Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 4
To his Exclly Govr. Bowdoin the Attorney Genl. respectfull represents Sr. that there are confined in the Goal in this Town two Persons vizt. Belitha Taylor & Wm. Buckley, charged with comitting a Piracy in the month of May last in Co. with Richd. Powell & Wm. Dunham1 against Christian Millar Owner & Comander of the Schooner Cates taking his Schooner & Cargo from him & putting him ashore on a desolate Island on the coast of Nova Scotia, the two Prisoners were apprehended at & near Machias in this Comlth And their Examinations taken by Stephen Jones2 & Alexr. Campbell3 Esqrs. Jus. of Peace in the Co. of Lincoln, by their Examination they confess the facts; the other two Prisoners vizt. Powell & Dunham after they were apprehended & put on board the Vessel for Conveyance to Boston were rescued & escaped & are not yet retaken the Justices have sent up to me the official papers belonging to said Schooner from the Port of Halifax & their Examins. by all which it appears that her Cargo was cheifly Pork & Flour shipped by Goverment & that she was bound to Chedabucto; no witnesses are sent nor the names of any nor doth it appear how they are to be obtained the Atty. Genl. therefore proposes to yr. Exclly that the Govr. of Halifax should be notified of this State of the matters in order that they may be sent there for Tryal or that Sufficient Witnesses may be sent from Halifax to this Town by the last Tuesday in August next in order for their Tryal at the Sup. Jud. Court wch. will then Sett.
the Prisners came in different vessel to this Town, & the charge of bringing Buckley is vallued by the master of the vessel at 4:19/ the Justices both write me that considerable charge has occurred in taking these Prisoners and they are desirous to know how it is to be paid they are intituled to their reasonable pay by the Laws of this Govt. & if the Vessel Schooner & Cargo is restored it ought to be paid by the owner
The newspapers that reported the piracy incident identified this man as “Durihan.” The Massachusetts Centinal reported on June 18:
“Monday the 9th of May, the Schooner Keats, Christian Miller, Master, was piratically run away with, from Copeland’s wharf, in Halifax, by four men, whose names are Richard Powell, William Buckley, George Taylor, and William Durihan. The master having gone on board about eleven or 336 twelve o’clock at night, went to sleep in his cabin, and was awakened by an uncommon motion of the vessel;—on going upon deck to enquire the reason, was astonished to find himself at sea, and Halifax Light-House bearing West about three leagues, he was made to understand he was a prisoner, and the pirates immediately proceeded to the Westward, and landed him on an island, called the Bald Tusket, where he was necessitated to stay four days, during which time he employed himself in making a raft, which he bound together with a cod line, given him by the pirates, upon which he fastened himself, and committed himself to the sea; the wind setting on the shore brought him to land, after being twenty four hours in the above situation; and after experiencing many hardships, he arrived here on Sunday last.
William Buckley and Belitha Taylor were found guilty of piracy later in 1785 at the Court of Admiralty held in Halifax, N.S. They were executed on George’s Island (New-York Journal, Nov. 17, 1785)
Naval officer for Machias.
Naval officer for Gouldsborough.
The Committee to whom was referred a representation of the Attorney General respecting two pirates apprehended at Machias in the County of Lincoln & now confined in the Goal in Boston reported that he had conversed with the Attorney General upon the subject & found that the two pirates were subjects of the british king & that as the witnesses were at Halifax it was adviseable to send them there for trial, because it was uncertain whether the said witnesses would appear if sent to & the keeping of them in Goal must be attended with great expence. The Council took the same into consideration—And thereupon Advised that his Excellency be requested to take Order that they be delivered to Captain Stanhope Commander of the british frigate in the harbour of Boston & that the Attorney General be directed to make a Statement of the matter, & to lay it together with the papers in his possession before the Governor and Council & that his Excellency be requested to forward the same to Governour Parr at Halifax.
True Copy from the Minutes of Council