The Examination of James Kerr, Gent. upon Oath saith, That he being Supercargo in Trust, and outward bound from Providence, a trading Voyage in the Sloop Mary, and in about two Days Sail from the said Island, did arrive at Green Key with two other Vessels in Company, bound also on the said trading Account, where, on the 6th of October last, one Phineas Bunce, one of the said Vessel’s Company, and the head Mutineer of the Pyrates now at the Bar, but since deceas’d, did then and there come on board the said Sloop Mary, and very vilely treat this Deponent, and in the Evening did turn the Deponent ashore upon the said Green Key, a desolate Island; and this Deponent farther saith, that Dennis Mackarthy, one of the Prisoners now at the Bar, was the only Person of all the said Pyrates and Mutineers who shew’d this Deponent any civil Treatment, and that the said Mackarthy did not reflect on the King and Government as others of them now at the Bar did, in this Deponent’s Hearing.
Wm. Greenaway.
The Examination of Captain William Greenaway upon Oath saith, That on the 6th of October last John Hipps, one of the Prisoners now at the Bar, with some others of them, came on board the Vessel under this Deponent’s Command, and then riding at Green Key, with Pretensions of getting Tobacco, and told this Deponent, that Mr. Kerr had a Mind to sail that Night; and this Deponent having order’d his Boat to go on board the Scooner, then belonging to the said Company, to give them Notice of the said Kerr’s Design; in which Interim came on board John Augur and George Rounsivel, both Prisoners now at the Bar, James Matthews and John Johnson, who wanted this Deponent to go on board the Scooner, which he did, where Phineas Bunce, since dead, met this Deponent at the Side; upon which, this Deponent demanded of the said Bunce, the Reason he did not prepare for sailing, as the rest did. Whereupon Bunce, the head Mutineer, asked this Deponent to walk down into the Cabbin, and, when there, Bunce asked him to sit down by him; whereupon the said Bunce told this Deponent, he was his Prisoner; upon which, Dennis Macarthey, now Prisoner at the Bar, presented a Pistol at this Deponent’s Breast, and told him, if he spoke a Word, he, this Deponent, was a dead Man; and the said Phineas Bunce told this Deponent, he had best be easy, for that the better Part of the People belonging to the Sloop Mary was on his Side, as were some of the People he had with him. And then the said Phineas Bunce, with others, the Mutineers, went on board the Sloop Mary, and took her. But this Deponent cannot particularize the Names of the Men who were with Bunce, being Night-time. Afterwards the said Bunce, and the Prisoners now at the Bar, except John Hipps, put Mr. James Kerr, Richard Turnly, Thomas Rich, John Taylor, and John Cox, all ashore at Green Key, a desolate Island, and had the Boat ready prepared to carry this Deponent ashore also; but Bunce hereupon declared, that this Deponent, being a Bermudian, would swim aboard again, and therefore confin’d this Deponent a Prisoner, and plundered his Vessel, leaving him not wherewithal to proceed any where, but a small Quantity of Flower and Beef, obliging this Deponent not to sail from Green Key in 24 Hours after his Departure; but this Deponent did sail the next Morning for Providence, and, in his Way, fell in Sight of the said Mutineers and Pyrates, of whom the Prisoners at the Bar were some, who gave Chase. Whereupon this Deponent went back to Green Key, and took to the Shore, where he saw the Pyrates and said Mutineers cut away the Mast of this Deponent’s Vessel, and then were coming on Shore, as this Deponent apprehended, to take his Person. Whereupon this Deponent made his Escape to hide himself from them upon the said Key. Then the People who were left on board this Deponent’s Vessel, coming ashore, told this Deponent, that the Pyrates had scuttled her, turn’d the Yawl adrift, and from Green Key the said Pyrates proceeded to Stocking Island, where meeting the Spaniards, the Pyrates were themselves taken, and put ashore.
John Taylor.
The Examination of John Taylor upon Oath saith, That all the Prisoners at the Bar, except John Hipps, did join with Bunce, the Mutineer; and that Bunce and two more, whom the Deponent knew not, being Night, took the Vessel he belong’d to; and further saith, That John Hipps was at first confined with the said Greenaway by Bunce.
Richard Turnly.
The Examination of Richard Turnly upon Oath saith, That on the 6th of October last, Bunce the head Mutineer and two others, naming William Dowling and Thomas Morris, Prisoners at the Bar, did come on board the Sloop Mary at Green Key, and ask’d Mr. Kerr and this Deponent for a Bottle of Beer, which was given them, and afterwards a Second, and they commanded a third; and then with the Men, belonging to the said Sloop Mary, took up Arms, and took Mr. Kerr, Thomas Cox, and this Deponent Prisoners, and forced them to go on Shore at Green Key, a desolate Island, about 25 Leagues distant from Providence.
John Cox.
The Examination of John Cox upon Oath saith, That he being on board the Sloop Mary, of which John Augur went out of Providence Master: The said John Augur came on board his said Sloop in the Evening of the 6th Day of October last, and lay down as if he designed to sleep. Soon after, Capt. Greenaway, Master of the Sloop Lancaster, came on board, and ask’d the said Augur, if he intended to set Sail? He answer’d, he could not tell; thereupon Captain Greenaway went on board the Scooner, call’d the Batchelor’s Adventure, Henry White, Master, and in about half an Hour afterwards, came on board another Boat with John Hipps, Greenaway’s Boatswain, to enquire for Captain Greenaway; and in a little Time after, Phineas Bunce came on board the Sloop Mary from the Scooner with 2 or 3 Men more. Bunce ask’d for Captain Augur, and whether they had any Thing to drink, and coming to Mr. Kerr, ask’d him for a Bottle of Beer, which Mr. Kerr gave him; then the said Bunce went into the Cabbin, and brought up a Cutlash, and stood at the Cabbin-Door to drink, and swore that he was Captain of that Vessel, and would be so, which made Captain Augur ask him his Meaning; but presently the said Bunce and Augur seem’d to be good Friends, and Bunce ask’d for another Bottle of Beer, then struck Mr. Kerr with a Cutlash on his Back, and turn’d him and others ashore; and this Deponent well knew all the several Prisoners at the Bar, except Hipps the Boatswain, and that all the rest were Aiders, Assistants, and Abettors to the Mutiny, Felony, and Pyracy, committed upon the Vessels and Cargoes at Green Key.