“We bless God for the Space of Repentance which he has given us; and that he has not cut us off in the Midst and Height of our Wickedness.
“We are not without Hope, that God has been savingly at work upon our Souls.
“We are made sensible of our absolute Need of the Righteousness of Christ; that we may stand justified before God in that. We renounce all Dependance on our own.
“We are humbly thankful to the Ministers of Christ, for the great Pains they have taken for our Good. The Lord reward their Kindness.
“We don’t despair of Mercy; but hope, through Christ, that when we die, we shall find Mercy with God, and be received into his Kingdom.
“We with others, and especially the Sea-faring, may get Good by what they see this Day befalling of us.
“Declared in the Presence of
“J. W. D. M.”
Jeremiah Bumstead, a Boston brazier, recorded in his diary that “Mr. Webb wallkt with them and prayed thare: their death flagg was set on the gallows.” Six days later he took his wife and ten relatives and neighbors and sailed down the harbor “to see the piratte in Gibbits att Bird Island.” Bird island was located about half-way between Governor’s island and Noddle’s island, now East Boston. Fifty years later it had worn away so that little remained but a sandy flat exposed at low water and before many years it had disappeared entirely. As for Phillips and Taylor; they were reprieved before the day set for execution and finally pardoned but for what reason does not appear.
Preserved among the manuscripts in the Massachusetts State Archives are the papers connected with this trial and among them is the bill rendered by the marshal for expenses incurred by him in connection with the execution and gibbetting of Archer.