Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 4

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Richard Squire, John Mathews, George Steward, Alexander Evins, and John Boardman were charged with piracy after they took control of the schooner Amity, on which they were sailors, and left Capt. James Duncanson and several crew members stranded in the Atlantic in August 1785. Soon after, the marooned men were rescued by a passing ship and taken to New York City, where Captain Duncanson initiated legal proceedings against the pirates. The five men were arrested and imprisoned in Halifax and then tried in Massachusetts before the Essex County session of the Supreme Judicial Court in November. Squire and Mathews were found guilty of robbery but not piracy, while Evins, Steward, and Boardman were found not guilty of all charges. Sentencing of the two guilty men was delayed until February, when they were sentenced to ten years hard labor at Castle Island.

Grand Jury notes

RTP

Essex Sup. Jud. Court Novr. 1785 1

Cor Grand Jury & Ct. for Tryal of Piracy

vs. Richard Squires John Mathews George Stewart Alexr. Evins John Boardman.

James Dunkenson 10 Augt. Sailed from Norfolk Virginia. Robt. Watson Mate John Brewer Boatswain, Richd Squires, John Mathews, Alexr. Evins, John Boardman, George Steward, Cook a Molatto & 5 black vizt. Plato, Will, Dick, Tom, Dick; they shiped with me on board my Schooner Amity,2 bound for Africa 15. of Augt. the Piracy comitted: till then no disturbance; Capt. John Dunkenson in Schooner Industry bound someplace in CV3 with us till the affair happend. he dind with us & spent PM.: abt. 10 o’Clock in Eving Squires & Mathews came into Cabin with Cutlass & Coopers adze, they wakned me, told me I was their Prisner they tied my hands behind my back ordred me to bed, demand where the wine was, they got a bottle drunk a good sight of the Island. Squires went on deck round house he 341 then came down & put me in Irons, told me if I behave well they would treat me as such, they then brought Mr. Watson down into Cabin & put him in Irons, I understand that Bordman & the Boatswain were in Irons on Deck two days after they Spoke a Sloop from Rhod island bound to C Francois; Squires took the Command of my Schooner, he sd. he meant to put us on board that Vessell: Squires said Boardman behaved like a D——d Rascal neither true to them nor us for he might have prevented their taking the Vessel. after 4 days we obtained the boat abt. 9 oClock PM with 6 days Provision. they put in to the boat my Self, the mate, the Boatswain 3 Negro, Vizt. Plato, Tom, & Harry Dick, a Compass, Quadraint & 6 days Provisions; 23d was taken up by Capt. Trefannen4 in the Ship Antlantick & carried us into New York we spoke a ship before bound to Boston, Three Cranes, Alexr. Brown. Lat 36.50’ N. Long 68W We had 2 6 pdrs. 5 musquets, 2 or 3 pr Pistols Robt. Watson. Mate. We saild the 10th on Sunday morning the 14th. I corrected the cook, Geo. Steward: abt. 10' past 10 in Evning. Mathews & Squire, seized me armd with an adze & cutlass, carried me forward, saw Steward standing by fore Scuttle with an ax & put me down. I found Brewer there a sleep. I heard Boardman ~~say~~ who down in fore Deck, say he wished they could give him some air or drink of Grog. they carried us into the Cabbin & put us into Irons. I asked Boardman whether he knew any thing of the Plan but he gave me no Answer Squires told me that Luke Mathewman of NYork told him to bring him a good Vessel & Cargo & he wd. remove her, that he was fitting a Vessel of 14 or 16 guns. on 19. 9 at night they put us into the Boat me with my Irons On, they stood all in Arms I askd Boardman if he was coming he said no not he, he should be hanged if he came away & he had a good & his money. Boardman drop’d a paper a certificate from Squires that he did not assist in taking the Vessel; Squires told me that Boardman took the Oath on the Prayer book to stand by him—I saw Boardman laying on the hen Coop with Cutlass by his head. they carried me up to take an Observn. Charles Hamilton. I went out on Saturday blank Septr. Saw the Schooner in offing then at anchor. we went on board, Squires Mathews, & Stewart 342 & one negro Will were gone on Shore, on board we found a man in Irons one Wise from Martha Vineyard. I saw Capt Hanfeild take the Articles out of a Trunk in the Cabbin & han it to me & I read it. John Carry I went onboard also. saw two white men on Deck on standing Century over Wise who was in Irons Plato I was a Sleep under the awning, in the morning I saw the mate in Irons in the Cabin I asked Boatswain & Boardman to retake the Vessel they promised but did not. Tom. I saw Squires & Mathews forward talking they told Dick to go to Sleep, then Mathews came aft with Cutlass in his hand take the mate Mr. Watson by the hand & bid him walk forward took him to the scuttle & put him in Irons. William Orne 30 of Augt. I saw this schooner coming down they went into Holmes Hole5 I talked with a man on board a Brigg, whom I take to be Boardman, he sd. they came from the Havannah that he shipd for NewburyPort, he appeared to be in liquor Mm. the ships papers in possn. of the Capt.

MS .

On May 16, 1783, at Barnstable, RTP had noted: “the Cheif Justice being arrived the Court opned & went on business: the Court for tryal of Felonies Comitted on the high Seas opned for the first time” (RTP Diary).

See Brian S. Kirby, “The Loss and Recovery of the Schooner Amity: An Episode in Salem Maritime History,” New England Quarterly 62(1989):553–560.

Capes of Virginia.

Capt. William Traffaddan sailed the Atlantic from Grenada, according to the newspaper account. The New-York Journal, Sept. 1, 1785, reported that James Duncanson, master and part-owner of the schooner Amity, left Norfolk in company with the schooner Industry, John Duncanson, master, arriving in New York, “Saturday last.” The account included a physical description of the pirates: Squires, an Englishman about thirty; Matthews, Irish about twenty-six; Evans, from Galloway, about twenty-three; Steuart, “mollato” from Boston, age twenty-five; Boardman, about forty; and two “black boys,” Dick and Will.

Now known as Vineyard Haven, Mass.