Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period Part 71

ANTONIO PEREDA.

7. The affidavit of the Spanish Sailors taken before James Abercromby, Judge Advocat to the Army before Carthagene.[22]

[Footnote 22: In the summer of 1740, when the expedition against Cartagena, under Vernon and Cathcart, was being planned, Capt. James Abercromby was made judge-advocate-general to the military forces.

_Gent. Mag._, X. 358. This was the same Abercromby who afterward failed so lamentably as commander-in-chief of the British forces in North America, and at Ticonderoga, 1758.]

This day personally appeared before me Captain Seth Drummond of Philadelphia and Commander of a Privatteer Sloop Called the _George_ bringing along with him three Spainards Called Geronimo Faxardo, francisco Roderigues, and Antonio Pereda, who being duely Sworn by the Siegn of the Cross, being the manner of their Nation, do Depose that on the Twenty fourth of February last past, New Stile, a little to leward of the Island of Aruba,[23] in the West Indies, they being in a Snow come from the Island of Thenerife called the _Princess of Orange_ and Commanded by Capt. John Melidoni Loaded with wine, were taken by the above Capt. Drummond and they further Depose that notwithstanding their Said Captain Melidon had a Dutch pa.s.sport and wore Dutch Colours yet in reality the Said Snow and her Cargo did belong to Spainish Merchants in the Said Island of Thenerife, and that they had no Dutch man on board, on the Contrary all the Crew were Spainards except the Said Captain, the Mate, and the Boatswain, and this They Depose by the Interpretation of David Campbell, Commisary of the Stores of war and provisions in the Brittish army before Carthagena; being for this Effect duly Sworn. Dated at the Camp before Carthagena this Sixth Day of April one thousand Seven hundred and forty one and of his Majesties Reign the fourteenth.

[Footnote 23: Aruba lies in the southernmost part of the Caribbean, off the Venezuelan coast and west of Curacao.]

Sworn before me JAMES ABERCROMBY,

Judge advocat to the army before Carthagene.

GERONIMO FAXARDO.

his FRANCISCO [X] RODERIGUES.

mark ANTONIO PEREDA'S mark [X]

DAVID CAMPBELL.

8. Translation of the Portlidge Bill[24] from the Spanish.

[Footnote 24: A portledge bill was a register of sailors' names and claims for wages or allowances.]

Catalogue of the mens names and their monthly wages

Captain wages @ 30 8 p month commencing from the 17th Xbr. 1740.

Pursers idem @ 20 Do.

David Guise 13 Do.

Gaspar fasado 6 Do.

Francisco Gras 7 Do.

Fran'so Roldan 9 Do.

Visente Dias 9 Do.

Francis Tabier 9 Do.

Antonio Perera 9 Do.

Juan Gordes 9 Do.

Vincente Antonio 9 Do.

each month ps. 8/8, 130 and on acct. have received 174 Dollars as p. Capn. Acct.

9. Court of Vice Admiralty Pensilvania.

Gaspar Fajardo a Native of the Island of Teneriff part of the Territories of the King of Spain and one of the Mariners taken on board the Snow called the _Princess of Orange_, being Solemnly Sworn by Sign of the Holy Cross according to the manner of Adminstring oaths in Courts of Justice within the Kingdom of Spain, Deposeth and Sayeth

That last year He sailed from the Havana and arrived at the Said Island of Teneriffe sometime in the month of August last past. That upon his arival, he was hired by one Captain John Melodny late Commander of the Said Snow called the _Princess of Orange_ and one Andrew Haymas a Native of the Said Island of Teneriffe to go a Sailor on board the Said Snow then rideing at anchor at the Said Island. That he was informed the Said Snow was built at Dublin in Ireland and that she with another Vessell was cut out of the Road of Santa Cruz on the Coast of Barbary[25] by a Spainish Privateer, brought into the Said Island of Teneriffe, and Condemned as a prize taken from the Subjects of the King of Great Britain and there Sold to the Said Capt.

Milodony. That he sailed in the Said Snow from the Said Island in about two days after his arrival there from the Havana for the Island of Curacoa; but missed that Island, and fell in with the Land of Cora[26] and came to an anchor there. That perceveing the people on Sh.o.r.e to be in some Confusion the Master let fly a white Sheet with some red rags Sewed thereon in form of a Spanish Ensign;[27] and then the Said Capt. Melidony went on Sh.o.a.r. That the Sailors saying they wanted victuals the said Capt. Melidony went up to the Town to the Governor or Chief magistrate and Sold him Four Quarter Casks of wine and recived for it about Forty Dollars. That the Said Capt. Melidony got some provisions there and afterwards returned on board the Snow.

[Footnote 25: On the west coast of Morocco; the famous modern Agadir.]

[Footnote 26: On the Venezuelan mainland, south of Aruba and southwest of Curacao.]

[Footnote 27: The Spanish flag bore red horizontal stripes on a yellow ground.]

The Deponent being asked what Cargo was on board the Said Snow and to whom the same did belong, He saith that the Snow was loaded with wines at the said Island of Teneriffe, and that Antonio Pereda a Sailor on Board the Said Snow who had received the Said wines on board and Stowed them in the Vessell frequantly after the takeing of the Said Snow informed him that eighteen or Twenty Pipes of the wine belonged to the aforesaid Andw Haymas, and that one Stephen Pereda a Spainard born as he beleves on the Island of Teneriffe aforesd. owned twenty eaght or thirty Pipes of the Said wines. That the first Information he received concerning the Said Andrew Haymas and Stephen Peredas owning those wines was after takeing the Said Snow and from the Said Antonio Pereda who upon Examination by the Commander of the Privateer called the _George_, freely and without any forse or Compulsion confessed that So much of the wines as are above mentioned, of his own Knowladge did belong to the Said Andrew Haymas and Stephen Pereda.

And this Deponant furthar saith, the paper now Shewn and read to him marked No. 8[28] Signed by himselfe and Six other Spanish mariners, was Signed by them freely and without Compulsion and contains nothing but Truth to the best of his Knowledge.

[Footnote 28: No. 6 above.]

That he heard the paper marked No. 11[29] now Shewen and read to him and read to the Said Antonio Pereda who in the presance of the Deponant freely and without any Constraint signed the Same and Declared the Contents thereof to be true.

[Footnote 29: Apparently no. 5 above.]

And the English Deposition marked No. 8[30] being likewise Shewen to this Deponant and the Contents thereof explained to him by an Interpreter duly Sworn and qualified for that purpose,

[Footnote 30: No. 7 above.]

He deposeth and Saith, That he with the other Deponents in the Said Deposition named did before James Abercromby in the said Deposition named make oath to the truth of the Contents of the Sd. Deposition and did Sign the Same in the presence of the Said James Abercromby freely and without Compulsion and further Saith, the Said Deposition contains nothing but the Truth to the best of his Knowledge and Belief.

GASPAR FAJARDO.

10. Court of Vice Admiralty Pensilvania.

Francesco Rodrigues a Native of the Island of Teneriffe and one of the Mariners taken on board the Snow Called the _Princess of Orange_ being Solemnly Sworn by the Sign of the Holy Cross according to the manner of administring Oaths in Courts of Justice within the Kin[g]dom of Spain Deposeth and Saith

That he saw the Said Snow sold as a prize at the said Island of Teneriffe to Capt. John Milodony by order of Some Court there, but the particular time of the Sale he cannot Remember, That He was s.h.i.+pped as a Sailor on board the Said Snow by the Said John Milodony and one Andrew Haymas, a Spainard and Inhabitant of the said Island. That the said John Melodony cairried this Deponant and three other Sailors belonging to the Said Snow to the House of the said Andrew Haymas in the said Island to receive advance wages on the Intended Voyage and that there the said Andrew Haymas did pay this Deponent nine Dollars for such wages and gave him a Note to pay nine Dollars more to the Deponant's wife, and then did pay the advance wages to the other three Sailors, all of which was done in the presance of the said John Melidony and that the Said Andrew Haymas was on board the Said Snow at the time of her Sailing from the Said Island of Teneriffe; and this Deponant further Saith, that after their Departure from the Sd. Island on their voyage to the Island of Curacoa, they missed the said Island of Curacoa and made the Island of Tobago[31] which the Pilot said was to windward of Curacoa. That they went from thence and fell in with the Land at Cora where they came to an Anchor. That the people on Sh.o.a.re appearing to be in some Confusion, the Capt. Melidony hoisted a white Sheet with some red Rags sewed thereon in form of a Spanish Ensign, which Seemed to appease the People, and then the Captain went ash.o.r.e in his Boat and got some Provisions. That they afterward left Cora and fell into Leeward of the Island of Aruba where they droped Anchor at some distance from the Sh.o.a.re and were there taken by the Privateer Called the _George_. And this Depont. further Saith that in their Voyage the Sailors on board the Said Snow did Sometimes express their Fears of being taken by an English Privateer and that the Said Capt. Milodony bid them not to be afraied for he had got a Dutch Pa.s.s and Dutch Colours. That when Capt. Melidony's Sailors who were going ash.o.r.e with him in the boat to the Said Island of Aruba, saw the Said Privateers Boat going on board the Said Snow they asked him what Signified his Dutch Pa.s.s and his Dutch Colours if that should be an English Privateer, to which he answered, be not afraied for my Pa.s.s and Colours will bring us off, or Save us, and this Deponent being asked what Cargo was on board the Said Snow and to whom the Same did belong, he Saith, that the Snow was loaded with wines at the Said Island of Teneriffe and that Antonio Pereda a Sailor on board the Said Snow who had received the Said wines on board and Stowed them in the Vessel, frequently after the takeing of the Said Snow informed him, that eighteen or Twenty Pipes of the wine belonged to the aforsd.

Andrew Haymas, and that one Stephen Pereda a Spainard born as he belives on the Island of Teneriffe aforsaid owned twenty-eight or Thirty Pipes of the Said wines. That the first Information he received concerning the Said Andrew Haymas and Stephen Pereda's owning those wines, was after takeing the Said Snow and from the sd. Antonio Pereda who upon examination by the Commander of the Privateer Called the _George_, freely, and without any Force or Compulsion confessed that So much of the wines as are above Mentioned, of his own knowledge, did belong to the Said Andrew Haymas and Stephen Pereda.

[Footnote 31: One of the Lesser Antilles, far to the east of Curacao.]

And this Deponant further Saith that the Paper now Shewn and read to him marked No. 10,[32] signed by himselfe and Six other Spanish mariners was Signed by them freely and without Compulsion, and contains nothing but Truth to the best of his knowledge. That he heard the paper marked No. 11,[33] now Shewn and read to him, read to the Said Antonio Pereda who in the presance of the Deponant freely and without any Constraint signed the Same and declared the Contents thereof to be true. And the English Deposition marked No. 8[34] being Likewise Shewen to this Deponant and the Contents thereof explained to him by an Interpreter duely Sworn and qualified for that purpose, He Deposeth and Saith, That He with the other Deponants in the Said Deposition named, did before James Abercromby in the same Deposition named, make Oath to the Truth of the Contents of the Said Deposition, and did Sign the Same in the presence of the Said James Abercromby freely and without Compulsion, and further Saith, the Said Deposition contains nothing but the Truth to the best of his knowladge and Belief, and this Deponent further says that the forementioned Snow _Princess of Orange_ was navigated by Seven Spainish Seamen besides the Captain the Pilot and one Seaman being Irish and one native Frenchman who was most of his life in Teneriff, That the Paper now Shewn to him marked A.[35] contains the names of the Said Seamen and the Deponent verily belives is of the handwriting of the for said Andrew Haymas.

his FRANCISCO [X] RODRIGUES mark

[Footnote 32: No. 6 above.]

[Footnote 33: No. 5 above.]

[Footnote 34: No. 7 above.]

[Footnote 35: No. 8 above.]

And it appearing from the whole Tenor of the Evidence, that the Said Snow and her Cargo, were at the time of the Capture, the Property of Persons residing in the King of Spain's Dominions, viz. at Teneriff and Cadiz

It is considered by the Court That the said Snow _Princess of Orange_, Wines, and all other her Cargo, are, and hereby stand Condemned as lawfull Prize.

PAT. BAIRD, Regr.[36]

[Footnote 36: Dr. Patrick Baird was clerk of the privy council 1723-1726, 1740-1742, clerk of the admiralty 1724-1735, register of the admiralty court 1735-1744, and deputy judge of that court 1749-1752.]