[8] Jan Jacob Mauricius, governor of Surinam 1742-1751; see account of him in Harris and de Villiers, Storm van 's Gravesande, II. 538-539.
[9] At this date a county of Massachusetts. With this narrative we can compare Captain Potter's own brief account of the affair, as given in the Pennsylvania Gazette of Feb. 19, 1745, being an extract from a letter written by him to his owners, sent to that journal from Newport: "We came to an Anchor at Y'opoch River, took a Craft by which we had an Account of a considerable French Settlement up that River, with a Fort of six Carriage Guns and 50 Soldiers, excluding Officers: We went with the Prisoners we took into the Craft (bound) before us as our Guides: At one o'clock in the Morning we landed a small Distance from the Fort, gave three Huzza's and entred the same Sword in Hand, took it without the loss of one Man, kept Possession thereof 8 Days, took in Plunder 9 Indians, 2 Negroes, a Mulatto Wench, 50 Small-Arms, 5 Casks of Powder, and a small Quantity of Plate, and took 10 Prisoners. We then steered for Surinam and sent up for Liberty to refit, but were refused by the Governor thereof: How far this is consistent with the Treaties between England and Holland, I for my part must leave to others to determine."
177. Deposition of Daniel Vaughan. September 1, 1746.[1]
Daniel Vaughan, late Lieutenant the Sloop Prince Charles of Lorain, Capt. Simeon Potter, on a Cruising Voiage Anno 1744, on oath declared that an Indian man Named Jeffery Potter was one of the Hands of said Sloop during her Cruize; that on said Cruize the Sloops Company made an Attack on a French Settlement called Yapoke and took out of said Settlement Seven Indians, three Negroes, twenty large Spoons or Ladles, nine Large Ladles, one Gold and one Silver hilted Sword, one Gold and one Silver Watch, two Bags of Money the Quanty uncertain, a number of Chest and Trunks of Goods and Merchandize and waring apparell, a Number of Gold Rings, Buttons and Buckles, a Number of Silver Candlesticks and Church Plate both Gold and Silver,[2] a Number of Swords, about Sixty small arms for Cannon, Shot of all Sorts, about Fifty halfe Barrals of Powder, a Quantity of Beafe, Flower and other Provisions and Sundry other things wch. this Deponent cannot enumerate; that after the taking of said Goods etc. from Yapoke sd. Sloop and Company sail'd for Surrinam where Capt. Potter put a Quantity of sd. Merchandize up at Vendue on board a Vessel in the Harbour and purchased the most of them himself and ship't them to Rhode Island on his own account; then said Sloop Sailed for Barbadoes on wch. passage the men demanded that Capt. Potter would Share the Money taken, according to the Articles, to which Capt. Potter answered that he would share none until his Return for all the Men were indebted to the Owners more than that amounted to and Swore at and Damn'd them threatning them with his drawn sword at their Breasts, which Treatment Obliged the Men to hold their Peace and when said Sloop arrived at Barbadoes Capt. Potter without consulting the Men put part of the afore mentioned Effects into the Hands of Mr. Charles Bolton and kept the other part in his own Hands and Supply'd the Men only with Rum and Sugar for their own drinking, and further this Deponent saith that Capt. Potter refusing to let the men have their Shares and his Ill Treatment of them by beating them occasioned about twenty-four to leave the Vessel whose Shares Capt. Potter retained in his Hands and further this Deponent saith not. Daniel Vaghn. Sworn to this 1 Day of September A.D. 1746, Capt. Potter not notified living out of the Government, befor Eben'r Richardson Just: apece.[3]
A true Copy as one file in the Case Patd. agst. Potter examd.
by Tho. Ward, Clk.
[1] Rhode Island Archives, volume lettered "Admiralty Papers, 1746-1750", following [doc. no. 176].
[2] Father Fauque greatly laments the loss of these. Professor Munro, History of Bristol, p. 180, says that some of the silver which Captain Potter brought home from Oyapoc is still in the possession of descendants of his family.
[3] Bristol had not yet become a part of Rhode Island. Ebenezer Richardson was a justice of the peace in Newport; R.I. Col. Recs., V. 335. Thomas Ward was elected secretary of the colony of Rhode Island in May, 1747 (ibid., V. 215).