OF
Capt. Nathaniel North,
And his Crew.
We have placed this Life in the Appendix, which will not perhaps be thought a proper Place; but we could not gather the Particulars, which were collected out of several different Journals, Time enough to insert it in the Body of the Book, and therefore, thought of reserving this Life for Part of another Volume; but when we had compiled it, and found it was a Sort of Recapitulation of the Adventures of the Madagascar Pyrates which went before, we judged it more proper to give it in the Appendix than to separate this Gentleman from his Companions; and we were the rather induc’d to this, as the Reader will here find an Account of Bowen’s Death, which we had not learn’d at the Time we wrote his Life; the Papers which we got after a long Search, and which has furnish’d us with some other Particulars of that Rover’s Life, not being at that Time to be found.
Captain North was born at Bermudas, and was the Son of a Sawyer, which Business he himself was bred up to, but took, at last, to the Seas, at the Age of 17 or 18, shipping himself Cook on board a Sloop, built at Bermudas, for some Gentlemen of Barbadoes, with Design to fit her out for a Privateer. She was bound to her Owners, but the Master took Santa Vdas in the Way, and loaded with Salt. When they came to Barbadoes all the Crew was press’d, and North with his Companions were put on board the Reserve.
The Master applied himself to the Governor, and got all his Men clear’d, North excepted, who, as he was a Lad, was neglected, and left on board the Man of War, which soon after sail’d for Jamaica; some Time before the Reserve was relieved from this Station, he laid Hold of an Opportunity to run away, and shipp’d himself on board a Sugar Drover, in which Way of Life he continued about two Years, and being an able Sailor, tho’ no Artist, he was offer’d to go Master of one of these Coasters, which he refus’d, and went on board a Privateer.
The first Voyage he made, as a Privateer, they took a couple of good Prizes, which made every Man’s Share very considerable; but North, as he had got his Money lightly, so he spent it, making the Companions of his Dangers the Companions of his Diversions, or rather joining himself with them, and following their Example; which all (who are acquainted with the Way of Life of a successful Jamaica Privateer) know is not an Example of the greatest Sobriety and Oeconomy.
His Money being all spent, he took the same Method for a Recruit, that is, he went a second Time a Privateering, and met with such Success, that he engag’d very heartily in this Course of Life, and made several lucky Cruizes.
Some Time after he grew tir’d, thought of trading, and shipp’d himself on board a Brigantine, bound for the Spanish Coast, commanded by one Captain Reesby: This Vessel went both on the Trading and Privateer Account, so that the Men shipp’d for half Wages, and equal Shares of what Prizes they should make, in the same Manner, as to the Shares, as on board a Privateer; their trading answer’d very poorly, and their privateering Business still worse, for they return’d without making any Prize.
They were forced to leave the Spanish Coast, on Account of a Spanish Guarda la Costa, of 40 Guns and Three hundred and fifty Frenchmen, commanded by a Captain of the same Nation. When they made the Island of Jamaica, they fell in with Bluefields, off which Place two French Privateer Sloops were cruizing, one of which was formerly a Privateer of Jamaica, called the Paradox; they immediately clapp’d Capt. Reesby on board, taking him for a Trader, come from the Spanish Coast, and weakly mann’d; however, they were soon made sensible of the Mistake, for they came to fetch Wool, and one of them went away shorn; I mean Reesby took one of them, and the other was obliged to a good Pair of Heels for his Safety. Reesby lost ten Men, killed outright in the Engagement, and had seven wounded; the latter, tho’ he had made but a broken Voyage, he put ashore at Bluefields, and ordered great Care to be taken of them, at the Owners Expence: Here he took in fresh Provision, and then beat up to Port Royal, where Reesby paid them very honourably, gave them a handsome Entertainment, and begg’d they would not leave him, as he had a very great Value for them all; but for North particularly, who was a good Swimmer, manag’d a Canoe, with great Dexterity, and fear’d nothing.
Upon this Desire of the Captain’s, North and the greater Part staid ashore till Captain Reesby was refitted, and went a second Voyage with him to the Coast, at seventeen Dollars a Month, and no Share; they carried 300 Negroes, beside Bale Goods; they staid four Months on the Coast, and dispos’d of all the Slaves and Goods to great Advantage. Upon their Return to Jamaica, after some Stay on the Island, Captain Reesby not going out again, North went once more a Privateering, and made a considerable Booty. While North was ashore after a Cruize, he was press’d on board the Mary Man of War: He made a Cruize in her to the Spanish Coast, and return’d to Jamaica; but hearing the Mary was soon to go to England, he, and three more, resolv’d to swim ashore from the Keys, where the Men of War lie, but he was taken as he was going off the Head, and whipp’d; he, however, found Means to make his Escape, before the Ship left the Island, and went on board the Neptune Sloop, a Privateer, commanded by Captain Lycence, then Lieutenant of the Reserve, who, while the Ship was in the Carpenter’s Hands, got a Commission of the Governor to take a Cruize. Captain Moses, who commanded the Reserve, went on board their Sloop, under the Command of his Lieutenant, for Diversion only: They cruized off Hispaniola, where they met with a French Letter of Mart Merchant Man, of 18 Guns, and 118 Men, who had the Day before engaged the Swan Man of War, and shook her off.
The Neptune attack’d her, and Captain Moses was wounded one of the first, and carried down; Lycense order’d to board, but the Quarter-Master, who steer’d, mistook the Helm, the Sloop fell off, and the French pouring in a Volley of small Shot, Captain Lycence was kill’d, which being told to Moses, as the Surgeon dress’d him, he order’d North to the Helm, bid them not be discouraged, and he would be upon Deck immediately. Accordingly he came up as soon as dress’d, laid the Ship on board, where they made a very obstinate Resistance; but the French Captain being kill’d, who received eleven Shot before he dropp’d, they, at length, became Masters.