3. A Copy of the Examination of Hugh Parrott, of Plymouth in the County of Devon, Mariner

Boston. 10th July, 1699.

Who saith, That, at the Island of Joanna, he left the Vessel he then belonged to, and entered himself on board the Adventure Galley, Captain William Kid, Commander; and from thence we sailed to the Red Sea, and there cruised for Privateers and Pirates; but finding none, went upon the Coast of India, and in our Cruize there, espied a Ship, which we gave chace to, and came up with, being a Ship of near 200 Ton Burden, whereof a Dutchman, Mich Dicker, the Sound: From Gardner’s Island they was Master, being commanded on board the Galley, brought a French Pass, and as the Examinant was informed, declared, That his Ship and Lading was lawful Prize; and accordingly was made Prize of by the said Kidd and Company: The Dutch Master remained in the Galley with the other Two Dutchmen, and took up Arms to serve under Captain Kidd; the Moors were set on shore, being then not above Two Leagues from the same: The Examinant knows not what the Ship was laden with; only saw Two Horses sent on shore from her. And in about Six Weeks time afterward, they took another Ship of 400 Tons, or upwards, mounted with about 12 or 14 Guns, commanded by one Captain Wright, an Englishman; and there was also on board Two or Three Dutchmen; the rest of the Company were Armenians and Moors to the Number of about Sixty or Seventy: The Ship came from Bengall, bound to Persia, as it was said; and that she belonged wholly to the Moors: She was laden with Bale-Goods, containing Muslins, Silk striped and plain, and raw Silk, refined Sugar in Bags, Saltpetre, Iron in Junks, Guns and Anchors: Captain Wright and other the Christians, with several of the Armenians and Moors, were speedily sent on shore; some of them came to Madagascar in the Galley, and there left her: Said, Captain Kidd carried the said Prize Ship into Madagascar, Geo. Bullen, Chief Mate of the Galley, being put into command the said Prize Ship; and when she arrived at Madagascar, they took out of her all the Bale Goods, and shared them among the Galley’s Company, being about One hundred in Number more or less; some had Three, others Four Bales to a Share; the Examinant has Four for his Share, which he sold at Hispaniola, to Mr. Boulton and Mr. Burt, for 400 Pieces of Eight, which was paid him down in Money; 200 Pieces of which he lost by Gaming, on board the Sloop Antonio, that he came from Hispaniola in; the rest of his money was stolen from him. They arrived in the said Sloop, first, at the Horekills in Delaware Bay, where they put out Two Chests, belonging to James Gillam, a Passenger, who also went on shore there; which Chests, the Examinant believes, were full of India Goods; From the Morekills they went to Oyster Bay on Long Island; and there took in Mr. Emot of New York, and carried him to Rhode Island, and sent him on shore there; Then went, with their said Sloop to Block Island, and put on shore Two Guns, delivered to Two Men that came from the Shore, and cruised between Block Island and Rhode Island until Mr. Emott’s Return; and having taken him on board went to Gardner’s Island, and there let him on shore: And there was landed at the said Island, from out of the Sloop Antonio, some Goods and Chests; and also several Bales and Chests were put into another Sloop that lay at the said Gardner’s Island bound up sailed, with the Sloop Antonio to Block Island; and there took up the Captain’s Wife, and a Gentleman that accompanied her; and then stood to Gardner’s Island; and there put the said Gentleman, which, the Examinant thinks, was named Clark, into a Sloop bound up the Sound: into which Sloop, there was also several Bales and Chests put, out of the Sloop, Antonio, by Order of the said Captain Kidd: And then we came to Tarpolin Cove, where there was a Bale and one or two Barrels of Goods landed: And from thence we came over the Shoals, and there met a Sloop from Campechea, bound to Boston; the Master of which Sloop, in the Canoe belonging to her, came on board our Sloop; and at his going off there was put into the Canoe a Turkey work Carpet, Two or Three Small Arms; which is all that the Examinant took notice of.

The Examinant further saith, That at their sharing at Madagascar, Captain Kidd struck for, and received several Shares; knows not how many; there might be Forty. They stript the Galley at Madagascar, and burnt her to save her Iron-work; and also sunk their lesser Prize there. About Ninety of the said Galley’s Company deserted at Madagascar. The greater Prize was called the Quedah Merchant; which they left in Hispaniola, under the care of Mr. Boulton, and about Seventeen or Eighteen men to assist: Captain Kidd promising to return to him in a short time: The Examinant supposes there might be about 150 Bales of Goods remaining on board her, about Eighty or Ninety Tons of Sugar, the Saltpetre, Iron, Guns and Anchors. Captain Kidd traded with Messieurs Boulton and Burt, for a considerable Quantity of Goods taken out of the said Quidah Merchant, at and about Hispaniola.

Hugh Parrott.

Taken before us, die praedict.

Boston, New England.
July 25th, 1699.