Pursuit of Primary Text
The Pirate Stede Bonnet's short career ended in Charleston, South Carolina. The tales of his piracy, capture and execution vary in detail depending on who is telling the story. I find history most interesting when I read primary texts rather than an interpretation of history. To that end, I am reviewing a scanned copy of The Tryals of Major Stede Bonnet and Other Pirates available online Library of Congress.
The following is an in-progress transcription of the description of Crimes Bonnet and his crew were tried for. This Prefatory Account is taken from The Tryals of Major Stede Bonnet and Other Pirates.
The Trials of Major Stede Bonnet
And Other Pirates
Robert Tucker, William Scot, Job Bayley, John-William Smithy,Thomas Carman
John Thomas, William Morrifon, William Livers alias Evis, Samuel Booth, William Hemet, John LeVit, William Eddy alias Nedy, Alexander Amand, George Rofs, George Dunkin, John Ridge, Matthew King, Daniel Perry, Henry Virgin, James Robbins, James Mullet alias Millet, Thomas Rice, John Lope, Zachariah Long, James Wilson, John Brierly, Robert Boyd
Who were all condemned for Piracy.
AS ALSO
The Trials of Thomas Nichols, Rowland Sharp, Jonathan Clark, and Thomas Gerrat, for Piracy, who were Acquitted.
AT THE
Admiralty Sessions held at Charles-Town, in the Province of South Carolina, on Tuesday the 28th of October, 171 8 and by federal Adjournments continued to Wednesday the 12th of November, following.
To which is Prefix'd,
An Account of the Taking of the said Major Bonnet, and the rest of the Pirates.
LONDON
Printed for BEN J. COWSE at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church Yard. M. DCC. XIX.
A
Prefatory Account
of the
Taking of Major Stede Bonnet, and the other Pirates by the two Sloops under the Command of
As most Colonies in America have had their Trade interrupted by the Pirates that these three Years past have been so numerous and committed so many villainies, not only in destroying vessels and their Cargoes, but barbarously murdering many innocent. Persons of this Province of South Carolina in particular has had a great share of their insults, especially from one of the most noted among them, namely Major Stede Bonnet, Alias Captain Edwards, alias Thomas, late of Barbados: who, it seems, at his own cost and charges fitted from thence a large sloop called the Revenge with ten Guns, and about eighty men. After his leaving Barbados committed federal piracies, and came in August, 17 17 off of the Bar of South Carolina, and there took two Vessels bound in; one a Sloop with Negros, Rum and Sugar, Captain Joseph Palmer from Barbados; the other· a Brigantine, Captain Thomas Porter from New England, whom after he was plundered, they dismissed but the Sloop they went away with, and at an Inlet in North Carolina careened by her, and then burnt her.
In June last we were again visited by the same Pirate, but in a more formidable manner, having by that time increased their number to between three and four hundred fighting Men, and had with them a large Ship mounted with forty gungs, their former Sloop the Revenge, which was now called their Privateer, and two other Sloops, Prizes, which served them as Tenders. The Ship they called the Queen Anne's Revenge; and were all under the Comand of one Captain Teach, but better known by the Name of Black-Beard. Major Bonnet was on board, not in Command.
They were no sooner off the Bar, but they took five Prizes, viz. two ships bound from London, two bound out to the same place, and a small Coasting Sloop.
The next thing they had to do, was to know how to dispose of the vessels and prisoners and being then in want of medicines, they resolved to demand a chest from the government, and detain them till they were sent.
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Accordingly they sent one of their prisoners, (Mr. Marks) a gentleman that was a passenger (and bound to London) and two of their own people. Mr. Marks accordingly came up from Town, and had but twenty four hours limited for his return; and on the governor’s refusal to send the medicines, the pirates had unanimously resolved to murder all of the prisoners, and burn their Prizes.
On Mr. Marks' application to the Governor, (and the Pirates being too strong to cope with at the time) a chest of medicines was accordingly dispatched with him.
The Pirates on receiving them had a general consultation; but what the result was, is unknown. However, they hurried the prisoners to their vessels the next day, and made sail from this coast.
In about a month after we had Advice from North Carolina that these pirates having some difference among themselves, ran their ship and one of the Sloops on the shore of the coast; and afterwards the Captain (Blackbeard) cheated most of his crew of their share of the riches they had taken.
Upon this they separated. Bonnet got his own sloop the Revenge, and with about fifty of the oldest Pirates went to the old Trade. Blackbeard, with about thirty more, failed from thence on the same account in the other Sloop.
We heard nothing of them till about the beginning of September 1718 when we had a particular information that a Pirate Sloop of ten guns and fifty men was at Cape Fear River, to the Northward of this Port, with two Prizes, and had there begun to careen and refit. We did not doubt but then should then soon have another visit from them. To prevent which, Colonel William Rhett, of this Province, waited on the Governor, and generously offered himself to go with two Sloops, and attack this Pirate; which the Governor agreed to, and accordingly gave Colonel Rhett a Commission and full Power to fit such vessels as he thought proper for such a Design. In a few Days two Sloops were equipped and manned: The Henry with eight Guns and seventy Men, commanded by Capt. John Masters, and the Sea-Nymph with eight Guns and fifty Men, commanded by Captain Fayrer Hall, both under the entire Direction and Command of Colonel Rhett; who on the 10th of September went on board the Henry, and with the other Sloop failed from Charles-Town to Sullivan’s Island, to put themselves in order for the Cruise.
And just then arrives a small Ship from Antegoa, one Cook Master, who gave us an account, That in fight of our Bar he was taken and plundered by one Charles Vane a Pirate, in a Brigantine of twelve Guns and ninety Men, and who had also taken two other vessels bound in here ; one a small Sloop, Capt. Dill Master, from Barbados; the other a Brigantine, Capt. Thompson Mafier, from Guinea, with ninety odd negroes, which they took out of his vessel, and put on board another Pirate Sloop they then had under the Command of one Yeates, with fifteen Men: which was fortunate to Capt. Thompson's Owners. Yeates having often attempted to leave this Course of life took this opportunity; for in the Night he got away from the Brigantine, and earned the Sloop and Negroes into North Edisto River, to the Southward of this Port. The owners got their Negroes and Yeates and his Men had certificates given them from the government.
Vane, meanwhile continue cruising off our Bar, in hopes to catch Yeates: and it unfortunately happen that four Ships, bound to London, and who had waited some time for a fair wind, got then over the Bar, and two of them were taken namely, the Neptune, a large Pink with fifteen Guns, Capitan King Commander and the Emperor, with ten Guns, Capt. Power Commander; but both very deep loaded.
The Pirates gave out, while the prisoners were on board, that they design'd to go into some of our Rivers to the Southward, and there careen.
Colonel Rhett, upon hearing this, failed over the Bar the 15th of September with the two Sloops before mentioned; and having the Wind northerly went after the Pirate Vane, and scoured the Rivers and Inlets to the Southward. But not meeting with him, tacked and stood for Cape Fear River, in prosecution of his first Design: And on the 26th following in the evening entered the mouth of the river,
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River, and saw over a point of Land three Sloops at Anchor, which were the Pirate and his two Prizes; but it happened in going up the River the Pilot ran both Sloops a-ground, and it was dark before they were on float, which hindered their getting up that Night. The Pirate soon discovered our Sloops, and not knowing who they were, they manned three Canoes, and sent them down the river, in order to view and take them, if they could; but they soon found that impractical, our people lying on their Arms all Night, and kept a strict watch. The Canoes returned, and the Pirates all that Night made Preparations for engaging; and the next Moring, Saturday the 27th of September, they got under Sail, and came down the River; and depending on their Sloops failing, designed only a Running-Fight. But our Sloops stood for him, and got on his each Quarter, with design to " board the Pirate: which he finding, edged in towards the Shore; and being warmly engaged, their Sloop· ran a-ground. Our Sloops being in the same shoal Water, were a-ground as soon as the Pirate; the Henry, in which Col. Rhett was, grounded within Pistol-shot of the Pirate, and on his Bow ; the other Sloop grounded right a-head of him, and almost out of gun-shots which made him of little Service to the Colonel while they lay a-ground.
At this time the Pirates had a considerable Advantage ; for their Sloop, after !he was a-ground, lifted from Colonel Rhett's, by which means they were all covered; and the Colonel's Sloop lifting the fame way, his Men were much exposed. Notwithstanding which, they kept a brisk Fire the whole time they thus lay a-ground, which was near five Hours. The Pirates made a Wiff in their bloody Flag, and beckoned with their Hats in derision to our People to come on board them; which they only answered with cheerful Huzza's, and told them it would soon be their Turn. And which was so in a little time; for Colonel Rhett was sirsi a-float, and got into deeper Water; and after mending the Sloop's Rigging, which, with the Sloop, was much shattered in the Engagement, they stood for the Pirate, to give a finishing stroke, and desired to go directly on board him; which he prevented by fending a Flag of Truce: and after some time capitulating, they surrendered themselves; and our People took possession of their Sloop; and went up the River, in order to refit and water; where they retook the two Prizes which the Pirate had taken two Months before. They were both Sloops; one belonging to Antegoa, Capt. Peter Manwarnvg Commander; the other to Pennsylvania Capt. Thomas Read Commander. Our People were well pleased to find this Pirate to be Major Bonnet, who had so often infested our coast He went. Then by the name of Capt. Thomas.
We had killed in the Action on board the Henry ten men, and fourteen wounded; on board the Sea-Nymph two killed, and four wounded. The Officers and Mariners in both Sloops behaved themselves with the greatest Bravery; and had not the Sloops so unluckily run a-ground, we should have taken the Pirate with much less loss of Men: But as he designed to get by them, and so make a Running-Fight, our Sloops were obliged to keep near him, to prevent his getting away. Of the Pirates there were seven killed, and five wounded, two of which died soon after of their wounds.
Colonel Rhett weighed the 30th of September from Cape Fear River, and arrived at Charles-Town the of October to the great Joy of the whole Province. Bonnet and his Crew two Days after were put on shore; and there not being a public Prison, the Pirates were kept at the Watch-House under a good Guard of the Militia: but Maj. Bonnet was committed into the custody of the Marshal at his House. And in a few Days after David Herriot the Master, and Ignatius Pelt the Boatswain, who were designed to be Evidence for the King again the other Pirates, were removed from the rest of the Crew to the said Marflial's House, and every Night two Sentinels set about the said House : But not with standing, all that Care, and the official Orders the Governor often gave the Marshal to take care of his Prisoners, on the 24th of October Major Bonnet and Herriot made their Escape, the Boatswain refusing to go with them. When the Account was brought the Governor that Bonnet had made his escape, he immediately issued out his Proclamation, and promised a reward to any that would retake him; and accordingly sent several Federal Boats with armed Men both to Northward and the Southward pursuit of them.
Bonnet stood to the Northward; but wanting Necessaries and the weather being bad he was forced back and so returned to his canoe on Sullivan’s Island near Charles-Town, to fetch him supplies. But there being some information given to the Governor, where it was thought they might find Bonnet they sent for Col. Rhett, and desired him to go in purist of Bonnet, and accordingly gave him commission for that purpose.
Bonnet stood to the Northward; but wanting Necessaries and the weather being bad he was forced back and so returned to his canoe on Sullivan’s Island near Charles-Town, to fetch him supplies. But there being some information given to the Governor, where it was thought they might find Bonnet they sent for Col. Rhett, and desired him to go in purist of Bonnet, and accordingly gave him commission for that purpose.
Where upon the col. with the proper craft and some men, went away that night for Sullivan’s Island. They searched very diligently for a long time before they found them.
But after discovering where they were, some of Colonel Rhett's men fired at them and killed the Master Herriot upon the Spot, and wounded one Negro and an Indian. Bonnet submitted, and surrendered himself; and the next morning, being November the 6th, was brought by Colonel Rhett to Charles-Town, and by the Governor’s Order was committed into Custody, in order to his being brought to trial.
