[3] Old Point Comfort? It is just possible that "Mr. Mekennie", p. 264, or "Mr. Makennie", here, may mean the celebrated pioneer of Presbyterianism, Rev. Francis Makemie, who is sometimes said to have lived in Lynnhaven parish before settling down in Accomac, on the Eastern Shore.
[4] The Horseshoe is a sandy shoal running from the shore north of Old Point Comfort eastwardly toward the channel between Cape Charles and Cape Henry.
[6] For Captain Passenger's own account, see Cal. St. P. Col., 1700, p. 311. Governor Nicholson accompanied him in person, aboard the Shoreham. During most of the fight the two ships were within pistol-shot of each other. Finally the pirate, with all masts and sails shattered, drifted aground. Then, having laid a train to thirty barrels of gunpowder, he threatened to blow the ship up, and the governor, to save the lives of the forty or fifty English prisoners, gave quarter, promising to refer the pirates to the king's mercy if they should surrender quietly. So 111 of them were sent to England in the Essex Prize and the fleet of merchantmen convoyed by her, June 9. The trial was of three who were brought in without having been included in the surrender. It was held, in accordance with the Virginian act, by a commission of oyer and terminer, appointed by the governor. All three of them were hanged, although "One of them, Cornelius Frank, said, Must I be hanged that can speake all Languages"? Another curious passage in the trial deserves to be quoted: "Mr. Atty. Gen. Did the Pyrates talk of blowing their Shipp up? Ed. Ashfeild. Yes, they did, and went to prayers upon it." Nor less the picture, in the evidence of either this or an adjoining trial, of the pirate captain "with a gold chain around his neck, and a gold Tooth-picker hanging from it"—nouveau riche!
94. John and Adam Thorowgood to Captain Passenger. May 3, 1700.[1]
Sir
This Day 7 men which had been taken by a Pirate in a Pink without any great Guns, only small Armes, and very litle Ammunition, came on shore and informed us this News, which we thought convenient to Inform you, that you may act according as the Necessity requires. Also Adam Hayes, a man who lives on the Sea side, Informes us, he Yesterday saw a Pink and Brigantine rideing at Anchor in sight of his house, 8 or 10 miles to the soward of Cape Henry. the Brigantine he suppose came out of the Capes. about 3 of the Clock in the afternoon he saw a boat goe from on board the Brigantine, to the Pink. after that two boats were Passing and repassing from one vessel to the other till near night, at which time the Pink weighed and stood of to sea. the Brigantine remained there till within Night, but this morning Neither of them to be seen. The abovesaid 7 men informed us the Pink which took them hath but 16 men which belonged to the Pyrate and 9 Prisoners. they say she belonged (before taken) to Biddeford[2] and is an Extraordinary good sailer. they also tell us they were put into a Boat and turned a Drift, they think because they were to many to be kept on board, being then 16 men Prisoners, and now as abovesaid but 9. likewise on tuesday last they tooke a Bristol man and Cut down their Masts and Boltspritte and left them as a wreck in the sea, as also another they tooke and Cut a hole in her bottom and let her sink in the sea, and that they were Ordered by the Pyrate You took last munday[3] to Cruise in the Lattitude of the Capes till they came out to them. Sir, this is all we think materiall at present to be Informed you by
Your Humble servants
Jno. Thorowgood, sher.[4]
Adam Thorwgood
Princess Ann County
the 3d of May being
Fryday, 1700.