunce thereupon declared that this deponant being a Bermudian would Swim aboard again & therefore Confined this Deponant a Prisoner and Plundred his Vessel leaving him not wherewithall to Proceed anywhere but a Small Quantity of Flower and Beef obliging this deponant not to sail from Green Key in 24 hours after their departure. But this deponant did Sail the next Morning for Providence and in his way fell in Sight of the Said Mutineers and Pirates whereof the Prisoners att the Bar were some of them who gave Chase; Whereupon this Deponant went back to Green Key and took to the Shore, where he saw the Pirates and said Mutineers cut away the mast of this deponants Vessel, & then was coming ashore as this Deponent apprehended to take his Person, whereupon this deponent made his Escape to hide himself from them upon the said Key, then the People that was left aboard this Deponents vessel coming ashore told this Deponent yt. the Pirates had Scutled her and turned the Gaut? adrift and from Green Key the said Pirates proceeded to Stocking Island where meeting the Spaniards, the Pirates were themselves taken and put ashore.

John Taylor - The Examination of John Taylor upon Oath, Saith that all the Prisoners at the Bar except John Hipps, did joyn wth. Bunce the Mutineer and that Bunce and two more, which this deponent know not, being Night, took the Vessel he belong'd to and further Saith that John Hipps was at first confined wth. said Greenway by Bunce.

Rd. Turnley - The Examination of Richard Turnley upon Oath Saith that on the 6th October Last Bunce the head Mutineer and two others naming Wm. Dowling & Thos. Morris Prisoners at the Bar did come on board the Sloop Mary at Green Key & askt Mr. Ker & this deponent for a Bottle of Beer wch. was gave Him and afterwd. another and Comanded a third, & then wth the Men belonging to the Said Sloop Mary took up armes, and took Mr. Ker Thos. Rich John Cox and this deponent Prisoners and forced them to go a shore upon Green Key a desolate Island 25 Leagues [75 miles; actually 183 miles or 61 leagues] distant from Providence.

John Cox - The Examination of John Cox upon Oath Saith, That he being on board the Sloop Mary of which John Augur went out of Providence Master, the said John Augur came on board the said

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Sloop in the Evening of the 6th day of October last, and lay down ??? design'd to Sleep, soon after Capt. Greenway of the Sloop Lancaster ??? on board and askt the said Augur if he intended to Saile, He answer'd he could not tell, thereupon Capt. Greenway went on board the Scooner called the Batchelor's Adventure Henry White Master and in about half an hour afterwards came aboard another boat with John Hipps Greenways Boatswain to enquire for Capt. Greenway and in as little time after Phineas Bunce came on board the Sloop Mary from the Scooner with two or three Men more Bunce askt for Capt. Augur and whether they had anything to drink, and Coming to Mr. Ker askt him for a Bottle of Beer wch. Mr. Ker gave him. Then the said Bunce went into the Cabin and brought up a Cutlass and Stood at the Cabbin door to drink, and Swore that he was Capt. of that Vessel & would be So, wch. made Capt. Augur aske him his meaning but presently the said Bunce and Augur came to be good friends, & Bunce askt for another Bottle of Beer, then struck Mr. Ker wth a Cutlass on his back and turned him and others ashore. And this deponant well knows all the Several Prisoners at the Bar except Hipps the Boatswain and that all the rest were Aiders, Asssisters, and Abettors to the Muting, Felony and Piracy comitted upon the Vessels, and Cargoes at Green Key.

Thos. Rich - The Examination of Thos. Rich upon Oath saith that he knows the Several Prisoners at the Bar, and that they all except [Hipps? -torn] were the actors of the Muting & piracy comitted upon the Vessels & Cargoes at Green Key, & that this Depont. was taken by them in the Mary Sloop & put ashore with Mr. Ker and the other Evidences for the King.

Thos. Petty - The Examination of Thos. Petty upon Oath, Saith that He saw Hipps beat by Bunce, & believes was forc'd to goe with him, and that Bunce would have forc'd this Depont. also, but Dennis McKarthy Prisoner at the Bar Said if Bunce forc'd the Depont. He the Said Prisoner would leave Bunce & his Company.

And then the Court Adjourn'd till three a Clock in the afternoon

The Court having met according to Adjournment & all the Evidences for the King, being call'd & Examin'd; Then the Prisoners at the Bar were Severally called to know what defence Each had to make Vizt:

John Augur - John Augur being first call'd to make defence for himselfe saith no other than that he was in Liquor & knew not of Phineas Bunce's designe, when ??nce first entered on board the Sloop Mary whereof the Prisoner was Master, but could ??? no Evidence to prove himselfe not guilty.

Wm. Cunningham - William Cunningham being next examin'd, says that he was asleep when Bunce went on board the Scooner to which the Prisoner belong'd at Green Key, and that Bunce brought the Said Prisoner punch, and told him that he the Prisonermust either joyne him the Said Bunce or be put upon a Maroon key alias a desolate key.

John Hipps - John Hipps Prisoner said in defence that he did not in any wise enter with Bunce & his Company but went on board the aforesaid Scooner to enquire for Willm. Greenway his Captain, where he was imediately confin'd by Bunce together with Greenway, and afterwards put ashore with Mr. Ker & others where Bunce beat the Said Prisoner and compel'd him at Length to joyn Bunce but never the less declared his Intentions to leave the Said Bunce & Company on the first opportunity, and desired Mr. Ker, Capt. Greeway, Rich. Turnley, Thos. Terril, Benjamin Hutchins, John Taylor, John Janson, Thos. Petty, & David Meredith might be examin'd for him.

Mr. James Ker being sworn as Evidence for the Prisoners declared that Bunce used much threatning Language against John Hipps Prisoner, that if He did not joyne him the said Bunce & Pyraticall Company and go with them into a boat provided on purpose to carry the Pirates to their Rendevous Hipps should re?in'd the Refusal, and further says that he saw or knew of no blows given to compell the Prisoner to assist or joyne the Said Pyrates, but that the Prisoner afterwards accepted the Office & Command of Boatswain to the Said Pyraticall Company.

Captain Greenway being Sworn for the Prisoner, says that the Prisoner went with him on board the Scooner and was in the Cabbin with him & made prisoner with him on board the said Scooner, where the Prisoner made proposall to this Depont. to Surprize Dennis McKarthy prisoner at the Bar, then Centinel upon Deck, throw the Said McKarthy overboard; But the Depont. seeing no probability of escaping the rest advised the Prisoner to keep his mind to himselfe till he could have a better opportunity, And farther saith that the Prisoner was put ashore with Mr. Ker &ca.

Richard Turnley being sworn for the Prisoner deposed that to the best of his knowledge & Remembrance the Prisoner was forc'd to accept of any duty the Said Bunce, & Company put upon him, But he never saw bunce or any of the Rest of the Pirates use blows to force him to joyne them.

(continued on page 3)

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