Taken by his Majesty’s ship the Swallow, begun at Cape Corso Castle, on the coast of Africa, March 28th, 1722.
The Commission empowered any three named therein to call to their assistance such a number of qualified persons as might make the court always consist of seven; and accordingly summonses were signed to Lieut. Jo. Barnsley, Lieut. Ch. Fanshaw, Capt. Samuel Hartsease, and Capt. William Menzies viz.:—
“By virtue of a Power and Authority, to us given, by a Commission from the King under the Seal of Admiralty, you are hereby required to attend and make one of the Court for the trying and adjudging of the Pirates lately taken on this coast by his Majesty’s ship the Swallow.
“Given under our hands this 28th of March, 1722, at Cape Corso Castle.
“Mungo Heardman,
James Phips,
Henry Dodson,
Francis Boy,
Edward Hide.”
The commissioners being met in the hall of the castle, the Commission was first read; after which the president, and then the other members, took the oath prescribed in the Act of Parliament, and having directed the form of that for witnesses, as follows, the court was opened:—
“I, A. B., solemnly promise and swear on the Holy Evangelists to bear true and faithful witness between the King and prisoner, or prisoners, in relation to the fact or facts of piracy and robbery, he or they do now stand accused of. So help me God.”
The court consisted of Captain Mungo Heardman, President; James Phipps, Esq., General of the Coast; Mr. H. Dodson, Mr. F. Boye, Merchants; Mr. Edward Hyde, Secretary to the Company; Lieut. John Barnsley; Lieut. Ch. Fanshaw. The following prisoners, out of the pirate ship Ranger, having been commanded before them, the charge, or indictment, was exhibited:—
Prisoners taken in the “Ranger.”
| MEN’S NAMES. | SHIPS FROM. | TIME WHEN. | ||
| *James Skyrm | Greyhound sloop | Oct., 1720 | ||
| *Rich. Hardy | Pirate with Davis | 1718 | ||
| *Wm. Main | Brigantine, Capt. Peet | June, 1720 | ||
| *Henry Dennis | ⎫ | Pirates with Capt. Davis | 1718 | |
| *Val. Ashplant | ⎬ | 1719 | ||
| *Rob. Birdson | ⎭ | 1719 | ||
| *Rich. Harris | ⎫ | Phœnix of Bristol, Capt. Richards | ⎫ | June, 1720 |
| *D. Littlejohn | ⎭ | ⎬ | ||
| *Thomas How | at Newfoundland | ⎭ | ||
| +Her. Hunkins | Success sloop | |||
| *Hugh Harris | Willing Mind | ⎫ | July, 1720 | |
| *W. Mackintosh | ⎪ | |||
| Thomas Willis | Richard of Bideford | ⎪ | ||
| +John Wilden | Mary and Martha | ⎬ | ||
| *Ja. Greenham | Little York, Phillips, Mr. | ⎪ | ||
| *John Jaynson | Love of Lancaster | ⎭ | ||
| +Chri. Lang | Thomas brigantine | Sept., 1720 | ||
| *John Mitchel | ⎫ | Norman galley | Oct., 1720 | |
| T. Withstandenot | ⎭ | |||
| Peter la Fever | ⎫ | Jeremiah and Anne | Ap., 1720 | |
| *Wm. Shurin | ⎭ | |||
| *Wm. Wats | ⎫ | Sirraleon ⎬ of Mr. Glin of Seig. Joffeé | ⎫ | July, 1721 |
| *Wm. Davis | ⎭ | ⎭ | ||
| +James Barrow | ⎫ | Martha snow, Capt. Lady | ||
| *Joshua Lee | ⎭ | |||
| Rob. Hartley (1) | ⎫ | Robinson of Liverpool, Capt. Kanning | Aug., 1721 | |
| +James Crane | ⎭ | |||
| George Smithson | ⎫ | Stanwich galley, Captain Tarlton | ⎫ | Aug., 1721 |
| Roger Pye | ⎬ | ⎪ | ||
| +Rob. Fletcher | ⎪ | ⎬ | ||
| *Ro. Hartley (2) | ⎭ | ⎪ | ||
| +Andrew Rance | A Dutch ship | ⎭ | ||
| *Cuthbert Goss | ⎫ | Mercy galley of Bristol, at Callibar | ⎫ | Oct.., 1721 |
| *Tho. Giles | ⎬ | ⎬ | ||
| *Israel Hynde | ⎭ | ⎭ | ||
| William Church | Gertruycht of Holland | ⎫ | Jan., 1721-2 | |
| Philip Haak | Flushingham of ditto | ⎪ | ||
| William Smith | ⎫ | Elizabeth, Capt. Sharp | ⎪ | |
| Adam Comry | ⎭ | ⎪ | ||
| William Graves | ⎫ | King Solomon, Capt. Trehern, off Cape Appollonia | ⎪ | |
| *Peter de Vine | ⎬ | ⎪ | ||
| John Johnson | ⎪ | ⎪ | ||
| John Stodgill | ⎭ | ⎪ | ||
| Henry Dawson | ⎫ | Whydah sloop, at Jaquix | ⎪ | |
| William Glass | ⎭ | ⎬ | ||
| Josiah Robinson | ⎫ | Tarton, Capt. Tho. Tarlton | ⎪ | |
| John Arnaught | ⎪ | ⎪ | ||
| John Davis | ⎪ | ⎪ | ||
| +Henry Graves | ⎬ | ⎪ | ||
| Tho. Howard | ⎪ | ⎪ | ||
| +John Rimer | ⎪ | ⎪ | ||
| Thomas Clephen | ⎭ | ⎪ | ||
| Wm. Guineys | Porcupine, Capt. Fletcher | ⎪ | ||
| +James Cosins | ⎭ | |||
| Tho. Stretton | ⎫ | Onslow, Capt. Gee, at Cestos | ⎫ | Jan.., 1721-2 |
| *William Petty | ⎪ | ⎪ | ||
| Mic. Lemmon | ⎬ | ⎬ | ||
| *Wm. Wood | ⎪ | ⎪ | ||
| *Ed. Watts | ⎪ | ⎪ | ||
| *John Horn | ⎭ | ⎭ | ||
| Pierre Ravon | Peter Grossey | ⎫ | From the French ship in Whydah road, Feb., 1721-2. | |
| John Dugan | Rence Frogier | ⎪ | ||
| James Ardeon | Lewis Arnaus | ⎪ | ||
| Etrion Gilliot | Rence Thoby | ⎪ | ||
| Ren. Marraud | Meth Roulac | ⎬ | ||
| John Gittin | John Gumar | ⎪ | ||
| Jo. Richardeau | John Paquete | ⎪ | ||
| John Lavogue | Allan Pigan | ⎪ | ||
| John Duplaissey | Pierce Shillot | ⎭ | ||