Ten Persons Tried at Nassau - 9-10 Dec 1718 p4

Professional Research & Maritime Historian, Author, & Conservator

Ten Persons Tried for Piracy at Nassau—9-10 Dec 1718, part 4

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

-------------------------------- page 81

Given under our hands this 10th December Annoq, Domni. 1718 - Signed &ca.

Woodes Rogers

Willm. Fairfax

Robt. Beauchamp

Thos. Walker

Wingate Gale

Nath. Taylor

Josias Burgis

Peter Courant

After Sentence of Death pass'd upon the Prisoners.

The Governour as President of the Court appointed their Execution be at Ten a Clock on Fryday next in the morning being 12th. Instant.

Whereupon the Prisoners pray'd for longer time to relent & prepare for Death, the Governour told them that from the time of their being Apprehended, which was the 15th of November, they ought to have accounted themselves as condemned by Lawfull Nations, which was only sealed now; And that the securing them ??? and the favour the Court had allowed them in making as long a Defence as they can wholy took up that time which Affairs of the Settlement required in working the Fortifications, besides the Fatigue thereby occasion'd to the whole Garrison ??? the necessary Guards set over them thro. want of a Goal, and the Garrison have been very much lessen'd by death and sickness, since his Arrival, and that he was obliged to employ all his People to assist in mounting the great Guns, & in finishing the present works, with all possible dispatch, because of the expected War with Spain, & there being many more Pyrates amomngst these Islands, and this place left destitute of all Relief, from any Man of War, or Staion'd Ship much wanted which with other Reasons, he knew too long to enumerate in the Court, Have thought himselfe indispensably obliged for the wellfare of the Settlement to give them no longer time.

Then the Prisoners were ordered back to the Place of their Imprisonment in the Fort, where leave was given them to send for any Persons to read & to pray with them.

On Fryday morning each of the Prisoners were call'd in Private to know if they ??? any Load upon their Spirits, for Actions Committed as yet unknown to the Wort?? the Declaring of which is absolutely required to prepare themselves for fitt Repeat and ?? But they each refus'd to declare any thing as well as making known to the Governour if they knew of any farther Conspiracy against the Governmt. but this they also denied

------------------------------------------------

Wherefore about ten a Clock the Prisoners were released of their Irons & Comitted to the Charge and care of Thos. Robinson Esqr. Commissioned Provost Marshall for that day, who according to custome in such in such Cases pinion'd them &ca. and ordered the Guard appointed to assist him, to lead them to the top of the Ramparts fronting the Sea, which was well Guarded by the Governour, Soldiers & People, to the Numbr. of about one hundred, At the Prisoners request severall prayers & psalms Selected were read in which all present joyn'd, When the Service was ended, Orders was given to the Marshall, & he conducted the prisoners down a ladder, provided on purpose to the foot of the wall, where was a Gallows erected, & a black Flagg hoisted thereon & under it a Stage, supported by three Butts, on which they assended by another Ladder, where the hangman fastened the Cords as dextreously as if he had been a Servitour at Tybourne, they had 3/4 of an houre Allow'd under the Gallows which was spent by them in Singing of Psalms, & some exhortations to their old Consorts, & the other sort of Spectators who got as near to the foot of the Gallows, as the Marshalls Guard would Suffer them, Then the Governour ordered the Marshall to make ready, & all the prisoners expecting the launch, The Governour thought fitt to Order Geo. Rounsivel to be untied, & when brought of the stage fell & the Eight Swang off.

Some Short Account of the Prisoners executed

1st - John Augur being about 40 years of Age & having been a noted Master of Vessels at Jamaica, & since amongst the Pyrates, but on his acceptance of his Majestys Act of Grace, & recommended to the Governour, He was intrusted with a good Vessel & Cargoe, in which betraying his trust and knowing himselfe Quilty of the Indictment, He all along appeared very Penitent, and neither washt, Shav'd or Shifted his Old Cloaths, when carried to be Executed, and when he had a small Glass of Wine given him on the Rampart, drank it with Wishes for the Good Success of the Bahama Islands, & the Governour.

2nd - Willm. Cunningham aged 45 who had been Gunner with Thatch the Pyrate & being also Conscious of his own Guilt was seemingly penitent & behav'd himselfe as such.

3rd - Dennis McKarthy Aged 28 who had also been formerly a Pyrate but accepted of the Kings Act of Grace, & the Governour had made him an Ensign of the Militia, being recommended as a Sober Civiliz'd Person which Commission he then had when he joynd the Pyrates, which very much aggravated his other Crimes during his Imprisonment he behav'd himself well enough, but when he thought he was to dye, & the morning come without his Expected Reprieve, he put on a

--------------------------------------- page 82

clean shift of Cloaths, adorn'd at Neck, Wrists, knees, & Capp with long blew Ribbons when on the Rampart Cookt Cheerfully arround him, Saying he knew the time when there was many brave fellows on he Island that would not Suffer him to dye like ?? dog, at the same time pull'd of his Shoes kicking them over the Parapet of the saying he had promised not to dye with his Shoes on, & he decended the Fort Wall, & assended the Stage with as much agility, and in a dress as if he was ??? to fight a prize, when Mounted He exhorted the People who were at the foot the Walls to have Compassion on him but their wills was two much power over their heads to practice any thing.

4th - William Dowling of about 24 Years had been a Considerable time amongst the Pyrates and of a wicked life, which his Majestys Act of Grace would not reform his behaviour was very loose on the stage, & after his Death, some of his aquaintance declared he had confessed to them of his having Murder'd his H??? before he left Ireland.

5th - William Lewis aged about 34 Years, as he had been an hardy Pyrate & a Prize fighter, Scorn'd to shew any Fear to dye, but heartily desired Liquors enough drink with his fellow sufferers on the Stage, & with the Standers by.

6th - Thomas Morris aged about 22 had been a very incorragable Youth & Pyrate and Seem'd to have little Reluctancy by his frequent smiles when at the Bar being dress'd with red Ribbans in the same manner as Mc Karthy was blew, when he was going over the Rampart, he openly said that we have a g[ood] Governour but a harsh one, and a little before he was turn'd off, Said aloud that he might have been a greater plague to these Islands, & now wisht had been so,

7th - Geo. Bendall aged about 18. tho he said he had never before been a Pyrate, Yet had a Villainous Inclinations that the most profligate Youth could be infected wi?? Behaviour was sullen.

[8th] William Ling aged about 30 not taken Notice of before this last attempt behaviour himselfe as becoming a true penitent, & was not heard to say other [torn] by reply to Lewis, when he demanded Wine to drink, he answered water was more Suitable to them at that time.

It was observable that few men besides the Governours Adherents were Spectators of the Tragedy, but what had lately deserv'd the same Fate; that their were several who behav'd very well, & were firm to the Governour ever since his Arrival and as they have been pardon'd by the Gracious Act of his Majesty. It is to be hoped this last Spectacle will confirm their Resolutions to Hang [torn] as they and many others have found Him the most mercifull of Princes.

Examin'd Cha: Bywater Registr.

National Archives (London), The Tryal and Condemnation of Ten Persons for Piracy, at Nassau in the Bahamas, CO 23/1, 75-82.

(back to library)

RSS Feed Widget

Baylus’ Blog: