“Capt. Solgard designing to make sure of one of the Pirate Sloops, if not both, took this, seeming to be the Chief, but proved otherwise, and if we had more Day-light the other of Low’s had also been taken, she being very much batter’d; and ’tis tho’t he was slain, with his Cutlas in his hand, encouraging his Men in the Engagement to Fight, and that a great many more Men were kill’d and wounded in her, than the other we took.

“The Two Pirate Sloops Commanded by the said Low and Harris intended to have boarded the Man of War, but he plying them so successfully they were discouraged, and endeavoured all they could to escape, notwithstanding they had sworn Damnation to themselves, if they should give over Fighting, tho’ the Ship should even prove to be a Man of War. They also intended to have hoisted their Standard upon Block-Island, but we suppose now, there will be a more sutable Standard hoisted for those that are taken, according to their Desarts.

“On the 12th Currant Capt. Solgard was fitting out again to go in the Quest of the said Low the other Pirate Sloop, (having the Master of this with him, he knowing what Course they intended by Agreement to Steer, in order to meet with a third Consort) which, we hope he’ll overtake and bring in.”—Boston News-Letter, June 20, 1723.

The New England Courant of Boston, Franklin’s paper, printed a similar account of the fight and capture and also mentioned the fact that Joseph Sweetser of Charlestown was one of the men taken and that both he and Charles Harris, “who is the Master or Navigator,” had previously been advertised in the public prints as forced men, with one or two more of the company. A week later the Courant published a list of the names of the men, as follows:—

“An Account of the Names, Ages, and places of Birth of those Men taken by his Majesty’s Ship Greyhound, in the Pirate Sloop called the Ranger, and now confined in his Majesty’s Gaol in Rhode-Island.

NamesAgesPlaces of Birth
William Blades28Rhode Island
Thomas Powel, Gunner21Wethersfield, Conn.
John Wilson23New London County
Daniel Hyde23Eastern Shore of Virginia
Henry Barnes22Barbadoes
Stephen Mundon29London
Thomas Huggit24London
William Read35London-derry, Ireland
Peter Kewes32Exeter, England
Thomas Jones17Flint, Wales
James Brinkley28Suffolk, England
Joseph Sawrd28Westminster
John Brown17Leverpool
William Shutfield40Leicestershire, Engl.
Edward Eaton38Wreaxham, Wales
John Brown29County of Durham, Engl.
Edward Lawson20Isle of Man
Owen Rice27South Wales
John Tomkins23Glocestshire, Engl.
John Fitz-Gerald21County of Limerick, Irela.
Abraham Lacey21Devonshire, Engl.
Thomas Linisker21Lancashire, Engl.
Thomas Reeve30County of Rutland, Engl.
John Hinchard, Doctor22Near Edinburg, N. Brit.
Joseph Sweetser (forc’d)24Boston, New-England
Francis Layton39New-York
John Walters, Quar. Master35County of Devon
William Jones28London
Charles Church21Westminster
Tom Umper, an Indian21Marthas Vineyard

In all 30

New England Courant, June 24, 1723.

The following seven were held on board the “Grayhound” by Captain Solgard, who hoped through them to take Low. They were brought back to Newport and gaoled on July 11th. One of the pirates died in gaol on July 15th.

Charles Harris, Captain25London
Thomas Hazell50——
John Bright25——
Joseph Libbey21Marblehead
Patrick Cunningham25——
John Fletcher17——
Thomas Child15——