Robert Boyd, late of Bath Town in North Carolina, Mariner.
Thomas Nicholas, late of London, Mariner.
Rowland Sharp, late of Bath Town, Mariner.
Jonathan Clark, late of Charles Town, Mariner.
Thomas Gerrard, late of Antegoa, Mariner.
All of whom, except the four last, were found Guilty, and received Sentence of Death, upon two Indictments, for Robbing upon the High Sea the Francis, Peter Manwaring, Commander; and for seizing, in a Piratical Manner, the Sloop Fortune, Thomas Read, Commander: To which they all pleaded Not Guilty, except James Wilson and John Levit, who pleaded Guilty to both Indictments, and Daniel Piercy to one only. Bonnet moved to go through both the Indictments at once; but the Court overruling it, he was found Guilty of one, and retracted his Plea to the other. They made but little Defence, pretending they were taken off a Maroon Shore, and were shipped with Major Bonnet to go to St. Thomas’s, but wanting provisions they were obliged to do what they did; and the Major himself pretended it was Necessity and not Inclination that compelled them to do it. But that not appearing, they having all shared ten or eleven Pounds a man, except the four last, they were all found Guilty. After which the Judge set forth the enormity of their Crimes: And then pronounced Sentence of Death upon the persons aforesaid, except Major Bonnet, who not being brought back in time, was not tried till the 10th of November; and being then also found Guilty, he received Sentence in like manner as the others; before whom Judge Trot made an excellent speech, saying afterwards.
And now, having discharged my Duty as a Christian, I must do my Office as a Judge, which is
You the said Stede Bonnet shall go from hence, to the Place from whence you came, and from thence to the Place of Execution, where you shall be hanged by the Neck till you are dead.
