The Major was a Gentleman of Fortune and Distinction in the Island of Barbadoes, who before his Piracy bore the character of a worthy honest man, and no-body could ever account for this his undertaking, for he wanted neither learning nor understanding. He fitted out a Sloop with ten guns and sixty men, which he named the Revenge, at his own expence, and sailed from Barbadoes for the Cape of Virginia, where he took the Anne from Glasgow, the Turbet from Barbadoes, the Endeavour from Bristol, the Young from Leith, and many others. From thence he went to New York, and there took a Sloop, and then stood in at Gardiner’s Island where he bought provisions, and went off. August, 1717, he came off at the Bar of South Carolina, and took a Sloop and Brigantine, which they plundered, and then he dismissed the Brigantine, but took the Sloop with him to an Inlet in North-Carolina, where he careened, and set her on fire.
Afterwards he put to sea, but could not agree with the men what course to take; for the Major being no sailor, was obliged to submit to many things his men imposed upon him, when falling in with Edward Teach, alias Blackbeard, who was a good sailor, but a hardened villain, Bonnet’s Crew joined with him, and put Bonnet aboard Blackbeard’s Ship.
But Blackbeard losing his Ship at Topsail Inlet, surrendered to the King’s Proclamation; when Bonnet re-assumed the command of his own Sloop, and sailed directly for Bath Town in North-Carolina, where he also surrenders himself, and receives a certificate. There getting a clearance for his Sloop, he pretended to sail for the Island of St. Thomas, to get the Emperor’s Commission to go a-Privateering upon the Spaniards. But returning to Topsail Inlet, he found that Blackbeard and his gang were gone, with their effects; and that they had set on shore, on a small sandy island about a league from the continent, seventeen men, without any provisions, or vessel to escape. There they had been two nights and one day without any sustenance, when, to their inexpressible joy, they saw Major Bonnet, who had been informed of their being there by two of Blackbeard’s crew, who had escaped to avoid his cruelty.
Then he steered his course towards Virginia, where meeting with a Pink having Provisions on board, and they being in want, he took out of her ten barrels of pork, and five hundredweight of bread, and gave her, in exchange, ten casks of Rice, and an old cable.
Two days after they took a Sloop of sixty tons, from which they took two hogsheads of rum, and two of molasses, and then put in her eight men, to take care of the Prize; but they not liking her new acquaintance took the first opportunity to get off with her.
After this the Major threw off all restraint, and became a downright Pirate, by the name of Captain Thomas, taking and plundering all the vessels he met with. He took off Cape Henry, two Ships from Virginia, bound to Glasgow; the next day a small Sloop from Virginia bound to Bermudas; from which they took twenty barrels of pork, and gave her in return, two barrels of rice, and as much molasses. The next day they took another Virginia man, bound to Glasgow, out of which they took two men, and a few small things, and gave her a barrel of pork, and another of bread. From thence they sailed to Philadelphia, where they took a Schooner coming from North Carolina to Boston, from which they took two men, and two dozen of calves skins, to make covers for guns. In the latitude of 32°, off of Delaware River, near Philadelphia, they took two Snows bound to Bristol, from which they took money and goods to the value of two hundred pounds; as also a Sloop of sixty tons, from Philadelphia to Barbadoes, from which they took a few goods, and let her go. The 29th of July, they took a Sloop of fifty tons, bound from Philadelphia to Barbadoes, laden with provisions, which they kept; as also another of sixty tons, from Antegoa to Philadelphia, having on board, rum, molasses, sugar, cotton and indigo, to the value of five hundred Pounds, all of which they kept. Then they left Delaware Bay, and sailed to Cape Fear River, where they staid almost two months to repair their Sloop, which proved very leaky, till news came to Carolina of a Pirate’s Sloop, with her Prizes, being there a-careening.
Whereupon Colonel William Rhet offered to go with two Sloops to attack them; which being by the Governor and Council approved of, he was commissioned on board the Henry, with eight guns and seventy men, commanded by Captain John Masters; and the Sea Nymph, commanded by Captain Farier-Hall, with as many guns and men; both under the Direction of the Colonel, who went on board the Henry the 14th of September, and sailed from Charles Town to Swillivant’s Island, in order to cruise: where he was informed, by a small ship from Antegoa, which in sight of the Bar, was taken and plundered by Charles Vane, in a Brigantine of sixteen guns, and a hundred men; that he had taken two Sloops, one Captain Dill, Master, from Barbadoes; the other Captain Thompson, from Guinea, with seventy negroes, which they put on board one Yeats his consort, being a small Sloop with twenty-five men, who being weary of this course of life, ran into Edisto River, and surrender’d to his Majesty’s Pardon, by which the owners got their negroes again, and Yeats and his men had their certificates sign’d.
Vane cruised for some time thereabouts, in hopes to take Yeats, and be revenged on him; during which time, he took a ship bound to London, to whom he gave out, that he designed to go to the southward; which Colonel Rhet hearing, sailed over the Bar the 15th with the two Sloops, and went after the Pirate Vane; but not meeting with him, tack’d and stood for Cape Fear, according to his first Design; and on the 26th following he entered the River, where he saw Bonnet, and the three Sloops his Prizes, at anchor; but the Pilot running the Sloops a-ground, hindered their getting up that Night. The Pirates seeing the Sloops, and not knowing who they were, mann’d three canoes, and sent them down to take them; but finding their mistake, Bonnet took all the men out of the Prizes to engage them. Colonel Rhet’s Sloops the next morning getting under sail, stood for the Pirates, who designed only to make a running fight; but the Colonel getting upon his quarters, he edged in upon the shore, and ran his Sloop a-ground. The Colonel’s Sloops were soon in the same condition: The Henry grounded within pistol-shot of the Pirate, on his bow; the other, right a-head of him, almost out of gun-shot, which made it of but very little use to the Colonel. By this time the Pirate had a very great advantage: For his Sloop lifted from Colonel Rhet’s, which converted them all over; and the Colonel’s Sloop lifting the same way, was much exposed for about five hours, whilst they lay a-ground. The Colonel’s Sloop being first a-float, he got into deeper water, and after mending his rigging, he stood for the Pirate, to go directly on board him; which they prevented, by hoisting a flag of truce, and surrendering soon after. The Colonel lost in this action ten men, and had fourteen wounded. The Sea Nymph had two killed, and four wounded. Among the Pirates were none killed, and three were wounded. The next day the Colonel weighed from Cape Fear, and arrived at Charles Town the 3d of October, to the no small joy of the people of Carolina.
There being no publick prison, Bonnet was committed into the custody of the marshal, and his Men were kept at the Watch-house under a strict guard; a little before the trial, David Harriot the Master, and Ignatius Rathe Boatswain, the evidences, were removed from the Crew, to the Marshal’s house, from whence on the 24th Bonnet and Harriott made their escape; which as soon as the Governor heard of, he published a Proclamation, promising a reward of 700l. to any one that would take him, and also sent several boats with armed men in pursuit of him.
Bonnet stood to the northward, in a small vessel; but through stress of weather, and want of necessaries, he was forced to Swillivant’s Island. Of which information being given to the Governor, he sent for Colonel Rhet, and desired him once more to go in pursuit of him; which the Colonel readily accepted of; and having got all Things ready, went that Night for Swillivant’s Island, where, after a long search, he discovered them. After the Colonel’s men had fired upon them, and killed Harriott, Bonnet immediately surrendered himself, and was, next Morning, brought back to Charles Town, and confined under a strong guard till his trial, which was hastened for fear he should give them the slip again.