When he came to an Anchor, he and three of his Men (he had but 5 with him) went on Shore, paddled by two Negroes. David Eaton and William Dawson, two of the Men, required a Guide, to shew them the Way to the King’s Town; the Governor order’d them one, and, at the same time, laid an Ambush for them in the Road, and caused them to be murdered. When they had left the Boyn, Williams and Meyeurs, a Frenchman, who also came ashore in the Canoe, went to buy some Samsams, which are agate Beads; as they were looking over these Goods, a Number of the Governor’s Men came about them, seiz’d them both, and immediately dispatch’d Meyeurs, Williams they bound, and tortur’d almost a whole Day, by throwing hot Ashes on his Head and in his Face, and putting little Boys to beat him with Sticks; he offer’d the Governor 2000 Dollars for his Life, but he answer’d, he’d have both that and the Money too; and accordingly when he was near expiring, they made an End of him with their Lances.
After this barbarous Murder, the Governor thought of seizing the Sloop, on board of which were no more than two White Men, six Negroe Boys, and some Women Slaves of the same Colour; however, he thought it best to proceed by Stratagem, and therefore putting a Goat and some Calabashes of Toke on board William’s Canoe, with twelve Negroes arm’d, and the Sloop Negroes to paddle, he sent to surprize her. When the Canoe came pretty near the Vessel, they hal’d, and ask’d if they would let them come aboard? One of the Men ask’d William’s Negroes where the Captain was? He answered, drinking Toke with the Governor, and sent them Provision and Toke. A Negroe Wench advised the White Man, whose Name was William Noakes, not to let them come on board, for as four White Men went ashore, and none of them appear’d, she suspected some Treachery; however, on the Answer made him from the Canoe, he resolved to admit them, and giving the Wench a Kick, cryed, D—m ye, must we have no fresh Provisions for your Whimsies; he called them on board, and no sooner were they on Deck but one of them snatching Noakes his Pistol, shot him thro’ the Head, and seizing the other White Man, threw him over-board and drown’d him; after which, being Masters of the Vessel, they carried her in and rifled her.
The King was at this Time a hunting, as is his Custom to hunt Boars three Months in the Year; but the Account of these Murders soon reach’d him, however, he staid the accustom’d Time of his Diversion; but when he returned home, and the Whites, who were about him, demanded Justice, he bid them be quiet, they might depend upon his doing it: He sent to the Governor of Boyn, and told him, he was glad that he had cut off Williams and his Crew, an Example he was resolved to follow and clear the Country of them all. That he had some Affairs to communicate to him, and desired he would come to Court as soon as possible, but take Care he was not seen by any of the Whites, for fear by his, they shou’d revenge the Death of their Companions.
The Governor on these Orders came away immediately, and stopp’d two Miles short, at a little Town two Miles distant from the King’s, and sent Word he there waited for his Commands.
The King ordered him to be with him early next Morning, before the White Men were out of their Beds; he set forward accordingly the next Day betimes, but was seiz’d on the Road by Negroes placed for that Purpose, and brought bound to the King, who, after having reproach’d him with the Barbarity of his Action, sent him to the White Men, bidding them put him to what Death they pleased; but they sent Word back, he might dispose of his Subjects Lives as he thought fit, but for their Part they would never draw a Drop of Blood of any who belonged to him. Upon which Answer the King’s Uncle ordered him to be speared, and he was accordingly thrust thro’ the Body with Lances. The King, after this Execution, sent to Boyn, and had every Thing brought which had belonged to Williams and his Men, and divided it among the Whites, saying, He was sorry the Villain had but one Life to make Attonement for the Barbarity he had been guilty of.
OF
Capt. Samuel Burgess,
And his Crew.
Capt. Samuel Burgess was born in New-York, and had a good Education; he was what they call a well-set Man, and bandy legg’d; he sail’d some Time as a Privateer in the West-Indies, and very often, the Gang, he was with, when the Time of their cruizing was expir’d, would make no Ceremony of prolonging the Commission by their own Authority.