It is a curious circumstance that this Cornelius Andreson should shortly join the independent military company organized by Captain Mosely to fight Indians in King Philip’s War which broke out soon after the trials were concluded. Andreson also appears in Capt. Thomas Wheeler’s company and fought bravely and with renown in the attacks about Brookfield. At one time he was sent out as “Captain of a forlorne” hope[38] and afterwards marched to Groton. On Oct. 13, 1675 he was about leaving the country and nothing is known of his later history. Undoubtedly he was the “buccaneer,” mentioned by New England historians as going with Captain Mosely against Philip near the end of June. After the trial of Andreson, the Court again adjourned and on June 17th the other prisoners were brought to trial. Capt. John Rhoade, when asked why he fought against the King’s colors, replied that the attacking vessels had fought under French, Dutch and English colors and he thought that his company would be given no quarter, and therefore he fought. Richard Tulford acknowledged that he had acted in company with the others and had gone ashore at Casco Bay and brought off sheep said to belong to Mr. Mountjoy, and that Thomas Mitchell had sent him. The testimony of Peter Grant and Randall Judson was similar. John Thomas said that he had sailed from Boston with Captain Roderigo and was present at the taking of the vessels and when asked if he didn’t kill a Frenchman he denied but confessed “that hee did shoote at him, but knew not that hee hit him.”[39] John Williams told under examination that he was a Cornishman and had sailed out of Jamaica with Captain Morrice, but was captured by the Dutch and taken into Curacao, where he had joined Captain Aernout’s privateering voyage and on reaching Boston had remained and gone to the eastward with Captain Roderigo. He had been ashore at Machias when the rest were captured. Thomas Mitchell testified that he lived near Malden, Massachusetts, and that he had come last from Pemaquid. He claimed that the English vessels had been taken against his will, but he had eaten of the stolen mutton and also had piloted his vessel from the St. John river to Twelve Penny harbor where they had plundered one Lantrimong and killed his cattle. Edward Uran of Boston, a former fisherman of the Isles of Shoals, had gone on the expedition in Mitchell’s shallop and offered similar testimony.

The Court of Assistants presided over by Governor Leverett, found Rhoade, Fulford, Grant and Judson each guilty of piracy and sentence was pronounced directing that they be hanged “presently after the lecture.” Thomas and Williams were acquitted and discharged. Mitchell was ordered to pay treble satisfaction to Mr. George Mountjoy, i. e., £9.12.0 for the four stolen sheep, and Uran was to be “whipt with twenty stripes.”

A week before the time set for the executions, King Philip went on the warpath and all else, for the time, was forgotten in the fearful danger of the emergency. The executions were postponed again and again. Fulford before long was released without conditions[40] and Rhoade, Grant and Judson were banished from the Colony after paying prison charges and furnishing sureties, and there the affair ended so far as they were concerned. As for the conquest of French Acadia in behalf of the United Provinces, when the Amsterdam authorities learned of what had taken place they at once recognized the services of John Rhoade of Boston, the pilot of the Dutch cruiser, and authorized him to hold possession of Acadia and to carry on unlimited trade with the natives. This was on Sept. 11, 1676, and over a year after he had been sentenced to death for piracy while carrying out the very policy now laid down by the nation that had subjugated the territory. He had acted clearly within his rights and any exceptions that might have been taken were questions between the United Provinces and England, then at peace for some time, and so the matter was then regarded outside the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

When the news of the trial and condemnation of the Dutch officers and their associates reached the States-General, their ambassador to England was immediately instructed to demand the release of the prisoners, the restoration of the territory and the punishment of the offending authorities, and after much procrastination the Council addressed an order to “The Bostoners in New England,”[41] requiring a speedy answer to the complaint. Governor Leverett’s answer calmly recited what had been done by the Colony and stated that there had not been any violation of the peace between the two nations. Meanwhile, Captain Rhoade’s commission had reached him and he undertook to use the authority conferred upon him and got into trouble in consequence, for he sailed into the river St. George and undertook to trade there and was taken prisoner and with his vessel and goods sent to New York. The Dutch West India Company of course protested and demand was made for the release and indemnification of Captain Rhoade. This was on May 21, 1679. The complaint was renewed and much correspondence followed but nothing very definite appears as a result. The main issue was lost in a maze of diplomatic correspondence and evasive reports, and so ended the conquest of Acadia by the Dutch and the charges and counter-charges of piracy on the Maine coast.

FOOTNOTES

[35] Massachusetts Archives, Vol. LXI, leaves 117, 118.

[36] He was one of the colonists who had joined Captain Roderigo in Boston.

[37] Records of the Court of Assistants, Vol. I, p. 35.

[38] Massachusetts Archives, Vol. LXVIII, leaf 7.

[39] Massachusetts Archives, Vol. LXI, leaf 72.