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SOUTH

CAROLINA.-70 Pirates

there, about 8 years ago.

were entertain'd

M: Archdale the late Governour Harboured Pirates, he countenanced Day the Master of a Bristoll Ship, to defraud his Owners of Vessell & Loading, And afterwards Day being bound to the Red Sea M2 Archdale provided for him a Moschetto Engine, against his Masters's Will to catch Fish for his Voyage.

He gave his permitt to Simon Tristrant, a Frenchman born, Who Imported a rich Loading of Wine, Sugars, and Cocoe, to sell his Vessell, and Cargo for which he was well paid.

M: Joseph Blake late Governour Deceased, was a Great Indian Trader, and Took 6 Barrells of Powder, in the Late French Warrs and Sent them by his Agents to purchase Skinns of the Indians, having but 4 barrels in the Store, All which was purchased for defence of the Country.

He caus'd Some Vessels, and their Loading to be Seized and Condemned upon pretence of their Acts of Trade, and getting them to be apprized at half ye vallue, he and his Accomplices gott them into their Hands, Denying to ye Owner's appeals to his Ma’tie in Councill.

He caused other Vessells to be seiz'd upon the same pretence and upon Private Contract with the Masters to pay him half ye vallue of their Vessels (which they did) he discharged their Vessels, defrauding his Ma'tie thereby of his Third part wth mith many other like misdemeanors committed by him.

NORTH CAROLINA. They have no Settled Governm amongst Them. About 4 years ago the Swift Frigott being Drove out of Virginia by Storm and comeing aShoar upon the Sands in that Province the Inhabitants Robb'd her, and Fired Great Gunns into her and Disabled her from Getting off. The Chief Offender was Banished onely. Tis a place which Receives Pirates, runaways, and illegal Traders.

MARY-LAND. His Matie took the Governm of That Province out of the Hands of the Lord Baltamore the Proprietor, because Colonell Talbott his Governour murther'd the Collector of his Ma'ties Customes in Cool Blood.

THE THREE LOWER COUNTIES ON DELAWARE BAY. Mr. Penn usurps Government, and laies Taxies upon his Ma'ties Loyal Subjects inhabitting There.

There were, not Long Since Two persons Try'd & Condemned the Judges, and Juries not being Sworn, and afterwards executed in those Counties.

PENSILVANIA.-Another person was Try'd, Condemned, and Executed in Mr Penn's own Province, the Judg, and Jury not being Sworn.

It has been, and still is y only receptacle for Pirates, & illegal Traders.

Mr Penn in Defyance of ye Authority of ye Court of Admiralty there erected, Has appointed a person to Execute ye Office of Marshall by Warr under his hand and Seal.

I was made a prisoner by M' Markham (M: Penn's Governour) because I would not Deliver to him Two Bonds, one of 1000£ the other of 500£ Forfeited to his Ma'tie, which I had Given Orders to be put in Suit.

M: Penn about Octo! last intercepted, and detained Letters, and Packetts, from the Commissioners of the Customes, to Mr. Birch their Officer at Newcastle.

He likewise charged Mr. Swift bound from Pensilvania to England, who M Penn knew had letters from the Judg of the Admiralty in Pensilvania for the Said Commissioners, not to Deliver them till one month after his Arrivall.

PROVINCES OF EAST AND WEST JERSEY.They are all in confusion for want of Governm and humbly pray to be taken under his Ma'ties immediate Governm and Protection. They likewise receive and harbour Pirates.

COLONY OF CONNECTICOTT. Receive and countenance illegall Traders and Lately intended to Oppose with Force persons Legally impowr'd to Seize, & Carry away Prohibited Goods in Order to be Try'd in his Ma'ties Court of Admiralty at New York.

ROAD ISLAND. They have all along Harboured Pirates. Walter Clark, the late Governour, refused to Take ye Oath enjoyn'd by the Acts of Trade to be Taken by all Governours &

Samuell Cranston the present Governour, openly opposed the Authority, of the Court of Admiralty, Order'd by Act of Parliament to be There erected.

PROVINCE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY.-They haveing obtained a new Grant, made voyd, and destroyed all those Laws made not long before, for the Maintainance, & Support of his Ma'ties Governours of That Province, on purpose to Discourage Gentlemen of Honour and abillities to Serve his Ma'tie in that Country, haveing thereby made that Government precarious only.

They inrich themselves by their continued breach of the Acts of Trade, Some Of the Members of ye Council being illegal Traders, sitt Judges in ye Courts upon Tryall of Seizures for his Ma'tie, and do likewise deny Appeals to his Ma'tie in Councill, to those who are impow'red, and directed to prosecute them.

They have likewise Turn'd out M Byfield a man zealous for haveing the Acts of Trade duly executed, who by Commission under the Great Seal of y Admiralty was Judge of the Court of Admiralty in That Province. And made M Waite Winthrop (a small Practitioner in Physick) to be Judge of That Court Tho' in no Sort qualifyed for ye Office instead of M! Byfield against whom they had nothing to Object. Some of the First Pirates I ever heard of in the Northern Plantations were sett out from Boston who brought in a Great deal of Riches from the Spanish Plantations

PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. M! William Partridge the present Lieu Governour, and Severall of the Inhabitants of that Province are Notorious, illegall Traders.

humbly Offered

March. 24:

1700: [1701]

by ED. RANDOLPH.

Proceedings of Court of Sessions of Monmouth County at Middletown, relative to the putting Sundry Of ficials under guard.

[From P. R. O. B. T. Proprieties, Vol. 6, G 28.]

AT A COURT of Sessions held for ye County of Monmouth at Middletowne in ye County afores & province of East New Jersey, March 25 1701.

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The Court being opened one Moses Butterworth who was accused of piracy (& had confessed y' he did sail wth Cap1 William Kid in his last voyage when he came from y East Indies & went into Boston with him) & was bound to make his appearance at this Court yt he might be Examined & disposed of according to his Majte orders the s Butterworth was Called & made his appearance & when ye Court was Examining him one Sam" Willet In holder said y1 ye Gover & Justices had no authority to Hold Court & y' he would break it up & accordingly went down staires to a Company of men then in armes & sent up a Drummer one Thomas

iez

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Johnson into ye Court who beat upon his drum & severall of ye Company came up with their armes & Clubs wh together wth ye Drum beating Continually made such a noise (notwithstanding open proclamations made to be silent & keep ye Kings peace) yt ye Court Could not Examine ye prisoner at the Barr & when ther was as ye Court Judged betwixt 30 & 40 men Come up into ye Court some with their armes & some with Clubs two persons viz: Benjamin Borden & Richard Borden attempted to Rescue y prisoner at ye Barr & did take hold on him by ye armes & about ye midle & forct him from ye Barr ye Constable & undersheriff by ye Command of ye Court apprehended ye sd Borden upon weh severall of ye persons in ye Court assaulted y Constable & undersheriff (the Drum still beating & ye people thronging up Staires wth their armes) & Rescued ye two Bordens upon weh ye Justices & Kings Attorney Generall of the province after Commanding yo Kings peace to be keept & no heed being given thereto drew their swords & Endeavoured to Retake ye prisoner & apprehend some of ye persons Conserned in y Rescons but was Resisted & assaulted themselves & ye Examination of ye prisoner torn in peices & in ye scufle both Richard Borden & Benj. Borden were wounded but ye Endeavours of ye Court were not Effectuall in retaking ye prisoner for he was Rescued & Carried off & made his Escape and the people viz: Cap' Safetie Grover Richard Borden Benj: Borden Obadiah Holmes Obadiah Browne Nicholas Stephens George Cooke Benj: Cooke Richard Osborne Sam Willett Joseph West Garret Bowler Garret Wall James Bollen Sam" foreman Will Winter Jonathan Stout James Stout Will Hendricks John Bray Will Smith Gersom Mott Abner Hewght George Allen John Cox John Vaughan Elisha Lawrance Zebulon Clayton James Grover Jun' Richard Davis Jeremiah Evrington Joseph Ashton with others to ye number of about one

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