Appendix D

APPENDIX D

REPORT OF DUNCAN CAMPBELL POSTMASTER OF BOSTON TO BELLAMONT

BOSTON, June the 19th 1699.

The Memorial of Duncan Campbell, of Boston, humbly presented to his Excellency the Earl of Bellamont.

I, the said Duncan Campbell, being at Rhode Island on Saturday the 17th June current; that Morning I went in a Sloop, in Company with Mr. James Emott of New York, and Two other Men belonging to the said Sloop, towards Block Island; and, about Three Leagues from that Island, I met a Sloop commanded by Captain Kidd, and having on board about Sixteen men besides: after hailing of which Sloop, and being informed, That the said Kidd was Commander thereof, he the said Kid desired me to come on board the same; which I accordingly did; and, after some Discourse passed, the said Kidd desired me to do him the Favour as to make what Speed I could for Boston, and acquaint your Excellency, That the said Kid had brought a Ship, about 5 or 600 Tons from Madagascar, which some considerable time since he met within … and commanded her there to bring to; and that thereupon the Pilot, being a Frenchman, came on board the said Kid’s Ship, and told him, the said Kidd, He was welcome, and that the said Ship, to which the said Pilot belonged, was a lawful Prize to him, the said Kidd, she sailing under a French pass, whereupon he, the said Kid, and Company, took the said Ship; and afterwards, understanding that the same belonged to the Moors, he, the said Kid, would have delivered her up again; but his Men violently fell upon him and thrust him into his Cabin, saying, The said ship was a said Prize (sic); and then carried her into Madagascar, and rifled her of what they pleased: But before they got into Madagascar, the Galley under Command of him, the said Kidd, became so leaky, that she would scarce keep above Water; whereupon the Company belonging thereto, having taken out her Guns, and some other Things, and put them on board the Prize, set the said Galley on Fire.

The said Captain Kidd further told me, That, when he and his Company were arrived at Madagascar several of his Company moved him to go and take a Ship called the Moca Frigate, that lay ready fitted at a Place not far distant from them, in the Possession of certain Privateers; and to go in the same for the Red Sea; but that he the said Kid said, That if they would join with him, he would attempt the Taking of the said Ship, supposing her a lawful Prize, being formerly belonging to the King of England; but would not afterwards go with them on the said Design to the Red Sea: Whereupon Ninety of his, the said Kidd’s Men, deserted him, went and took the said Ship, and sailed with the same on the said Design, as he, the said Kid, was informed; obliging one Captain Culliver, the then Commander of her, to go along with them.

And the said Kidd further told me, That his Men having left him, and his Design frustrated, he thought it his best Way to preserve the said Ship then in his Possession, and the Goods on board her, for his Employers, or the proper Owners thereof; And accordingly, with the few Men he had then left, which would not join with the other Ninety in their aforesaid Design, being about Twenty in Number, and with a few other men, that he procured at Madagascar, to assist him in navigating the said Ship, he intended to have brought the same to Boston, according to his Orders; but, touching in his Way at the Island of St. Thomas, and other Places in the West Indies, he there heard, That great Complaints were preferred against him, and he proclaimed a Pirate; which occasioned him to sail to a Place called Mona, near Hispaniola: from whence he sent to Curaso, and brought there the Sloop on which he is now on board, and took into her to the Value of about 8 or 10,000l in Goods, Gold, and Plate: for which Gold and Plate he traded at Madagascar, and was produced by the Sale of sundry Goods and Stores, that he took out of the Adventure Galley, formerly commanded by him; and hath left the Ship taken by his Company, and carried to Madagascar, as aforesaid, at or near Mona abovesaid, in the Custody of about Six Men of his own Company, and Eighteen others that he got from Curaso; the Merchant of whom he bought the said Sloop, being intrusted therewith; unto which he had promised to return again in Three Months; the said Kidd resolving to come into Boston or New York, to deliver up unto, your Excellency what Goods and Treasure he hath on board; and to pray your Excellency’s Assistance, to enable him to bring the said Ship left by him at Mona aforesaid, from thence; the said Ship being disabled from coming for want of Furniture.

But the said Captain Kidd further informed me, That by reason of what his Men had heard in the West Indies, as aforesaid, of their being proclaimed Pirates, they would not consent to his coming into any Port without some Assurance from your Excellency, That they should not be imprisoned nor molested: And the said Captain Kidd did several times protest solemnly, That he had not done anything since his going out in the said Galley contrary to his Commission or Orders, more than what he was necessitated unto, being overpowered by his Men that deserted him, as aforesaid; who evil-intreated him several times for his not consenting to, or joining with them in, their Actions: And all the men on board the Sloop now with him did, in like manner, solemnly protest their Innocence; and declared, That they had used their utmost Endeavours in preserving the aforesaid Ship and Goods for the Owners or Employers.

The said Kidd also saith, That, if your Lordship should see Cause so to direct, he would carry the said Ship for England, there to render an Account of his Proceedings.

Which beforegoing contains the Particulars of what Captain Kidd and his Men related to

Your Lordship’s most humble Servant

DUNCAN CAMPBELL.

APPENDIX E

APPENDIX E

EXTRACTS RELATING TO BELLAMONT AND KIDD FROM NARCISSUS LUTTRELL’S BRIEF HISTORICAL RELATION OF STATE AFFAIRS FROM SEPTEMBER, 1678, TO APRIL, 1714.

1 April 1693. A patent is passing the seals for settling £500 per annum on the Lord Bellamont in consideration of his past services. Vol. III, p. 67.

11 June 1695. The Lords Justices have given order for passing a Commission for the Lord Bellamont to be Governor for New England. Vol. III, p. 483.

25 June 1695. Lord Bellamont is hastening to his government of New England. Vol. III, p. 489.

4 July 1695. The Lord Bellamont’s warrant for his patent runs to be Governor, Captain General and Admiral of New England. Vol. III, p. 494.

29 Aug. 1695. Complaint being made to the Committee of foreign plantations against Fletcher, governor of New York, ’tis said the Council will annex that government to that of New England, and that Lord Bellamont goes governor of both.

12 May 1696. The Lord Bellamont has obtained a grant of £1,000 per annum out of the estate of Lord Kilmeare (formerly Sir Valentine Brown). Vol. IV, p. 57.

7 Jan. 1697. The Lord Bellamont, ’tis said, will not only be governor of New England, but also of New York. Vol. IV, p. 166.

18 March 1697. On Tuesday the Lord Bellamont was declared governor of New England, and ordered to hasten thither. Vol. IV, p. 198.

20 March 1697. The Lord Bellamont is made governor of New York and New Hamstead as well as New England and Colonel of a regiment of foot. Vol. IV, p. 199.

5 June 1697. The Lord Bellamont’s commission to be governor and captain general of New England and New York is passing the seals, and his Lordship will suddenly goe to his government in the Deptford frigate. Vol. IV, p. 235.

11 Sept. 1697. The lords of the treasury have paid the Earl of Bellamont, governor of New England, £12000 in mault lottery tickets. Vol. IV, p. 227.

4 Oct. 1697. This day the Earl of Bellamont, governor of New England, went on shipboard. Vol. IV, p. 285.

24 Nov. 1698. The East India Company have acquainted the lords justices with the action of Captain Kidd, commander of a man of war, sent to suppress the pyrates in the Persian seas, but instead thereof joyned them. Several great lords were concerned in sending him out, and to be sharers of what he should take from those pyrates. Vol. IV, p. 454.

29 Nov. 1698. A proclamation is ordered to be published to pardon all the pyrates settled at Madagascar except Captain Kidd and 3 others, provided they submit within a certain time: which proclamation Captain Warren takes with him. Vol. IV, p. 456.

3 Dec. 1698. The Earl of Bellamont, governor of New England and New York has sent advice that he has caused several persons to be arrested there, accused for corresponding and trading with the pyrates at Madagascar, by which means they have got great riches. Vol. IV, p. 457.

1 Aug. 1699. We have a report that Captain Kidd, who some time since turned pyrate in the Adventure Galley and took from the subjects of the Great Mogull and others to the value of £400,000 is taken prisoner by a French Ship, the commander of which sent him in irons to the Great Mogull. Vol. IV, p. 543.

3 Aug. 1699. We now have letters from the West Indies, which contradict the taking of Captain Kidd the pyrate: and say that after the Adventure Galley was sunk, he went on board a Portuguese, and sailed directly for Darien where the Scots received him and all his riches. Vol. IV, p. 544.

5 Aug. 1699. Captain Kidd the pyrate some time since said to be taken by a French man of war, afterwards contradicted and that he was gone to Darien, we now hear was at Nassau Island, near New York, and sent for Mr. Livingston, one of the Council there, to come on board: accordingly he went to him, and he proffered £30,000 to give the owners, who first fitted out the Adventure Galley, and £20,000 for his pardon: but ’tis presumed the same will not be accepted. Vol. IV, p. 545.

17 Aug. 1699. Letters from Curassau say that the famous pyrate Captain Kidd, in a ship of 30 guns and 250 men offered the Dutch Governor of St. Thomas 45,000 pieces of eight in gold and a great present in goods, if he would protect him a month, which he refused: but the said pyrate bought afterwards of an English Ship provisions to the value of 25,000 crowns and since supplyed with necessaries from other ships. Vol. IV, p. 549.

22 Aug. 1699. There are letters which say the famous Captain Kidd has surrendered himself to the Lord Bellamont, governor of New England. Vol. IV, p. 551.

5 Sept. 1699. Captain Kidd the pyrate having surrendered himself to the earl of Bellamont, governor of New England, after examination was committed to prison and commissioners appointed by his lordship to inspect the effects he had on board, to the end that there might be a true inventory taken thereof: and his lordship sent to the said commissioners the present of jewells, which Kidd had caused to be given his lady, esteemed at £10,000 an account of which his lordship has dispatched hitherto to the Commissioners of trade, and to know how he shall be disposed of. Vol. IV, p. 557.

23 Sept. 1699. His Majestie’s Ship Rochester, Captain Ellis, commander, is sailed to New York, to bring over Captain Kidd, the pyrate and his men, in order to be tried here. Vol. IV, p. 563.

26 Sept. 1699. Last week the old East India company attended the lords justices with a petition, humbly praying that Captain Kidd the pyrate, may be brought to a speedy trial before the high court of admiralty, and that all his effects unjustly taken from the subjects of the Great Mogull may be sent back to them as satisfaction for their losses. Their excellencies promised to consider it. Vol. IV, p. 564.

2 Nov. 1699. The trial of the pyrates is put off till the arrival of Captain Kidd, who is to be brought hither from New England in order to be tried with them: his effects are valued at £200,000. Vol. IV, p. 578.

2 Dec. 1699. The lords of the admiralty have an account that the man of war sent to New England to bring hither Captain Kidd, the pyrate, is returned, not being able to make her voyage, the winter being too far advanced in those parts. Vol. IV, p. 589.

6 April 1700. Last night the lords of the admiralty had an express from Bristoll that Captain Kidd, with 33 pyrates more, were arrived in that channel from New England, in order to be tried for robbing the subjects of the Great Mogull. Vol. IV, p. 632.

16 April 1700. The same day Captain Kidd, the notorious pyrate, was examined before the lords of the admiralty and committed to Newgate: and yesterday 13 more pyrates were likewise examined and sent thither. Vol. IV, p. 634.

23 April 1700. Captain Kidd upon his petition has got his irons taken off. Vol. IV, p. 637.

27 April 1700. This day 10 of the pyrates lately brought from New England were examined and ordered to be tried by a high court of admiralty: Captain Kidd will be kept close prisoner till the sitting of the Parliament, to the end that they may have the examination of him. Vol. IV, p. 638.

23 July 1700. The jewels taken on board the ship of Captain Kidd the pyrate, have been valued and said to be worth £30,000. Vol. IV, p. 669.

27 March 1701. This day the commons examined Captain Kidd the pyrate and Cogi Babba, a Persian Merchant attended in order to accuse him of robbing him in those seas to £60,000 value. Kidd discovered little or nothing. Vol. V, p. 32.

1 April 1701. Captain Kidd was examined again yesterday: he confessed nothing material, so was remanded to Newgate. Vol. V, p. 34.

10 April 1701. This day the house, being acquainted that Captain Kidd since his being in Newgate, had been with the Lord Hallifax, examined the person who affirmed it and sent for the keeper of Newgate, who averred it to be false, whereupon they distrust him. Vol. V, p. 37.

1 May 1701. Letters yesterday from New York advise that the Earl of Bellamont, governor of that place and of New England dyed the 5th of March of the gout in his stomach. Vol. V, p. 44.

10 May 1701. This afternoon Captain Kidd was found guilty of murder for killing a seaman on board a ship, also of one piracy: and to-morrow will be tried upon the others. Vol. V, p. 47.

10 May 1701. Capt. Kidd is found guilty upon 6 indictments of pyracy, and 8 other pyrates are condemned. Vol. V, p. 48.

24 May 1701. Yesterday Capt. Kidd and 3 others condemned for pyracy, were executed at execution dock at Wapping. The halter of the 1st broke, but he was tied up again. Vol. V, p. 53.

FOOTNOTES

A copy of this grant will be found in Appendix A.

See Appendix A.

The narrative of this voyage written by Kidd and the depositions of such of his crew as remained faithful to him, will be found in Appendix B. Other details are to be found in the verbatim reports of his trials.

The port of Madagascar to which she was afterwards taken.

In the petition of Cogi Babba to the House of Commons she is said to have cost forty thousand rupees and her cargo four hundred thousand.

These sailing orders will be found in Appendix A.

See Appendix B.

See Appendix B.

A copy of this memorial will be found in Appendix D.

At St. Marie’s.

See Appendix E.

According to one of these, he was said to have been captured by a French Man-of-War, the commander of which had sent him in irons to the Great Mogul. According to another, he had gone to Darien, where the Scots had received him, and all his riches. At one time he was reported to have offered the Dutch Governor of St. Thomas, forty-five thousand pieces of eight in gold and a great present in goods, if he would protect him for a month. At another he was said to have proffered twenty thousand pounds for his pardon. In the popular imagination he had in fact figured as the Prince of Pirates for some three years before his trial. See Appendix E.

Bellamont’s hypocritical letter to Kidd of the nineteenth of June, 1699 (see Chapter III).

See Lyson’s “Environs of London,” Vol. IV, page 448.

The Quedagh Merchant was spoken of by some of the witnesses at the trial and in Cogi Babba’s relation as the Karry Merchant.

Probably a misprint for New Hampshire.