Boon Island: including Contemporary Accounts of the Wreck of the Nottingham Galley

by Kenneth Roberts

  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,

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  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 Linen 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 returned 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.

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  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 drownd, 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. [28] 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

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  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 the 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

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  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 above-mention'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 sleying and eating of the Carpenter's dead Body, and told us, It was no Sin, since God waspleas'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 wou'd 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. [29], &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 Paddles to his Wrist. 'Tis likewise false, that the Captain went several times out alone

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  to look for Provisions, for George White was always with him. Nor is it true, that the piece of Cow's Hide before mention'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 req
uested 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. [35]. 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

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  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 22nd Day after we had been onto 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 the 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, 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

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  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 above mentioned, 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 falsely ascribes to himself, p. [35], 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 falsely magnifies his

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  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.

  AN ACCOUNT OF OUR INTENDED VOYAGE,

  AND SOME ACCIDENTS THAT HAPPEN'D

  THEREIN FROM THE RIVER OF THAMES TO

  IRELAND, IN THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY,

  JOHN DEAN MASTER.

  August the 7th, 1710. we sail'd from the Nore in company with her Majesty's Ship Sheerness, she then being appointed a Con-

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  voy for the North Britain Fleet, which we parted from off of Whitby, and made the best of our Way.

  The 21st ditto we saw two Sail, and that they gave chace to us, they being to the Leeward of us about Three Leagues. It being then the Master's Watch on the Deck, he called the Mate, and told him, That he saw Two Privateers. As soon as the Mate came on the Deck, he desired the Master to run in Shore to the Windward of the Island of Arran, we then being about Two Leagues to the Windward of it. But the said Master would have gone in to Leeward, which we could not have done without speaking with the aforesaid Ships; and he proposed it several times; but the Mate nor none of the Ship's Company would consent to it, but told him, That if he did, we could not possibly escape the Enemy. Charles Whitworth then said in the hearing of the Boatswain and some others of the Ship's Company, That he had rather be taken than not, for he had Two Hundred Pounds Insured; he having an Eighth Part of the Ship, as he said.

&nbs
p; The Master the next Day would have gone ashore and left the Ship, and put a Chest and several other things in the Boat. The Mate told him, That he would not consent to any such Thing, for he then saw no Danger of being Taken, and told the said Master, That it was early in the Morning, and but Seven Leagues from our Port, and a fair Wind to run along the Shore. The said Master was then heard to say by the Boatswain and several of the Ship's Company, That, if he thought the Insurance would be paid, he would immediately run her ashore. So that we all plainly saw that he was willing to lose the said Ship. The Mate told him, That if he would, by God's Assistance he might fetch his Port before Night, if he would make Sail; but if he had a Design to give the Ship away, he might. The said Master found the Mate was not willing to what he proposed, and that he could not obtain his Desire, he made Sail, and about Six or Seven in the Evening we arrived at our desired Port Killybags, where we took in 30 Tons of Butter and 300 and odd Cheeses.