[3] Complainant.
148. Deposition of Jeremiah Harriman. November 25, 1741.[1]
Jeremiah Hariman of Lawfull Age Testifyeth and saith that on or about the latter end of June or the beginning of July last he sailed from New York In a Privateer Sloop Called The Revenge Commanded by Capt. Norton on a Cruize Against the Spaniards and in the month of Sept'r last in the Old Streights of Bahama[2] they saw a Sloop laying too with a Jib Sheet to Windward And the Goose wing[3] of her mainsail hauled up and her foresail hauled down, Upon which We gave her Chase and upon Comeing within Gun shot of us she Hoisted a Spanish Flagg upon her Topmast head and fired a shot which went thr'o the Rigging, upon which we stood After her and upon Comeing within Muskett shot of said sloop she fired at us again, upon which we hoisted An English Pendant Upon the Topmast head and then we Engaged her, And in about two hours and half we took her and found a Spanish Commission On board her and then we took Out of the Spanish Privateer about fourteen Spaniards and put them on board Our Sloop and put some of Our men aboard The Spanish Sloop and then both Sloops gave Chase to the Brigantine and In about three or four hours Our sloop came up with the Briganteen and fired One or two Guns, upon which she brought too and struck and then we took possession Of her, at which time this Depon't was Credibly Informed as well by Capt. Smith as his men and all Concern'd that she had been taken as a Prize by The Spaniards and Kept in their Custody Eleven days before she was Retaken By them, Whereupon the Quarter master and One hand more went on board the Said Briganteen to take possession of her as a Retaken Vessell. Capt. Norton Then Ordered Capt. Smith on board his Own Brig't with his Company, and This Depon't was also Ordered by the Quarter master and Company of the Revenge Sloop to go on board said Briganteen to Secure and look after their Interest, With Orders to keep them Company Untill some farther Disposition shou'd be Made, which was Intended to be done the next day, but so it happened by Some Misadventure or Contrivance to this Depon't unknown they never Coul'd come up with the Sloops again (th'o they had Severall times sight of Them), Whereupon the said Smith and Company Alledging they shou'd be short Of Provisions Steer'd their Course towards Rhoad Island and in About Eight days After, in the Gulph of Florida,[4] we Came up with a large Merchant man as deep Laden as she Cou'd well Swim, she Standing in For the Westward and we being very near the florida shore Cou'd not Weather her and when she came up with us she fired a shot Over us, Upon which we brought too and then Ordered us to Come on board them In Our boat, but upon our telling them we had no boat they sent their Boat on board us with their Pilot and Severall Others, who staid on board That night and the next day. about the midle of the Afternoon they Left us After haveing plundered the Brig't of One barrell of Sugar, three Small Sails, a Sheet and Small Anchor, the sheet Cable[5] and Sundry Small Stores of little or no Value. Whereupon Capt. Smith took upon him to Order The Brigantine to Boston, Capt. Smith at the same time telling this Depon't He shou'd have mates Wages, And upon their passage Comeing near Block Island, Capt. Smith refus'd to go into Rhoad Island th'o Requested by the Depon't And Afterwards they put into Martha's Vineyard, where Capt. Smith Sold Rum and Other things to Cloath his people and then made his best Way for Boston where they arrived on or about the 23d of October last When they discharged this Depon't as soon as they well Cou'd and gave him Some money and told him to Go about his business.
Jeremiah Hariman.
1741 Nov'r 25 Jeremiah Hariman Appearing in the Registers Office made Oath to the Truth of the Aforegoing Deposition Before Me
Rob't Auchmuty Judge Ad'y.
[1] Records of the Admiralty Court, Boston, "vol. V."
[2] Commonly called the Old Bahama Channel, lying between the Jardines del Rey, or north coast of Camaguey province, Cuba, and the Great Bahama Bank.
[3] Lower corner.
[4] The part of the Atlantic Ocean east of northern Florida.