Mr Penrose, page 4
In three or four days we put to sea, being about a hundred Sail bound to different ports. Our Convoy was a Ship called the Old Chatham13 of 50 guns. Our Ship mounted 20 guns. With a letter of Marque we parted company in the Bay of Biscay and proceeded alone. Nothing of note happened on our passage except some of our maintopmen who, during the time we were at Exersize with the great guns, chanced to set the mizzen topmast staysail on fire as they were busy in the main top; but it was soon happily extinguished. Nevertheless it put all hands in a great hurry, as no misery can equal that of a Ship on fire in the main ocean.
After this we made the Islands of Antigua, Mountserrat, Nevis and St. Christopher’s [St. Kitts], and passed between them. Here we spoke a French flag of truce. A few nights after, we ran in with the Isle of Vash14 on St. Domingo in a very dark night indeed, but saw it time enough so as to recieve no damage. The next day we came abrest of the White Horses15 on the Jamaica south shore. Here the Pilot came on bord, and we got safe into Port Royal. And here I shall observe that our first Captain did not go the Voyage with the ship, and a Certain Mr. William James, then chief mate, took the command at Spithead.
During our stay here Admiral Davers16 died; and as all the Ships in the harbour were firing minute guns on that occasion, when it came to our turn one of the guns on the larboard side discharged before its due time. I happened then to be standing on the gangway and saw a young fellow of the name of Palmer sinking. The blood flew from his head and arms like a spout, and a piece of his Scull I found in the main chains. This unhappy young man had been sponging the gun and left some of the old Cartridge on fire within, which on his ramming home another, it took fire and blew him to pieces, at the same time blasting the fingers of ye boatswain who at that time held them on the touch hole.
About the latter end of November, having our full lading in, we set sail for London; but the Almighty was pleased to frustrate our intentions and to disperse us in a wonderful manner. We beat to windward for several days to little purpose. At length we carried away our foretopmast, top and all; two of our hands went overboard with it but saved their lives.
Our Commander then proposed to bear away for Blewfields17 to repair our damages. After we had got up a new top and topmast we put to sea and bore away for the Gulph of Florida.18 Some time after this on a blustery night we had like to have ran on shore on the Isle of Pines; however, we wore her and stood off again. From this time the weather proved very hazy with small rains, and in this sort it continued untill Christmas Eve. Every Mess was now busy in making Puddings, but alas, now began the prelude to our future troubles.
A Sqall arose about the second watch, and all hands were call’d out. It blew for about half an hour; after this we jog’d on under an easy sail untill break of day. Little did I think at the time that would prove so fatal a Christmas day to me.
Our chief mate, Mr. Ramage, shortly after he came on deck spied a Sail right ahead of us. Directly all hands were call’d to quarters as she was laying too not two miles from us. Just as this happened we discovered the Moro Castle quite plain under our lee. Now as the Enemy was stern too we could not judge of her force; nor did she seem to take the least notice of us, and as we were in no kind of fear about her we stood on. Shortly after this as we came abreast of her we plainly percieved her to be a Ship of force. She then bore down into our wake, hoisted Spanish Colours, and began to fire several random shott at us. Directly we ran out two stern chases, and crouded all the Sail we could; but in a short time after away went our Maintop Gallant mast, and as she then gained on us fast our Captain ordered the Ensigne to be haled down.
The Ship we struck to was a Spanish Man of War, and called El Fuerto, mounting 50 guns commanded by One Capt. Mahony, a good-natur’d old Irishman. We were carried into the Havannah, and there our Crew was divided on board of two Men of War (Viz) The Dragon and Conqustador.19 So that I well remember my Christmas dinner was changed from plumb pudding to Horse beans and poor Jerked beef.
In this place we remain’d prisoners and had the grief and mortification to see Flags of truce come in and go out every day, it being a practice in those times For Flags to visit the Spaniards from N. America Laden with flour and other articles; and this was supported through the sneeking contrivance of their bringing and taking away one or two prisoners at a time that by this low cunning the game might last the longer, while hundreds of His Majesties loyall Subjects were detained to labour at the Moro Castle in the abject condition of carrying Stones to repair their enemies fortifications against their will.
Our Employment on board of those two ships was picking of Ochum, pumping ship, hoisting in their water, and the like. We had our Birth alotted between two great guns on the lower deck. It was then proposed by the elders of our brotherhood in Captivity to form a set of Laws among ourselves, as well for our better keeping peace as not to anoy the Enemy. We in the first place concluded never to mention the word Spaniard but to substitute that of Hoopstick in its stead. By this means we could talk freely about them at all times as none of them understood English. Another law was strictly to observe the hours of 10 in the morning and 4 in the Evening for the ridding of the Vermin with which we greatly abounded. This law was so strictly observed that if any one was found to transgress he was directly brought to the gun where he recieved a good copping, alias ten and a puss on his posteriours with a Barrel Stave.
The Spaniards took much pleasure in hearing us sing or play at Cards. But there was one thing which I never thought commendable in our English, which was deciding their foolish quarrels on shore in a boxing bout, to the great derision of our Enemies and their own shame; the Spaniards never failing on such occasions to call them Peros Engleses, English Dogs.
We were served every day with fresh beef from ye town, but as poor as carrion; yet we had bread enough so that we used to sell a part to the Marines on board. They took our money on shore and bought Roots or green for us, so that we did not fare miserable.
Divine service was duely observed by them every day, after the Catholick manner. In the meantime our Jacks, far from thinking of the like, were used for to Assemble below and fall to singing, for which they were often reproved. But there was one refractory Chap who was every now and then laid in the stocks. N.B. Their way is to lay the person on his back with his neck in the hole and a block under the head.
It happened while we were there News came in of the Accession of Ferdinand to the throne of Spain.20 There was great rejoycings on the occasion for several days. Medals were struck and thrown to the populace. Bells jangled the whole time. A Castle was erected in order to be attaqued by an English Ship drawn through the Streets on a carriage. On her quarter deck was placed the figure of Admiral Vernon.21 Her rigging was hung with all sorts of fireworks so that when she came to engage the Castle she soon became on fire, when poor Vernon fell a sacrifice to their rancour. But, by the bye, this was a farcical pantomime of their own.
Every evening all the churches, Castles, and batteries were finely illuminated, but our curiosity to see those curious Sights had liked to have cost some of our people dear. Now as we were never suffered to go on shore on the town side, in the Evenings we used to get up in the Ship’s tops to behold the sights on shore. One night as we were innocently aloft and the Hoopsticks under us at prayers on the forecastle, no sooner had they done than up they ran on each side of the Shrouds and fell to paying the poor English as fast as they could come at them. Some ran down the stay, others fought their way down the shrouds the best they could. None could understand the meaning of this treatment or what it meant. As many as could got between decks. At last we found out the Story to be thus. In the foretop was a small Hurricane house for the Captain of the Top to sleep in. In this place was a small Model of a Ship, in which some of our people had through laziness watered. Unfortunately for us she had a small hole in her bottom, and the urine ran down on the Hoopsticks as they were at prayers. But the whole thing blew over next day as we all declared none intended it as an insult.
We had been there about six weeks when they thought best to send us all away in an old leakey Sloop. The appointed day came, and she came along side to take us all on board to proceed for Jamaica as a flag of truce. There were on board this Vessell some 5 or 6 Spaniards with an Irish Captain Who knew no more of the Sea than a Parson, and to the best of my memory about 70 of us.
We proceeded to beat through the old Streights of Bahama under a ships nurse.22 The sloop worked so well that she had her wake ever on the weather crutch, the pump continually going. This, added to our Pilot’s ignorance, made them at last give her into the charge of our Mate, Mr. Rammage, to navigate her to the island of New Providence.23
We met with two sail who took out a few of our people. Now the rest by some means or other found out some cash hidden in water casks and the like. This discovery was Imparted to but a few; and to defend the booty they made Bludgeons as to guard against the press they pretended. This the Spaniards found out, but I cannot say whither Rammage was to be rewarded for his labour by the Spaniards or not. But just as we came abreast of Rose Island near to New Providence he broke the matter to them to return the money, but they peremptory and boldly denied it. At this time the wind was died away, and the monyed heroes insisted on having the boat hoisted out to go on shore, thinking that it was Providence itself. Away they went by force and left us to sink or swim; but providentially the wind sprang up or we had certainly all foundered. This breeze brought us into the port just as the heroes were crossing over from Hog Island to the town.24
The Captain immediately laid his complaint before Tinker,25 who was at that time Govourner and as great a trickster as those the captain laid his charge against, as the report then went. Some of them were taken up and examined before his Excellency, but they had all found means to secreet the cash one way or other except a Certain Frank Harris, with whom some of the dollars was found. This Poor young fellow was by the Governors order clapt into the fort and compassionately forced to become a Grenadier, after he had obliged him to ride on the Wooden horse repeatedly.
In this place we rambled up and down half naked and all friendless, without the means of any present support.—And here I shall give the reader a rough draught of my Garb as I then appear’d. (Viz) a long pair of ragged and narrow Spanish trowsers, a fragment of an old blue Shirt not enough to pass under my waistband, a remnant of an old Red Handkerchif round my head, without either shoe or stocking to my feet. I had yet my old blue bonnet. Now this place being full of Privateering, we all enter’d one way or other; as for my part I was full in for it by way of retalliation on our Enemies.
1. In south Wales.
2. A ship by this name is listed in Commander J. W. Damer Powell, Bristol Privateers and Ships of War, Bristol, 1930, p. 102.
3. This was the “Great Storm” which occurred in 1734/35 rather than the more famous one of November, 1703, which was described by Defoe and others. A dogger is a two-masted ship with a blunt bow.
4. The so-called War of Jenkins’ Ear or Spanish War was declared in 1739, the War of the Austrian Succession in 1741, ending with the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748.
5. Downriver from Bristol, on the Avon River in the “West Country” of England.
6. That is, as a privateersman.
7. An anchorage near the mouth of the Avon below Bristol.
8. Near Swansea in Wales, on the Neath River but with its own port on the Avon called Briton Ferry.
9. Snow, a small sailing vessel resembling a brig.
10. Impressed into the navy.
11. The records of the East India Company include the logs of four voyages of the Harrington to India and the East Indies before the ship was “retired” to private service in the Caribbean.
12. Near Greenwich, on the Thames below London.
13. This ship was built at Chatham in 1691 with 48 guns, rebuilt at Deptford in 1721, and sunk as a breakwater at Sheerness in 1749. A new Chatham with 50 guns was built at Portsmouth in 1758.
14. The Isle de Vache, near the southwest tip of Haiti.
15. The White Horse Cliffs, a few miles east of Port Royal.
16. Thomas Davers, after serving under Admiral Vernon, became commander-in-chief of the squadron at Jamaica in 1745. He died there on September 16, 1747.
17. A small settlement on the southwestern tip of Jamaica, not the Bluefields in Nicaragua.
18. The Gulf of Mexico.
19. Originally built in Bristol and christened the Gloucester, this ship was captured by the French and then sold to the Spanish, who renamed it the Conquistador.
20. Ferdinand VI succeeded to the throne in July, 1746.
21. Vernon at this time had left the Caribbean for service in the North Sea; but his earlier attacks on Jamaica, Portobello in Panama, and Cartagena had made him a prime villain in Spanish eyes.
22. Apparently an auxiliary sail.
23. A small island in the approximate center of the Bahamas.
24. Hog Island lies across a narrow channel from Nassau, the capital.
25. John Tinker was Governor of the Bahamas from 1740 until his death in 1758.
Chapter 2
And now, in serious mood, let me acquaint the Reader that not being as yet convinced of my folly by the hard sufferings I had hithertoo fellt, On a fatal hour I enter’d on board a Schooner called the Recovery1 of which James Strike was the Commander, Anno 1747, on a Cruise—against whom? Alas, against my poor self. Having obtained a few dudds, as the Sailors term Cloaths, from the Skipper which were to be all paid for out of our prize money, now as I was going with a People who act with some difference from the Europians I conducted myself according, and got me hooks and lines for my profit as well as pleasure on the Cruise.
We sailed out at the East end,2 as they termed it, and after a short time came too at an island called Andross. Here we staid but a short time, then stood away for an island called the Bimmeny,3 above 100 miles west of Providence. Here the batteaux or canoa was hoisted out, and all hands became full of Spirits. Some of our officers went on shore with fowling pieces; in the meantime some of the crew fell to fishing. This new mode of life agreed well with my mind. In the evening our People came down on the shore and the boat went and brought them off, but not in so good a condition as they left us. For it happened that one of them rambling about by himself, and not being percieved by another who was then taking sight at a bird, recieved part of the shott in his posteriors as he was discharging a point of necessity. The smart drove him mad for a time; but where there were a people round him who have little feeling of the tender passions it turned all to ridicule and diversion. However, when he was brought on board, the doctor restored him in a few days.
From hence we crossed the Gulph for the Florida Keys, and on one of them our people Shott three Birds such as I had never seen the like of in my life before. They were when erect near six feet high and Red as Vermillion, the neck and leggs being extreamly long but the body no bigger than a fat hen. We had plenty of Rum on board, but I observed that there was not the least oeconomy among them; and indeed I had learnt to relish the thing very well my Self by this time.
I shall here give the reader a specimen of our frugality. At Key West where there is plenty of Water we got into a notion of Spending a few hours at the Sign of the Fountain, as we termed it. In order to this, some of our most Potvaliant hero’s took on shore flasks of Rum and Sugar, and seating themselves round the Well discharged the rum and sugar into it. Of this bole I pertook. When our mighty bole grew weaker we replenished, untill the greater part what by hooping and singing fell asleep. N.B. These wells are Casks sunk in the sand with holes bored through them.
In the mean time while several lay snoring on the grass the man at mast head cried, “A sail, ho!” We all hurried on board, and what was very extraordinary, in a few minutes every man appear’d to be got quite Sober again, so great an effect this fresh alarm had on their spirits. The Sail appeared to the Southward and we gave chace under all the Sail we could croud right large. We chaced her the whole evening without gaining the least upon her; the next morning saw no more of her, she having altered her course. We then haled our wind and stood in shore again. Shortly after this we discovered some of the Savages on the shore, but as they proved too shy to come on board we ran in closer, where some of our most Valiant Gents took the whim of fireing on them. This I thought cruelty indeed, to take a few naked poor Cretures as a mark out of mere sport to shoot at.
While they were at ye game the Schooner got aground. Now the Skipper begant to rave, and ordered all the tallest overboard to shove her off again. And I could soon see their mighty courage began to ebb, fearing to be wreck’d on that inhospitable shore; but they shoon [soon] hove her off again.
The next day we saw two sail in the offing, and gave chace; these we came up with in the evening. They proved to be two small Sloops of no value. These we took the hands out of, and sat them on fire. The wind fell and it became a dead calm, so that it was amazing to see what towering columns of smoak asended from them. After this we stood away for the west end of Cuba and there landed our Prisoners.
In this lattitud we cruised for some time, when one day the man cried, “A sail on the weather bow!” We directly gave chase, but as she was going large we soon got the wind of her. The Chase then began to croud all the sail she could make, but we overhaled and got within cannon shott of her about five in the Evening. She proved to be a Spanish Ship of fourteen guns, and engaged us for about two glasses. This ship killed us three men and wounded seven. When she shott away our jibb stay and two of our Shrouds this affair nonplussed us for the present, and during the time it took up in getting stoppers on them she haled her wind and ran for it. We soon made after, but lost her in the night. On the morrow she could not be seen from masthead. This day we were in the Lattitude of Seventeen north.
