The Nottingham-Galley of 120
Tons, 10 Guns, and 14 Men,
John Dean Commander, took in
part of her Lading in the River Thames,
which was Cordage, and the rest in Butter
and Cheese, at Killybags in Ireland. But
Captain Dean in his Narrative has omitted
to acquaint the World that 4 of the
Guns were useless, and that not above 6
of the Men were capable to Serve in the
Ship, in case of bad Weather. She Sail'd
from Gravesend the 2d Day of August,
1710. to the Nore, and from thence on
the 7th, with 2 Men of War, and several
Merchant-Men under their Convoy, towards
Scotland. When we came off of
Whitby, the Fleet brought to, and several
of the Ships were a-stern. We having a
fine Gale, the Captain said he would Run
it, and make the best of his way for Ireland,
which we did. And when we were
on that Coast, the 12th of August, we saw
2 Ships in a Bay, towards whom the
Captain would have bore down, but the
Men would not consent to it, because they
perceiv'd them to be French Men of War.
Upon this we stood off to Sea till 12 at
Night; when the Captain coming upon
Deck, we Sail'd easily in towards the
Shore, by the Mate's Advice, till Daylight,
and came so near Land that we were
forced to stand off. The next Day we saw
the two Privateers again, and the Captain
propos'd to stand down towards them, or
to come to an Anchor; but the Mate and
the Men oppos'd it. The Captain was seconded
in this by Charles Whitworth the
Merchant, who said in the hearing of the
Boatswain, and others, That he had rather
be taken than otherwise, tho' he had an
Eighth Part of the Ship, because he had Insured
200 l. And the Captain said, He had
rather run the Ship ashore than perform his
Voyage, if he thought he could be safe with
the Insurers, because his Brother had insur'd
300 l. upon her. Accordingly he put in
towards the Shore, to find out a proper
Place for that purpose, and ordered the
Boatswain to get the Tackle upon the Boat
and hoist her overside, that she might be in
readiness to go ashore. At the same time
the Captain and Charles Whitworth went to
the Cabbin to get out the best of their
Goods in order to carry them with them;
and putting them up in a Chest, commanded
the Men to carry them into the Boat,
which they did. The Captain promis'd
that we should want for nothing, and resolv'd
to go ashore; so that we all plainly
saw he was resolv'd to lose the Ship. But
he was opposed by the Mate Christopher
Langman, who wrought the Vessel through
between the Main and an Island, and she
arriv'd safely at Killybags in Ireland that
same night.
We took in the rest of our Lading there
the 25th of September, being 30 Tons of
Butter, and above 300 Cheeses, and sail'd
for Boston in New-England; which we were
very uncapable to do, because the Captain,
by his barbarous Treatment of our
Men, had disabled several of 'em, and
particularly two of our best Sailors were
so unmercifully beat by him, because they
oppos'd his Design abovemention'd, that
they were not able to work in a Month.
This gave us a very melancholy Prospect
of an unfortunate Voyage, since we perceiv'd
he would either lose the Ship, or
betray her to the French, because she was
insured for much above the Value. Besides,
he put us to short Allowance, so that
we had but one Quart of Water per Head
in twenty four Hours, and had nothing to
eat but salt Beef, which made us so dry
that we were forc'd to drink the Rain
Water that run off the Deck. And the
Captain was so barbarous that he knock'd
down one of our Men for dead, because
when he found the Hold open, he went
and drew a Gallon of Water to quench our
Thirst. In the mean time he wanted nothing
himself, tho' he pretended to us that
he confin'd himself also to short Allowance,
yet we knew the contrary.
When we came to the Banks of Newfoundland
we saw a Ship which made all
the Sail she could towards us, and soon
came up with us. The Captain and Mr.
Whitworth hoping she was a Frenchman,
put on their best Apparel, and gave us
as much strong Beer and Brandy as we
could drink: But it prov'd to be the Pompey
Galley of London, Captain Den Commander,
at which we rejoic'd, tho' our
Captain was melancholy. We continu'd
our Course towards New England; and
the first Land we made was Cape Sables,
which is about 50 Leagues from Boston in
that Country.
We made the best of our way for that
Port, but the Wind blew hard, so that
we were several Days without sight of
Land, and were forced to hand all our
Sails, and lie under our Mizzen-Ballast till
Daylight; when the Boatswain having the
Morning Watch discover'd Land to the
Leeward, with which he acquainted the
Captain and the Mate, who both came
upon Deck. The Captain said that was
the first Land we had made, wherein he
was justly contradicted by the Mate, which
caus'd some Words between 'em: For
in Truth we made Cape Sables a Week before;
and if we had kept our Course then,
according to the Opinion of the Mate and
Ship's Company, we had, in all Probability,
arriv'd safe the next Day at Boston, but
the Master laying the Ship by, and the
next Day proving moderate Weather, and
the Wind coming to the West, we stood
away to the North, and so it was a Week
before we made Cape Porpus, which was
the same Day we were lost; so untrue is it
what the Captain says, that the first Land
we made was to the East of Piscataqua.
After those Words had pass'd with the
Mate, the Captain went down to serve us
with Water, according to Custom, and in
the mean time the Captain's Brother took
a Bottle of Water from the Mate, and
struck him; upon which the Captain
coming out of the Hold, he took up a Perriwig
Block, with which he came behind
the Mate, and struck him three Blows on
the Head, upon which he fell down and
lay as dead for several Minutes, all in
Blood. This was very discouraging to
the Seamen, who durst not speak to him
for fear of the like Treatment. Soon after
this barbarous Action we perceiv'd
the Ship in Danger by being so near Land;
upon which the Boatswain being on the
Watch call'd the Captain, and the Mate,
who being scarce recovered came on the
Deck all in Gore, and told the Captain
he had no Business so near the Land, except
he had a Mind to lose the Ship, and
therefore desir'd him to hawl further off,
or else he would be ashore that Night.
The Captain answer'd, That he wou'd not
take his Advice though the Ship should go to
the Bottom, threatned to shoot the Mate
with a Pistol, and told him, he would do
what he pleas'd except they confin'd him to
his Cabbin. It fell out according as the
Mate had said; we run ashoar that Night,
being the 11th of December, between 8
and 9 a Clock, when the Ship struck upon
Boon Island, a Rock three or four Leagues
East from Piscataqua. And here the Captain
is false again in his Narrative, when
he says p. 2. that he saw the Breakers ahead,
upon which he call'd out to put the Helm
hard on the Starboard; for he was then
undressing himself to go to Bed, according
to his usual Custom. When the Ship
struck, the Boatswain told the Captain, he
had made his Words good, and lost the Ship
on purpose, whereas had he taken the Mate's
Advice, he might in all probability have
been safe at Boston Ten Days before. The
Captain bid him hold his Peace, He
was sorry for what had happen'd, but we
must now all prepare for Death, there being
no Probability to escape it. Upon this several
of our Men went on the Deck, but
cou'd not stay there, because the Sea broke
in all over the Ship. Then the Captain,
who had been Cursing and Swearing before,
began to cry and howl for Fear of
losing his Life. The Boatswain and another
went into the Hold to see if there
was any Water there, and finding there
was, we went all into the Cabbin to Prayers,
being in hopes the Ship would lie
whole till Daylight. Soon after this the
Mate, though hardly able, went with some
others above Deck; for this Surprize made
him forget his Pain. He spoke to the
Captain, and told him, It was his Business
to encourage the Men, and not to dishearten
them: Yet still he insisted it was impossible
for us to save our Lives. However,
the Mate with three others cut down the
Main-Mast and Fore-Mast, which by God's
Assistance prov'd the Means of our Preservation;
for the Fore-Mast fell on the Rock
with one End, and the other rested on
the Ship. The Mate went afterwards into
the Cabbin, and desired the Captain to
use his Endeavours to save the Men, for
the Ship would immediately sink, and it
was not time to think of saving any thing,
but to get ashore as light as we cou'd. By
this Time the Water came out of the
Hold, and the Sea beat over the Deck, so
that there was no standing upon it. The
Mate got first on the Mast, and with great
Difficulty escap'd to the Rock. He was
follow'd by two others, who likewise got
on Shore, but were scarce able to stand
on the Rock, from whence they hallow'd
to us to follow them, and we not hearing
them any more than once, were afraid
they were wash'd off by the Waves. This
put us into a mighty Consternation, so that
we knew not whether it were best to follow
them, or to stay on board till it was
Day. The Captain was for the latter;
but it being dead low Water, the Tide
of Flood coming on, and the Wind beginning
to blow hard, the Sea beat into
the Cabbin while we were at Prayers,
which forced us to go upon Deck: Some
more of our Men escap'd to the Shore by
help of the Mast, as the others had done,
and call'd to us to make haste and follow
them, which we did, and by the Blessing
of God got safe to the Rock, though not
without much Danger, being forced to
crawl upon our Hands and Knees we were
so heavy with Water, and the Rock so
slippery.
Here again the Captain is false in the
second Page of his Narrative; for he neither
call'd us down to Prayers, nor order'd
us up again, nor did he either command
or assist at cutting down the Mast. We
know not whom he points at, where he
says, several of the Company did so sink
under Racks of Conscience, that they
were not able to stir; for he himself had
as great Reason to be under Terror of Conscience
as any Man, since he was the
Cause of all our Misfortunes. Accordingly
he cryed heartily, and begg'd the Mate
to do what he cou'd to save us, for he
himself cou'd do nothing. Nor was the
Captain ever upon the Deck but once,
when he held by the Long-Boat, cryed
out, and presently went down again,
which greatly discouraged us, so that had
it not been for the Mate, &c. who cut
down the Shrowds, &c. as abovemention'd,
we had all perish'd. He is also unjust
to the Mate in his third Page, where
he says, That one of the Men went out on
the Boltsprit, and returning, told the Captain
he saw something black ahead, and would
adventure to get on Shore, accompanied with
any other Person; upon which the Captain
pretends he desired some of his best Swimmers,
the Mate and one more, to go with
him, and if they recover'd the Rock, to
give Notice by their Calls, and direct the
rest to the most secure Place; for it was
the Mate who went on the Boltsprit and
discover'd the Land. After which he desired
the Captain and the rest to go ashore
before he attempted it himself; but finding
them all dead-hearted, the Mate, who
cou'd not swim, as the Captain alledges,
got on Shore by the Mast as abovemention'd.
The Captain is also false in asserting
that he attempted to save his Money,
Brandy, Ammunition, &c. for our Relief,
since he had not the Value of one Guinea
aboard in Money. It is equally false that
he tore his Arms and Fingers in such a
lamentable manner in climbing up the
Rock; for not one Man was hurt in getting
ashore. Nor was the Captain in danger
of being wash'd off from the Yard, the
Water there being no deeper than our
Middle.
When we got ashore we found it to
be a desolate small Island, without any
Shelter; and being wet, and having but
few Clothes, some began to despair of
being able to live there till the Morning;
and besides, we were not certain but it
might be over flow'd at high Tide. We
comforted our selves however, the best
we cou'd, and though we expected to perish
there, return'd God Thanks for giving
us some more Time to repent. In this dismal
Condition we continued till next Morning,
without any thing to refresh us: But being
in hopes that the Wreck would remain
till Daylight, and that we might
recover some of our Provisions, we sent
a Man down to see what was become of
her, but he brought us Word that he
cou'd see nothing of her. When Daylight
came we went to look for the Wreck
in a cold and hungry Condition; but
found nothing except one half Cheese,
entangled in a Piece of a Rope, and
this we equally distributed among us.
Soon after we found a Piece of fine Linnen
and Canvas, of which we endeavour'd
to make a Tent, and effected it at
last by the help of the Boatswain the second
Day, and this preserv'd us from being
all frozen to Death, as our Cook was
in a little Time to our very great Grief,
since we look'd upon it as a certain Presage
that we should all have the same
Fate. We carried the Corpse to the Seaside,
from whence it was soon wash'd off
by the Flood. Here the Captain publishes
another Falshood in his fifth Page, when he
says he knew where he was; for he declared
to us that he knew not: Nor is there any
more Truth in the Compassion he there
alledges that he shew'd to the Cook when
he was a dying.
When the Weather clear'd we discover'd
the main Land, which we suppos'd
to be about a League from us. This
fill'd us with Hopes that by the Providence
of God we should soon be deliver'd,
for which we return'd him Thanks, and
immediately set about building a Boat
out of part of the Wreck which was
drove ashore, and heartily pray'd, that
God would give us Success. We were
so cold, hungry and feeble, that it was
scarce possible for us to do any thing, nor
could we walk on the Rock in order to
keep us warm, it was so craggy, uneven
and slippery. We made shift however to
finish our Boat, the Bottom of which was
made of Three Planks, and the Side was
Half a Plank High. We cork'd and lin'd
it with Canvas the best we could, and
made it about Twelve Foot Long and Four
Foot Wide, thinking it sufficient to hold
Six of us.
After this some Controversie happen'd
who the Six should be. The Carpenter
pleaded his Right to be one, because he
built it; the Captain pleaded to be another,
which was agreed to; and the Boatswain
was thought fit to be one, because
he spoke the Indian Language; but at last
it was concluded that the Mate, the Captain's
Brother, Charles Whitworth, and
George White, should be the Men; and
we carried the Boat to the Shore, where
we launch'd her, putting on Board such of
the Carpenter's Tools as we had sav'd
from the Wreck, in order to build a better
when we came on Shore. We begg'd the
Assistance and Direction of God, and some
of our Company went into the Boat, taking
leave of the rest, and promising to
bring them Relief as soon as possible. But
the Boat overset, by which our Men were
almost drown'd, and narrowly escaped
again to the Rock. The Boatswain held
the Boat almost an Hour with a Rope in
hopes to save her till the Weather grew
more calm, and the Gunner came to his
Assistance, but soon after she was stav'd
to pieces, which was a great Mortification
to us. We thank'd God however that
he was pleas'd again to preserve so many
of us, tho' the Time for our Relief was
not yet come. The Captain is out in his
Account, pag. 7. when he says, our Boat
had a Mast and a Sail, for she had neither.
The Wind blowing hard, and there
being a great Snow, we betook our selves
to Prayer, and earnestly begg'd that God
would have mercy on us, and consider
our deplorable Condition. Being wet
with our Endeavours to launch the Boat,
our Cloaths freezed to our Backs, which
proved fatal to our Carpenter, who died
a few Days after. The next Day prov'd
fair Weather, so that we could see the
Houses on the main Land, and several
Boats rowing to and fro, which rejoyc'd
us very much; and after praying that
God might direct some of them to us, we
shew'd our selves on several Places of the
Rock, and hallow'd to them, but they
could not hear us. This quite discourag'd
us again, for we had no Provisions but
some small pieces of Cheese, four or five
pieces of Beef, and one Neats Tongue
that we recover'd out of the Wreck, and
a small quantity of this was distributed among
us every Morning when we went
round the Rock to see if it would please
God to send us any further Provisions. At
last George White, one of our Number,
found some Muscles at Low Water, for
which we return'd God Thanks, and we
found about as many for two or three days
as six or seven came to each Man's share;
but the Weather was so cold, and the
Tides fell out so late in the Night that we
could get no more. The Captain then
told us, We must shift for our selves, there
being nothing now for us to trust to but the
Mercies of God. There being a piece of
a Cows Hide on the Fore Yard of the
Wreck, we cut it into small pieces and
swallow'd it down, which reviv'd us a
little. Some of our Company got Sea
Weed, which was also shar'd among us,
and this was all the Entertainment we had
for several Days; but still we liv'd in
hopes of being deliver'd from this dismal
Place; and the Captain told us, If we were,
he would sell the Cables, Anchors and Guns
that were cast ashore, for our Maintenance.
In this Distress our Mate perceiving
a large Sea Gull in a Hole of the Rock,
he knock'd it down with the Handle of
a Sawce Pan, brought her into the Tent,
and shar'd her among us, to our great Relief.
Perceiving no hopes of any Boats coming
to us, a stout Dutchman, one of our
Company, propos'd the making of a Raft,
and proffer'd to endeavour to get ashore
with it himself, if no body else would.
This Proposal being well relish'd, such of
us as were able clear'd the Fore Yard of the
Rigging with a great deal of Trouble, for
want of sufficient Strength and necessary
Instruments; and having split it in two to
make the Sides of the Raft, and fastning the
End pieces with Nails, we put a Plank in
the Middle, with a Mast, and a Sail made of
two Hammocks, and accordingly launch'd
her, with George White and the Dutchman
upon it, giving them Orders, if they
got ashore, to acquaint the People with
our Distress, and to beg their hastening
to our Assistance. But the Raft overset,
by which the Men were almost drown'd,
so that none would venture upon it again
except the Dutchman and another. We
pray'd heartily for their Success, and saw
them paddle along till the Sun was down,
and they appear'd to us to be so near the
Shore, that we hoped they might Land
safely.
That Night it blew very hard, and the
next Day our Carpenter died as abovemention'd,
and in the Morning we hawl'd
him out of the Tent. That same Day the
Captain and George White went out to see
what they could find, but return'd empty
handed.
Upon this the Captain propos'd the
fleying and eating of the Carpenter's dead
Body, and told us, It was no Sin, since God
was pleas'd to take him out of the World and
that we had not laid violent Hands upon
him. He ask'd the Boatswain to help to
skin and cut him up, which he refus'd
because of his Weakness; whereupon one
Charles Gray help'd the Captain to do it,
and brought in several pieces of the Corps
into the Tent, where some of our Men eat
of it; but the Mate, the Boatswain, and
George White would not touch any of it till
next Day that they were forced to it by
Extremity of Hunger.
Here the Captain is guilty of several
Heads, and particularly pag. 11, &c. for
he was so far from offering to go ashore
on the Raft, that he said, Let who will go,
'twas all one to him. Nor did the Dutchman
or Swede ever desire the Captain to
go with him or help him to turn the Raft;
nor did the Captain assist George White to
get ashore when he was overset in the
Raft. It is likewise false, that the other
Man who went off in the Raft was found
dead with a Paddle fastned to his Wrist,
for his Corps was found about 300 Yards
from the Shore, and no Paddle to his
Wrist. 'Tis likewise false, that the Captain
went several times out alone to look
for Provisions, for George White was always
with him. Nor is it true, that the piece of
Cow's Hide beforemention'd was brought
into the Tent by the Captain's Order, for
George White brought it without his
Knowledge. It is likewise false, that the
Men first requested the Carpenter's dead
Body of the Captain to eat, for he himself
was the first that propos'd it, and the
Three Deponents refus'd to eat any of it
until the next Morning that the Captain
brought in some of his Liver and intreated
'em to eat of it; so that the Captain's
Pretensions of being moved with Horror
at the Thoughts of it, are false, for there
was no Man that eat more of the Corps
than himself. It is likewise false, that any
of the Men removed the dead Body from
the Place where they laid it at first. It is
also untrue, that the Captain order'd
his Skin, Head, Hands, &c. to be buried
in the Sea, for these we left on the Island
when we came off. Nor is there any more
Truth in the Care which the Captain ascribes
to himself, in hindring us to eat
too much of the Corps lest it should prejudice
our Health, for we all agreed, the
Night before we come off, to limit our
selves, lest our Deliverers should be detain'd
from coming to us. And as to our
Tempers being alter'd after the eating of
humane Flesh, as the Captain charges us,
p. 16. we can safely declare, that tho' he
says, There was nothing to be heard among
us but brutish Quarrels, with horrid Oaths
and Imprecations, all the Oaths we heard
were between the Captain, his Brother,
and Mr. Whitworth, who often quarrel'd
about their Lying and Eating. And
whereas the Captain often went to Prayers
with us before we had the Corps to eat, he
never, to our hearing, pray'd afterwards,
but behav'd himself so impiously, that he
was many times rebuked by the Mate and
others for profane Swearing.
Having agreed with the Men we sent
off on the Raft, that they should kindle a
Fire if they got safe on Shore, we were
rejoic'd upon the sight of a Smoke, hoping
that had been the Signal they promis'd,
but it was not. Soon after that we perceiv'd
a Boat coming towards us, which
made our Hearts leap for Joy, and we
return'd Thanks to God for the Prospect of
a speedy Deliverance. The Boat came to
an Anchor along the side of the Rock, but
could not get ashore; and we call'd to 'em
for Fire, which the Master sent us by one
of his Men in a small Canoe, but no Provisions.
This was the 22d Day after we
had been on this desolate Rock, so that
the Man was frighten'd at the sight of so
dismal a Spectacle. We all got about
him, and cryed for Joy. He told us,
that the Reason of their coming to the
Rock to see for us, was their finding a Raft
on the Shore, with one Man frozen to
Death about Two or Three Hundred
Yards from it, but they heard nor saw
nothing of the other, from whence 'twas
supposed that the Man found dead ashore
having landed there in the Night Time,
and not knowing where to go, he was
frozen to Death under a Tree where
they found him. After this Discourse, our
Captain went to go off in the Boat, but
it overset, so that we were forc'd to take
up the Canoe, and carry it all over the
Rock, to seek for a smooth Place to put
her off again, which we did after the
Man had staid with us Two or Three
Hours. He promised to come with a better
Boat to carry us off, but lost his Vessel
as he came near the Shore, and narrowly
escaped with his own and his Mens
Lives; upon which he sent an Express
to Piscataqua for Relief to us. This Night
we had a prodigious Storm, but kept a
great Fire, which was seen on the Shore,
and prov'd very comfortable to us, both
for its Warmth, and by Broiling Part of
the Dead Corps, which made it eat with
less Disgust.
The next Day it blowed very fresh,
so that no Relief could come to us; but
on the 4th of January in the Morning, the
Weather being fair, several Sloops came
towards us, and one Canoe came ashore
with Four Men, Two of which were
Captain Long and Captain Forbe, Commanders
of Ships, and soon carried us all
off on board their Vessel; for several of
us had our Legs so frozen, and were so
weak that we could not walk. These
Gentlemen took great Care of us, and
would not suffer us to eat or drink but a
little at a time, lest it should do us hurt.
Night we arrived at Piscataqua in New
England, where we were all provided
for, and had a Doctor appointed to look
after us. We were Ten who came ashore.
Two of us having died on the Island, and
Two being lost that were sent off on the
Raft. The Names of those that were sav'd
are John Dean, Captain; Christopher Langman,
Mate; Christopher Gray, Gunner; Nicholas
Mellan, Boatswain; George White,
Charles Whitworth, Henry Dean, Charles
Graystock, William Saver, and the Captain's
Boy, who had Part of his Foot
cut off to prevent a Mortification, and several
others were lame. Thus we were
delivered by the Goodness of God (for
which we praise his Name) after we had
been Twenty Four Days upon that Desolate
Island in the Distress abovementioned,
having nothing to shelter us but a sorry
Tent that could not keep us from wet,
and was once in Danger of being carryed
off by the high Tide, which obliged us
to remove it to the highest Part of the
Rock. We had nothing to lie on but
the Stones, and very few Cloathes to cover
us; which, together with our Hunger,
made our Lives a Burden to us.
Some Days after our Arrival, the Captain
drew up a Protest, which was sign'd
by the Mate, being then very ill of a Flux
and Fever; and also by the Boatswain
Geo. White, who was also ill, and declared
that he did it for fear of being put out
of his Lodgings by the Captain, while he
was both sick and lame. But as soon
as the Deponents recover'd, they declar'd
the Captain's Protest to be false, &c. as
may be seen by the Depositions hereunto
annex'd.
The Captain falsly ascribes to himself,
p. 17, the first Discovery of the Sloop that
came to relieve us, whereas it was first
discover'd by Christopher Gray, the Gunner,
he being sent out on purpose by the
Mate, who the Night before had dreamt
of the Sloop's Arrival. The Captain likewise
falsly magnifies his own Danger of
being drowned, when the Canoe was overset,
since the Water then was scarce
half a Yard deep; and instead of being
thankful to God for his own and our
Deliverance, he returned with the Dog to
his Vomit, and behav'd himself so brutishly,
that his Friend Captain Purver was
obliged to turn him out of his House.
He was so little sensible of the Merciful
Deliverance from the Danger he had escaped,
that he barbarously told the Children
in his Lodging, he would have made
a Frigasy of them if he had had 'em in Boon
Island; which frighten'd the People that
heard him, and made them esteem him
a Brute, as he was. He likewise wrong'd
us of what the Good People gave us towards
our Relief, and applyed it to his
own and his Brother's Use; and particularly
when Captain John Wentworth gave
several of our Men good Cloaths, Captain
Dean came and order'd them the
worst that could be had, and was likewise
so barbarous as to get us turn'd out
of our Lodgings, before we were able to
shift for our selves.
All this we avouch to be Truth, and
have no other End in publishing it, but to
testify our Thankfulness to God for his
Great Deliverance, and to give others
Warning not to trust their Lives or Estates
in the Hands of so wicked and brutish
a Man.
For the Truth of what we have deliver'd,
we refer to the Affidavits subjoined,
which we made concerning this Matter
both in New England, and since our Arrival
at London.