USA > Massachusetts > Dukes County > Early History of Naushon Island > Part 15
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193
THE WINTHROP ERA
Mr. Winthrop was a grandson of the first Governor of Con- necticut, great-grandson of the first Governor of Massachusetts and grandfather of the late Hon. Thomas L. Winthrop, Lieu- tenant Governor of Massachusetts.
He was a Fellow and most conspicuous member of the Royal Society, as his grandfather had been one of its founders. Being like him an industrious collector of natural objects, he presented more than 600 specimens, chiefly minerals, to the museum of the society and was, after Mr. Colwell, the greatest contributor up to that time.
An original copy of the catalogue in Mr. Winthrop's hand- writing was placed in our hands [i.e., Boston Athenæum]. . . . It is fair and beautiful manuscript and perfectly legible after the lapse of 109 years from the time it was written.
We have preserved the signs of the metals and not altered the orthography or phraseology, wishing them to tell faithfully of the times from which they have come.
SELECTIONS FROM AN ANCIENT CATALOGUE OF OBJECTS OF NATURAL HISTORY BY JOHN WINTHROP, F.R.S.
It is scarcely necessary to remark that the frequent citations of gold, silver, mercury & tin, are usually erroneous.
Gold & Iron ) Silver 2[ Tin & Mercury } Lead ? Copper C containing.
Quadrupeds
1 - Omitted.
Serpents
2 - Fel Serpentio caudisoni. Four grains for a dose, cure all sorts of fevers & agues, taken in a spoonful of spring water. The gall liquid is preserved for use, by dropping it on the fine powder of chalk.
194
EARLY HISTORY OF NAUSHON ISLAND
Fish
3 - The fins of the dog fish of the size of a dog, with four short legs, and the tail like a fish. 'Tis a sort of seal.
4 - Stones out of the head of a codfish; which powdered are given for the strangury and gravel.
Shells
7 - A sort of Nerites, which never grow larger. The Indians boil them and make strengthening broth of them.
14 - Buccinum Nostro productions, with a chain of their ovaries which are sometimes twenty or thirty yards long.
15 - A piece of the shell of the Poquahauges, a rare shellfish, and a dainty food with the Indians. The flesh eats like veal ; the English make pyes thereof ; and of the shell the Indians make money. This piece is worth two pence.
16, 17, 18, 19, 20 -
The same, of different values. They are called Wampampeege.
21 - Young Poquahauges. Pectunculus fasciatus.
22 - The wreaths of the Buccinum, of which the Indians make their money or white Wampampeege.
28 - Clams, white. Their broth is most excellent in all intermitting fevers, consumptions etc. These clams feed only on sand.
29 - A very curious sort of gold colored pearl shells on the sea coast near the shore. Those with marks are such as have borne pearls ; which powdered make the best testaceous powder in the world.
30 - Unripe pearls which in time would have become (31).
31 - Bright pearls which are produced in the same shells.
32 - Some of the larger sea pearl shells, which are often found in deeper waters three times as large, and bear larger pearls.
33 - Shells of the razor fish (solares), which calcinated the Indians mix with bears grease, and therewith cure the piles. They drink the water in which they are boiled together with the powder of the shells.
Insects
34 - Moths a fine large butterfly with velvet wings, furbelow'd, and eyes on them like the rounds on peacock feathers.
195
THE WINTHROP ERA
Vegetables
36 - Some red cedar wood rotten, from the middle of a post, which was sound on the outside; which shows that the common opinion that cedar never rots is false.
38 - Touch-wood; being the bark of the red oak. The Indians kindle fire with it, by striking two flints together.
40 - A sort of Sena from Elizabetha Island, New England. It dyes an excellent black, and grows in great plenty. Prinos Glaber.
41 - Leaves of a plumb, which grows in swampy ground. It is an ever- green, that dyes an exceedingly fine shining black; and it sur- passes Sena.
42 - An evergreen with which the Indians cure dropsy and strangury, boiling the leaves and small branches in spring water, when they are sick, and drink it in fevers. It grows plentifully in the country, and bears a spicy red berry, which the turtle-doves and partridges eat.
43- Roots of the sassafras tree, which the Indians boil and drink in fevers.
44 - A root called by the Indians dram-root; because it warms their stomach like a dram.
46- Sunkucesowange, a root with which the Indians cure cancers in the breast.
47 - Squianange, a root with which the Indians cure consumptions.
50 - Myrtle berries, of which are made candles and soap. (Myrica)
53 - Indian bean bearing very long pods.
54 - Asclepias. Pods, seeds, silk of the silk grass. It grows everywhere in North America and in New England. The poorer sort of people make beds of it. Fine hats etc. may be made thereof.
55 - The wood and seed of one sort of snake weed, which grows almost everywhere in New England. It bears a purple red flower like the Columbine. After the leaves of the flower fall off, it shoots out into long buttons at the top, which in the autumn open, and contain this wool.
58 - Beach plum stones, which never grow higher than the knee on the barren sand-beach. It is a very pleasant fruit.
59 - A sort of Agaric, which the Indians use as touch-wood, and burn a small place with it behind the ear upon the vein, and they say they never have the toothache afterwards on that side.
196
EARLY HISTORY OF NAUSHON ISLAND
62 - A sort of indigo made out of the wild indigo wood which grows all over New England. The juice of this plant rubbed on horses etc. keeps the flies from stinging them.
Fossils
64 - Fragments of shells dug up 30 feet deep in making a well 3 miles from the sea; great quantities of other shells were found in the same place. No water was found.
65 - A piece of red cedar, petrified in a short time.
Earths, Clays, etc.
72 - A flesh-colored earth from the Gay-Head, where are divers colored ochres.
73- A light red earth, wherewith the Indians paint their faces when they go to war; from the Indians from inland parts.
Slates
100 - A slate which the Indians scrape into water and drink, when they have received any bruise.
[Many minerals here omitted]
Sulphurs
262 - Sulphur from the inland parts near the great high mountain Monadnuck. It is apprehended that hereafter by some accident or other a volcano will break out thereabouts. There is 4 earth in many places of the country, the effect of which may have been the cause of several earthquakes which have happened there.
304 - A mineral sand from Concord in New England C & and 2.
This catalogue continues to No. 364, mostly rocks and minerals.
Chapter V PIRATES AND PRIVATEERS
T HE earliest depredation committed upon the shores of the Elizabeth Islands, probably on Pasque, is reported by Thomas Mayhew to the Governor of New York, and concerns the wreck of a vessel commanded by a Vineyard captain, William Weeks. It is probably the same Weeks whose descendants later lived upon Naushon.
1667
Statement respecting the seizure of a Vessel by the Indians. A true declaration of the Carriadge of the Indians about the ves- sell lost.
One Mondaye night the 18 . 9 . 1667 about 2 or 3 a clock in the morning, by reason of the violence of the wind, my anchrs remaining home, my vessell drove a shoare in the harbor at the west end of that Iland next to Quickshole. Myselfe and company then went to warme orselves at an Indian howse, the Indians saied the vessell and the goods were theirs, wee answered noe, they had noe right to it, they sent to the Sackym & to the other Indians who all came together, and while they were consulting about the vessell and goods they bid us to goe to the other howse; wee an- swered noe, they need not turn us out of the howse wee did not hinder them: then the Indians went out of the howse to the next howse & wee went aboard, & about an hower & halfe after wee being returned to the howse the Indians came thither allso, and toll'd us they had determined all together wee should neither have
198
EARLY HISTORY OF NAUSHON ISLAND
or vessell or goods, they would take them. I desired my chest of them, some of them answered noe there was sum cloth in it & they would have it, I desired my weareing cloathes whch they graunted and some provisions to eate while wee were there wch they graunted. They tooke away a suite of cloathes from me, 2 pre of shooes, all my tooles, the sachim had my saw in his hand wch I would have had, but he would not gyve it to me, nor my axe. They tooke away a new Hatt and a new paire of shooes from my sonne: the partyculars lost are my vessell of 15 tunns wth all due furni- ture belonging to it, and a foresaile to spare, my Cables and anchors I desired of them but they would not gyve them unto mee, my vessell was not seene to be staved when we viewed hir at low water, onely the back of hir rudder broken off ; My freight aboard was 48li Indian corne, fower barrels of pork, 4 hydes, 1 firkin of buter, 1 smale caske of suett about 40', on barrell of tobacco, about 34 or 351 cotton wool; 26 bushells meale, 8 bushells of it wheate meale, the rest Rye of Indian meale, 1 bushell wheate, 1 bushell of Rye, 2 bushells turnepps, one bushell of Inions, Red cloth 6 yards, 3 or 4 yards pemistone, My leade and lyne with divers other things out of my chest and vessell. Shooes, one payre womens shooes, two Iron potts, 3 paire Chilldrens shooes, 2 paire new Russett shooes, 401 tallow, two gunns, a greene blankett, a woman's cloake from Goody Doggett, this is the truth of the case at present to or best remembrance.
This declaration abovewritten was attested upon oathe by William Weexe the master of saied vessell, and by his son William and by thomas the Indian who was seaman in the vessell.
Goody Doggett testifies that the Indyans did take away & wtholld the vessell & goods from the master and shee did entreate them to lett him have his vessell againe but they would not, but they allso denied the meale and meate and fetcht it away, all these were taken uppon oathe 22 november
199
PIRATES AND PRIVATEERS
1667 upon the Vynyard. This is the Coppy of what is under oathe
Thomas Mayhew
Endorsed
"22 Novembre667 A Declaracon of the Carriage of ye Indians
about a vessell taken by them"
Endorsed further down
"a declaration about a vessell of Will Weexes taken by indians
at one of the Elyzabethes Isles: Nobre 1667."
COLONEL NICHOLS TO MR. MAYHEW
Mr Mayhew
Yors of the 26th of Nor with the inclosed attestations relat- ing to the disaster befallen a vessell and goods driven upon one of the Elizabeth Isles, is brought to me by John Dixey who was able to give me an exact confirmation thereof, because he brought the deponents with his sloop out of their bondage. This is the second violence which the Indians of yr parts have committed upon Christians since my arrivall in this country. This latter (though without bloodshed) appears to mee as of ill example and consequence as the former; therefore I see it is high time for mee to put forth my authority to strengthen your hands by a special comission in this case, and allso to give yow some generall heads of directions and advice how to beginn with those Indians and how farr to proceed; for they shall not be suffered to pretend to such a prerogative, much lesse to exercise such barbarisme. Therefore Ist send messengers to the Sachems and acquaint them that I have heard of their insolency and doe demand of them and their people full satisfaction for the dammage sustained, and
200
EARLY HISTORY OF NAUSHON ISLAND
that one or both of the Sachems personally appeare before yow upon Martin's Vineyard to answer their crime. If one or both appear upon the summons, be not sparing to threaten and terrify them for what is past or may happen hereafter. If yow find them willing to comply to satisfaction, then allow them time for pay- ment of the principall and the charges. If neither of them appear at the first summons, send yet a second, peremptorily to comand them and satisfaction also; giving them a short time to make answer. I hope you may find hands and hearts enough either upon Martin's Vineyard or the neighbors of Plimouth in such like cases to reduce these Indians to better obedience; and further let these Indians know that if they force me to send souldiers amongst them from these parts and garrisons it will be so great a charge upon their heads that perpetual slavery will be their end.
You will doe very well to desire Governor Prince and the Assistants of Plymouth to put forth some order to their Indians, manifesting their displeasure against the authors of this late action, or any that shall assist them; by which means I presume yow will bring these Indians to an easier complyance; whereof or in case of greater difficulty, I desire yow will give me notice, for I assure yow this matter shall not fall to the ground. I have not been foreward in triviall cases to contest for my master's bounds, knowing however that all the Islands except Block Island from Cape Codd to Cape May, are included in my master's patent. The first scruples will be soone removed; however in cases of this consequence I must declare myselfe both in point of power and readiness, to protect and defend my master's honour and interest.
John Dixey tells me that these Indians are not necessitous, for that they have great store of hogs which may yield satisfac- tion, though I am apt to beleive much of the goods, (liquors ex- cepted) will be found amongst them.
It is not possible for me to give full advice at this distance, therefore I must leave very much to y' prudence and the dictates
1
FRICA
AMER
. RICA
·Bruthla
Det Eerfte Deel
Dan bet BRANDENDE VEEN,
Dechuchtende gebert
WEST-INDIEN,
De vafle Kuft en de Eylanden,
Beginnende ban
RIO AMASONES,
Cn cparbigenbe Benoorde Terranova.
Becherben Do ..
ARENT ROGGEVEEN
TELDA NI
Orfnerben / Orberuht en Cu:gegeben boog PIETER GOOS, in Compagnie mrt ben AuTHEus.
....
TITLE PAGE OF VOLUME OF MAPS OF ARENT ROGGEVEEN, ENTITLED "THE BURNING FEN"
201
PIRATES AND PRIVATEERS
of a good conscience ; which two ingredients are proper in all mat- ters of great consequence.
What I wrote concerning Tallman yow may peruse as well as himselfe if yow have my letter by yow. No more at present but that I am
Sr Yor very affte friend R. Nichols
It was during the last year of the Dutch occupation of New York that in retaliation for the confiscation of one of their vessels cast ashore at Nantucket, the Dutch captain sent to salvage this vessel, when he found that she had been taken to Boston, ran in to Tarpaulin Cove and captured a ketch and later three others as here told.
1673
At a Council holden in Fort William Hendrick this 29th 9ber 1673
Present Governor-General Colve Councillor Steenwyck Captain William Knyft and Captain Carel Epesteyn
The Captains of the ketches brought here yesterday by Cap- tain Carel Ewoutsen, being examined, declare as follows:
Richard Hollingworth declares he is commander and owner of the ketch Providence, taken in the neighborhood of Blocx Island on his way from Virginia, freight on account of Wharton & company, merchants at Boston, with 47 tubs of tobacco; item, 6 tubs of tobacco for Matthew Cartright, and 13 tubs for him- self and crew, whereof a part is loose; in all 66 tubs, with 8 hides, which he declares to be, as far as he knows, all the cargo on board.
John Ingersol, Skipper of the ketch Nightingale, belonging
202
EARLY HISTORY OF NAUSHON ISLAND
to John Graftin of Salem, taken in Tarpaulin Cove, declares he has on board;
2 barrels of rum
7 yards of Kersey
2 hogsheads and 2 bushels of 1 tierce of Sugar salt 200 1b. and 2 bits of Cotton
Wool
8 yards of Cloth
1 pc. of Stuff
2 barrels of mackarel
The Governor and Council having examined the commanders of the four English ketches brought hither yesterday from New England by Captain Cornelis Ewoutsen, resolved to detain said ketches and cargoes provisionally under arrest, and to in- form the skippers thereof with permission to them and their crews to depart; to whom all their clothing and baggage is ordered to be restored; and that they shall be conveighed hence to Rhode Island free of expense.
At a Council holden at Fort William Henrick 30th November, 1673
Present Governor-General Anthony Colve Captain William Knyff Captain Carel Epestyn
The Governor-General and the Honble Council of War having taken into further consideration the attachment dated 26th in- stant, placed on the four English ketches and their cargoes etc. . . . and finding that said ketches belong to subjects of England actually in open war against our state . .. therefore we, in vir- tue of our commissions find ourselves obliged ... to declare subject to confiscation and forfeiture, as we do hereby confiscate said four ketches, with all their masts, sails, anchors, cables and appurtenances and their cargoes belonging to subjects of the King of England, for the behoof of our Lords Majors, to dis- pose thereof from now henceforth as shall be considered most advantageous for our Lords Principals. Done as above.
66
Difcription of the Map, Nº. 29.
Reaching from HENRY CHRISTIAENS I S L A N D,
TO
CABO COD.
Enry Chrifiaens Ifland, lying Mallabare lies an Ifland called Ilha Mallabere : upon the weft -corner of then follows a Bay called Baya Mallabara, or as Maerten Swynaerts Ifland : be- others call it Unlucky Haven. The entrance of this tween thefe two Iflands is Corner , ot Bay, is very dangerous and foule. good Road at eight fathom; If you defire to faile from this Cornet to Cabo Cod, but you muft not run too you may run at fix fathom northward, to the deepe in, becaufe of a Riffe ot Lands-end, which is the forelaid Cape. From this Cape, and Cabeljaus Ifland reaches a Riffe to Seaward, very much north-caft up, at leaft 30 leagues in length; which every one may plainely fee in the Map.
Clift which lies there in the Faire-water.
From Maerten Swynaerts , or Elisabeths Ifland.
'THis is a very wonderfull Ifland, it is every- where toundabout founded : you may run alongft the fouth-fide of this Ifland at fix fathom ; there is nothing to be fhuned, except a little Riffe, which appears plainely by the Map.
CAbo Cod is a wonderfull Cornet, or a very crooked Arm, containing a Bay, called the On the north-fide, between this Iland and Fuck - Bay, wherefore the crooked Corner is cal- the faft Coaft, you may faile thorow at middle- led Bevefier : fo that the whole States Corner, or water, at eight fathom. From the north- fide as other call it New -Holland, is a fmall Arm, in . of this Ifland reaches a Riffe alongft the fame, which lies inclofed the States Bay, as alfo New which you may pafs with the Lead at three fa- Pleymontb, lying in the Crene- Bay.
thom, to the corner of Swymaerts - Hole : from thence to Cabo Wack, you have in the Faire-water 6, 5, and four fathont.
From hence you have to caft ward between the Mand of Korges, Cabeljaus Ifland, and the faft Coaft feverali Bankes, which lies there to and fro, which is called the fouth-Sea; the conveniencies and properties are in the Map plainely demon- frated.
Frons the faft Coaft.
From Cabo Cod weftward and fourboard.
Now as touching the pertinent difcription of this Coaft, I can impart nothing more then hath already been faid, and may be feen in the Map; but I will ingage my felf to every one, that when any nearet and better Difcription comes to my hand of the Coaft to impart the fame to them.
We fhall end here with the Difcription of the Weft-India and New-Netherland; and having received that wonderfull Ifland called la Barmuda, lying thwart of the forenamed Coaft in the Sea, I though good to add the fame hereunto, that I may comprehend all in this Booke, which is
FRom the Red Ifland to the Koock Ifland reaches contained in the great Ocean, on the weft-fide, the courfe molt caft, but well.fo northerlie, at the latitude as wehave received it. Make ufc and fo forth to Cabo Mallabare. Near to Cabo of is for thy advantage, and teape the benifit.
Difcrip-
DESCRIPTION FROM "THE BURNING FEN" BY ARENT ROGGEVEEN
203
PIRATES AND PRIVATEERS
In the end of the 17th Century and the beginning of the 18th there was tremendous growth in the shipping of New England. A thriving trade developed between the colonies to the north and those to the south of Cape Cod, and most of the seaports sent vessels to the West Indies.
Gradually definite trade routes were established and vessels in ever-increasing numbers plied back and forth. Practically all of the coastwise shipping and much of that to and from the West Indies passed through Vineyard Sound. As the value of cargoes increased piracy became a highly profitable business. The Spanish Main had from early times been a center of piratical activity. By 1680, however, many pirates were operating off the New England coast and were a serious menace to commerce. There were not enough British naval vessels to police the sea routes, and in order to check piracy the Crown authorized Colonial governors and certain officials to issue letters of marque, which gave permission to privately owned and manned ships to arm, and to attack and confiscate all enemy shipping. These letter of marque ships were called privateers. Many privateers were commissioned with the threefold purpose of protecting shipping, suppressing the pirates and engaging in trade. Often a great part of trade consisted in appropriating enemy vessels and cargoes. The pirates likewise committed acts of depredation, the difference being that they acted without official sanction. The line between the two, while legally quite clear, was actually often very indistinct.
It is natural that Tarpaulin Cove was used as a haven by pirates. They could hardly have found a more strategic spot. It commanded the main stream of coastwise shipping but was itself isolated and out of easy land communication. A lookout posted upon the hills behind the light house could see an approaching sail for fifteen or twenty miles coming from either the east or the west.
Entering the Sound before a smoky sou'wester, the captain of the richly laden merchantman returning from Hispaniola must
204
EARLY HISTORY OF NAUSHON ISLAND
have looked anxiously for masts and yards behind the hills of Nashawena and the West End to see what craft might be lying in wait in Quick's Hole or the Cove ready to pounce upon him as he passed.
The sea captain of these days was usually a man of boldness, hardness and enterprise. When driven by sharp competition and urged on by owners whose object was not only gain, but huge profits, a privateer captain often became ruthless in his methods and easily slipped from privateering to piracy. This was true of the two captains, whose activities at Tarpaulin are here told, Pound and Kidd.
1689
THE PIRATE CAPTAIN POUND
Thomas Pound, formerly pilot of the King's Frigate Rose, in the summer of 1689 began a series of depredations north of Cape Cod. With him was a company of about twenty-five, which included Thomas Hawkins and Eleazer Buck.
In late August Pound rounded the Cape and on the 27th pursued the brigantine Merrimack into Holme's Hole and robbed her of provisions. He then sailed to Virginia, spent a week or so off the mouth of the James River, and by October was back in Vineyard Sound, his base probably Tarpaulin Cove. Several fur- ther raids on shipping followed, and Hawkins deserted, going ashore at Cape Cod. He was subsequently arrested, taken to Boston and tried for piracy.
Meanwhile Governor Mayhew of Martha's Vineyard became aroused by the danger to shipping in the Sound and sent a mes- sage to the authorities in Boston. The Governor and Council at once ordered the sloop Mary, manned by a crew of twenty men under command of Captain Samuel Pease, to cruise south of Cape Cod in search of the pirate.
Pound, having secured provisions from the sloop Brothers
Cabo Cod of C lames
Staten
Crane
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Tioeck
Berechver
HOLLAND
Staten ·Bay
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41
Eng en Fr mulen so mn ern Graad
MAP NO. 29 FROM "THE BURNING FEN" BY ARENT ROGGEVEEN
wymarty hil
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3
atle chiabets Filan.tt
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3
205
PIRATES AND PRIVATEERS
Adventure and completed his preparations for a cruise to the West Indies, was about to leave Tarpaulin Cove when he sighted the Mary coming up the Sound. He hoisted his sails and attempted to escape but was brought to bay.
MATTHEW MAYHEW OF MARTHA'S VINEYARD TO GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY
Mart. Vineyard. Sepbr 22d '89
Worshipfull Sr.
I send the bearer post, to inform, that one Hawkins, hath lately taken William Lord in a Barque from Jamaica, this day, following a vesle (?) into this port, being the Sabath gave advan- tage, to raise such force to deter them from coming so neer as to fetch out the vesle; of which wee thought meet to give speedy advice, that, at least such as are designed westward, might know the daing". Those pirates are in a sloop belonging to Mr Peeter Coffin, and sd Barque being all needf11 at present. am
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