Andrew Harradine Deposed he never saw any thing but what was Civil in Baptis and Taffery, That they were very forward upon the rising, as soon as they perceived what they were about, and were very much rejoiced when it was done and they had got their Liberty.
Then the Court ordered That all Persons should depart but the Judges and Register; and having Maturely weighed the Evidences unanimously found John Baptist and Peter Taffry not Guilty. Then the Prisoners were brought to the Bar and the President declared That the Court had found them not Guilty.
Then the Court Adjourned till the Morrow Morning.
And the Court being met according to Adjournment, Francisco, Pedro, and Pierro, three negros, were brought to the Bar and Arraigned, but no Evidences appearing to alledge any Acts of Pyracy against them, but all [alledging] that they were Imployed in Cooking the Kettle, The Court [unanimously] found them not [Guilty].[3]
And then after passing [some necessary orders] relating to [the] Execution of the Pyrates, etc. [The Court adjourned without] Day.[4]
[1] Baptis, it will be remembered, did not speak English; hence it was that he resorted to the expressive language of manual (and pedal) signs.
[2] John.
[3] But apparently John Baptis's new lease of life was not long. "November 2 [1726]. John Battis, a Frenchman, his son, and 3 Indians were hanged at Charlestown ferry." Diary of Jeremiah Bumstead, N.E. Hist. Gen. Reg., XV. 311. The crime was piracy.
[4] Archer and White were executed on June 2, 1724. Cotton Mather ministered to them in their last days, adding, one would think, a new horror to death. The sermon he preached at them was forthwith printed by him, The Converted Sinner ... A Sermon Preached in Boston, May 31, 1724, In the Hearing and at the Desire of certain Pirates [Archer and White], a little before their Execution, To which there is added, A more private Conference of a Minister with them (Boston, 1724). With his usual insufferable vanity, he indicates that the capture of the pirates was widely attributed to his public prayer against pirates on Sunday, Apr. 26: "Behold, before the week was out, there comes in a Vessel wherein" were the captive pirates. But the victorious mutiny against the pirates occurred on Apr. 18, and without disparaging Dr. Mather's influence in the councils of Heaven, it seems doubtful if the rising could have been caused by prayers publicly offered by him on the 26th. After the trial he adds: "One of the first Things which the Pyrates, who are now so much the Terror of them that haunt the Sea, impose on their poor Captives, is, to curse Dr. M——r. The Pyrates now strangely fallen into the Hands of Justice here, make me the first Man, whose Visits and Counsils and Prayers they beg for. Some of them under Sentence of Death, chuse to hear from me the Last Sermon they hear in the world. The Sermon is desired for Publication". Diary of Cotton Mather (Mass. Hist. Soc.), II. 722, 729.
123. Bill of Robert Dobney. June 2, 1724.[1]