Piracy Hearing

Proceedings against seamen who sailed with Capt. Kidd

Staff Writer

Document Reference
HCA 1/85
Location:
Public Record Office

Kew, London.

Richard Earl of Bellomont Captain General and Governor in Chief of His Majesty's Province of Massachusetts Bay [unclear] New Yorke and New Hampshire in America and of the Territories thereon depending and Vice-Admiral of the same.

TO ALL whom these presents shall come
GREETING KNOW YEE that the several examinations hereto annexed of the respective persons hereafter named that to say of:

Nicholas Churchill
James How,
Robert Bradenham,
James Brown,
John Eldridge,
Robert Hickman,
Turlagh Sulivan,
David Evans
Darby Mullings

(being all prisoners apprehended in the Government of the Province of East and West Jersesy and Pensilvania that on account of Piracies by them committed and sent to Boston in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay above to be transported for England) were taken before Elisha Cooke and Isaac Addington Esq. who are two members of His Majesty's Council in the said Province of Massachusetts Bay and Justices of the Peace within the same.

And that the said examinations are accordingly attested and signed by the said Elisha Cooke and Isaac Addington as taken before them. In testimony whereof I have signed these presents and caused the seal of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay above said to be here unto affixed
Dated at Boston aforesaid the thirty first day of May 1700.

And in the twelfth year of His Majesty's Reign. Boston in New England May 28th 1700 The examination of Nicholas Churchill of lower Litchet neer Poole in Dorcetshire, Seaman.

SAITH
That in the month of August 1696 the examinant sayled out of England in a ship named the East India Merchant belonging to the Company of burthen upwards of fifteen hundred tuns [ missing] Clarke Commander and in the voyage outward bound touching at the island of Joanna this examinant left the ship by reason of the hard usage together with three others of the Company, and continued in the said island. And after some few weeks staying there Captain William Kidd commander of the Adventure Galley came with his said ship unto the island of Joanna.

And the examinant with his other three consorts took passage on the said Adventure galley for Madagascar and were accordingly carried in the said ship and landed on the Island of St. Maries, being about the space of eight or ten weeks on board of Captain Kidd and after he was landed at St. Maries he continued there and at Madagscar by the space of twelve or fourteen months waiting for an opportunity to get off and then took passage on the ship Nassaw Giles Shelly Commander for America.

And this examinant with diverse other passengers were put on shore at Cape May in Delaware River and from thence went to Burlington and after their arrival [unclear] at Cape May they sent to Governor Bass to acquaint him thereof and that they came from Madagascar understanding that all who came from thence were taken up and had upon examination. And Governor Bass and Captain Snead Sub-judge of the Admiralty came down to Cape May and ordered this examinant and three others with him to Burlington under custody of the Sheriff and there Governor Bass made out a warrant for their commitment to prison but the same was not executed upon them for the space of six months or more they remaining all that while in the town and then they were commanded to prison where the examinant and James How lay for seventeen or eighteen days and then were let out upon bail until the arrival of Colonel Hamilton appointed Governor of said place which was about three months afterwards and have been imprisoned ever since but no examination of then taken until now.

The examinant further saith he never was a privateering or at the taking of any prize nor had Captain Kidd any prize or prizes at the time when the examinant was passenger in his ship nor had the examinant any other money or treasure than the value of the hundred pound in Dollars and pieces of Eight that were given to him by Thomas Purdey one of his fellow passengers that died upon Shelley's ship and pay for his care and pains in tending and looking after him in his sickness.

And said Purdey gave the remainder of his money unto Captain Shelley which amounted unto more than one hundred and fifty pounds. The examinant has spent all that he had none of his money was seized

signed Nicholas Churchill [signed with a cross]