A True Account of the Voyage of the Nottingham-Galley of London, / John Dean Commander, from the River Thames to New-England

by Christopher Langman; Nicholas Mellen; sailor on the Nottingham galley George White

Samuel Penhallow.

Christopher Langman, late Mate of the late Ship called the Nottingham, of the Burden of about 120 Tons, whereof John Dean was Master, Nicholas Mellon Boatswain, and George White Sailor, all belonging to the said Ship, do severally make Oath as followeth, viz. And first, the said Christopher Langman for himself saith, The said Ship being designed on a Voyage from London to Killybags, and from thence to New England, she departed from the Nore, the 7th of August, 1710. in company with her Majesty's Ship Sheerness, which they left off of Whitby. That on the 21st of the same Month they saw Two Sail to the Leeward, which gave chace to the said Ship Nottingham for about the Space of Three Leagues; in which time, (notwithstanding this Deponent told the said Dean they were Enemies) he often would have bore down upon them; that the Day fallowing they saw the Privateers again, when the said John Dean (contrary to the Will of this Deponent) would have brought the said Ship Nottingham to an Anchor; which if done, she would in all probability have been taken. That they then left the said Privateers, and arrived with their said Ship that Night at Killybags aforesaid, where they deliver'd what Goods were thereto consigned. That on the 25th Day of September, in the Year aforesaid, they departed with the said Ship Nottingham from the said Port for Boston in New England. In Prosecution of which Voyage, being on the Coast of New England, the said John Dean, without any Provocation, came to this Deponent and knock'd him down after a very barbarous and inhumane manner, and between Eight and Nine of the Clock at Night of the same Day, the said Ship Nottingham was run on Shore on the Coast of New England, (contrary to the Advice of this Deponent) where she, with the chiefest Part of her Cargo, was utterly lost. And lastly, This Deponent believeth, that the said John Dean, according to his Working of the said Ship in the said Voyage, design'd to lose her.

Christopher Langman.

And the said Nicholas Mellin for himself saith, That the several Allegations, Matters and Things contained in the aforegoing Deposition of Christopher Langman, are just and true in every Particular thereof. And this Deponent saith, That at the Time they were chased by the said Privateers he was present, and did hear Mr. Charles Whitworth (then on board the said Ship, and adjudged Part Owner thereof) say, That he would rather the said Ship should be lost than obtain her design'd Port in Safety, having made 200 l. Insurance. And this Deponent saith, That the said John Dean at the same time declared, That his Brother Jasper Dean had made 300 l. Insurance; and immediately after said, If he thought he could secure the Insurance, he would run the Ship on Shore; and upon the same order'd this Deponent to hoist the Boat over the Side of the Ship, which done, the said John Dean put therein all his valuable Effects, with a Design to run the said Ship on Shore, but was prevented by the Deponent Christopher Langman, by whose Assistance the said Ship arrived at her Port of Killybags, and having reloaded departed for Boston in New England, upon which Coast making the Land, the Deponent being on the Watch, call'd up the said John Dean, and told him there was Land just to the Leeward of them, and the Deponent Christopher Langman being call'd up also, desired the said Ship might be put off from the Shore, which the said John Dean refus'd if she went to the Bottom; and for the said Langman's Advice threatned to fetch up a Pistol and shoot him, and did go down, and came up behind him and knock'd him down with a Loggerhead, by means whereof he lay dead for several Minutes, and the same Night the said Ship Nottingham run ashore upon a desolate Rock, and was stav'd in Pieces; And this Deponent saith, That if the Ship had missed that Misfortune, she would have run ashore on the Main Land, which he believes was the Master's Design: And on the said Rock we should have been lost our selves, had not the Mate Langman, who was then bleeding and cutting down the Mast (under God) sav'd our Lives; in which Island the Cook was frozen to Death, and the Carpenter dying next having been reduced to Hunger, the Master skinned him and cut him up, and they eat him, when Two of the Ship's Company went on Shore on a Raft; one of which was never heard of, the other was found dead in the Woods, by which means the Country understanding a Wreck, came off with a Shallop, whereby they had a Fire after the 22d Day, with which they broiled the rest of the Man, until the 24th Day after their being arrived on the Island before they were relieved.

Nicholas Mellen.

And the said George White for himself saith, That on the 7th of August 1710, they departed with the said Ship Nottingham from the Nore, on the Voyage to Killybags and New England, that in Prosecution of the Voyage on the 21st Day of August, in the Year aforesaid, there appear'd off the Coast of Ireland two Ships to the Leeward, to which the said John Dean would have bore down, but that the Deponent Langman and the Men believ'd they were Privateers, and advis'd to the contrary, and would not consent to his bearing down. And this Deponent saith, That Mr. Charles Whitworth, then on board the said Ship, and said to be a Part Owner thereof, declared, That he had rather be taken than not; and the next Day the said Master John Dean would have run the said Ship Nottingham on Shore, provided he thought the Insurance would be paid, and then declared his Brother had 300 l. assured, and Mr. Whitworth 200 l. assured, and, so put out some Goods into the Boat (which was then in the Tackle) to save, altho the Deponent Langman and the Men declared the said Ship was within so small a way of her Port, and might escape, which she did accordingly. That after her departure from Killybags, when she came on the Banks of Newfoundland was chaced by the Pompey. Captain Den, at which the said John Dean and Mr. Whitworth seem'd to rejoice, believing him a Privateer; but proving otherwise, they appeared disappointed. That when they came on the Coast of New England, falling in with Cape Porpus, the Mate and the Men declared that it was not convenient to stand in for the Shore, but to bear away to the Southward. That upon some Words arising John Dean with a Perriwig Block struck the Mate Christopher Langman Three Blows on the Head, which made him lie bleeding. That the same Day the said Ship Nottingham was run ashore upon a most desolate Island, call'd Boon Island, (which had they miss'd they must have run ashore on the main Land in a few Hours, which makes this Deponent believe in his Conscience the said Ship was designed to be lost) where the Men had been lost had not the Mate, who was then bleeding, came on Deck, and the Mast being cut down, under God saved their Lives. In which Island one of their Company, being the Cook, died, and the Carpenter dying next, they being reduced to Hunger, eat him, when Two of the Ship's Company went on Shore with a small Rafter, one was never heard of, the other was found dead in the Woods, by which the Country understanding a Wreck, came off with a Canoe, whereby they had Fire after the 22d Day, by which they broil'd the rest of the Man until the 24th Day after their being on the Island before relieved.

George White.

Predict. Depon. Christopher Langman, Nicholas Mellen, and Geo. White, Jurat. fuerunt 1st Die Aug. Anno Dom. 1711. Coram me,

W. WITHERS.