Narrative of Captain John Lee from the Alexandria, Va newspaper
The following is an abstract of the narrative of Capt. John LEE, who was executed for piracy on the 20th of March, 1820 , relating the events of his life, with a journal of his last cruise, dictated and signed by himself:
I was born in the county of Fairfax, in the State of Virginia, a lived with my father who was a Millwright, in the city of Alexandria until my twelfth year, when I was sent to sea and served an apprenticeship of seven years. I was then appointed to the charge of a vessel, which being sold, I entered on board the brig Washington as mate. From her I was impressed in the year 1812 on board H. B. M. ship the Princess Caroline, Capt. DOWNMAN. At the commencement of hostilities with America, I was discharged and sent a prisoner of war to Chatham, and as such continued until 1815, when I returned to my family and friends, where I found that my father that died during my absence, but my mother is still living. Shortly after I was married to an amiable and affectionate woman, who blessed me with two children, one of whom alone, a child of about 4 years old, is now alive. I continued in the merchant employ until 1819, when I was appointed to the schooner Sisters of Alexandria, and sailed with a cargo and some passengers from Newburn, in North Carolina, in March last; after a passage of 23 days I arrived at Mobile, where I met Col. CAMPBELL, acting as agent for Gen. LONG, commander in chief of the Province of Texas; being instructed to sell the schooner, I disposed of her to this gentleman for the sum of one thousand dollars, which money, together with one hundred dollars in addition, I remitted to Mr. WILSON, the owner, in bills of the United States Branch Bank at New Orleans; the letter I put into the post office in the presence of Mr. SAVANNAH, proprietor of the Hotel, and Capt. SHEARS of Mobile. After effecting the sale of the schooner, the charge of her was offered to me, with a commission in the Patriot service. I was promised in return for my exertions, one thousand acres of land in the province of Texas, whenever it should be declared independent, and a certain proportion of our captured property was to be appropriated to our use for contingent expenses and supplies, reserving for the government a share of our prizes. Not doubting the legality of this service, I took charge of the vessel and received instructions to take my orders from Com. Reynaldo E. DELVILLE, from whom I received a letter of service, together with a copy of his commission. I could not expect this to be fabricated, having a notorial seal affixed, and being in every respect apparently regular and correct, but the document being written in Spanish, I was less able to form a proper judgment on [unreadable] subject. These offers, added to the confidence I placed in DELVILLE, who from his manners and address, I considered as a manor of honor and integrity, induced me to think myself fortunate in the appointment, and I entered with pleasure into this service. My first orders were to take on board an officer on secret service and to convey him to a squadron then at St. Georges’ Island; we arrived off Pensacola and remained there cruizing until a gale of wind blew him off, and being short of provisions, we proceeded to the Balize at the entrance of the Mississippi. Here the crew might have left the vessel if they disliked the service as we were visited by the officer of the custom; of this they did not avail themselves – and having laid in stores, &c., we proceeded to sea. We soon fell in with the American sloop Gold Huntress, lat. 28, 48, in the longitude of Chandeleurs Island, she was commanded by Captain BROWN of Newport, Rhode Island. Her cargo being Spanish property and having some Spanish passengers on board, we took some things from her and suffered the vessel to proceed; we steered for the Georges and made soundings off Cape St. Blis, but were driven by a gale to the northward of the dry Tortogas, after which we made the shore of Cuba, and the gale ceasing, we discovered the Moro Castle bearing SSW distance about 9 miles; the same evening we saw a large ship which, having fired upon us, we hauled off; the day following, we captured a Spanish schooner bound to Key Sal, for a cargo of salt; she was permitted to proceed. A few days afterwards we discovered two sail, the first we boarded proved an American schooner; after this we gave chase to the other, in the evening came up with her, she had English colors flying, the boat was sent on board under charge of Mr. OSBORNE, with orders to bring the captain and two of her crew together with the papers; these orders were executed and Capt. FINLAYSON of the Pam-be-civil, remained on board the La Jeunne Creole. I returned in the boat to the Pam-be-civil, from which vessel I acknowledge I took a few articles such as turtle, ducks, &c., but neither Captain F’s trunk nor any of his personal property; which I afterwards found these had been taken by Osborne, I determined to make reparation as soon as possible for the loss. We proceeded to Key Lopez where we found Peter MOTT commanding the sloop Spring Budd, and at Key Comslata, we met with Weaver, commanding the sloop Industry. Here we fell in with the sloop San Tisima Trinidada, with a cargo of slaves from Lagona bound to the Havanna. As she lay at anchor I went on board in company with Weaver; considering it practicable to make a prize of her, we waited at anchor until she made sail, and in the interim we prepared our arms, she at length made signal for a pilot, which we answered by hoisting British colors; she proceeded to sea, when we gave chase, and succeeded in getting under her quarter, and after a short running fight she surrendered. The crew were landed in Cuba, and the slaves were to be ransomed for 6000 dollars – they were put into a vessel commanded by Thomas CATTO, but the money was never paid. The sloop afterwards was dismantled, her sails, rigging, materials and copper sent into New Providence by the vessels of MOTT and WEAVER – these were to be disposed to procure ammunition, and to reimburse Capt. FINLAYSON for his loss, and a letter was sent to the President in Nassau, in which I stated my regret for the circumstances – this letter, however, was never delivered. In December we captured the Spanish Felucca El Conception, with a valuable cargo, a few days after which, the circumstance for which I was first tried occurred. DELVILLE order me to use coercive measures if necessary, to suppress mutinous conduct. A seaman named WALSH conducted himself improperly, I remonstrated, he replied abusively. I threatened him, he dared me to execute by threats. I drew my sword, more words passed, at length I wounded him. I found his situation dangerous and rendered him every assistance, but without avail, for in twenty eight hours he died. Previous to his dissolution he confessed himself the aggressor and freely forgave my offence. I performed his last sad offices, and had him decently interred. This act was committed at the impulse of the moment, without any malice against the unfortunate man, and I sincerely regret that I committed an act so directly contrary to every principle of feeling and humanity. No event of consequence happened until the capture of our vessel by the schooner Primrose, the circumstances of which are well known. I consider myself unfortunately and intentionally led into error. I do not deny that I have offended the laws of nations, and that my sentence is perfectly just according to the testimony given against me, where much has been adduced in a more severe light than it ought. I freely forgive my enemies, and leave those who were evidences (evidenced?) for the prosecution against me, to take warning by my fate
The following is an abstract of the narrative of Capt. John LEE, who was executed for piracy on the 20th of March, 1820 , relating the events of his life, with a journal of his last cruise, dictated and signed by himself:
I was born in the county of Fairfax, in the State of Virginia, a lived with my father who was a Millwright, in the city of Alexandria until my twelfth year, when I was sent to sea and served an apprenticeship of seven years. I was then appointed to the charge of a vessel, which being sold, I entered on board the brig Washington as mate. From her I was impressed in the year 1812 on board H. B. M. ship the Princess Caroline, Capt. DOWNMAN. At the commencement of hostilities with America, I was discharged and sent a prisoner of war to Chatham, and as such continued until 1815, when I returned to my family and friends, where I found that my father that died during my absence, but my mother is still living. Shortly after I was married to an amiable and affectionate woman, who blessed me with two children, one of whom alone, a child of about 4 years old, is now alive. I continued in the merchant employ until 1819, when I was appointed to the schooner Sisters of Alexandria, and sailed with a cargo and some passengers from Newburn, in North Carolina, in March last; after a passage of 23 days I arrived at Mobile, where I met Col. CAMPBELL, acting as agent for Gen. LONG, commander in chief of the Province of Texas; being instructed to sell the schooner, I disposed of her to this gentleman for the sum of one thousand dollars, which money, together with one hundred dollars in addition, I remitted to Mr. WILSON, the owner, in bills of the United States Branch Bank at New Orleans; the letter I put into the post office in the presence of Mr. SAVANNAH, proprietor of the Hotel, and Capt. SHEARS of Mobile. After effecting the sale of the schooner, the charge of her was offered to me, with a commission in the Patriot service. I was promised in return for my exertions, one thousand acres of land in the province of Texas, whenever it should be declared independent, and a certain proportion of our captured property was to be appropriated to our use for contingent expenses and supplies, reserving for the government a share of our prizes. Not doubting the legality of this service, I took charge of the vessel and received instructions to take my orders from Com. Reynaldo E. DELVILLE, from whom I received a letter of service, together with a copy of his commission. I could not expect this to be fabricated, having a notorial seal affixed, and being in every respect apparently regular and correct, but the document being written in Spanish, I was less able to form a proper judgment on [unreadable] subject. These offers, added to the confidence I placed in DELVILLE, who from his manners and address, I considered as a manor of honor and integrity, induced me to think myself fortunate in the appointment, and I entered with pleasure into this service. My first orders were to take on board an officer on secret service and to convey him to a squadron then at St. Georges’ Island; we arrived off Pensacola and remained there cruizing until a gale of wind blew him off, and being short of provisions, we proceeded to the Balize at the entrance of the Mississippi. Here the crew might have left the vessel if they disliked the service as we were visited by the officer of the custom; of this they did not avail themselves – and having laid in stores, &c., we proceeded to sea. We soon fell in with the American sloop Gold Huntress, lat. 28, 48, in the longitude of Chandeleurs Island, she was commanded by Captain BROWN of Newport, Rhode Island. Her cargo being Spanish property and having some Spanish passengers on board, we took some things from her and suffered the vessel to proceed; we steered for the Georges and made soundings off Cape St. Blis, but were driven by a gale to the northward of the dry Tortogas, after which we made the shore of Cuba, and the gale ceasing, we discovered the Moro Castle bearing SSW distance about 9 miles; the same evening we saw a large ship which, having fired upon us, we hauled off; the day following, we captured a Spanish schooner bound to Key Sal, for a cargo of salt; she was permitted to proceed. A few days afterwards we discovered two sail, the first we boarded proved an American schooner; after this we gave chase to the other, in the evening came up with her, she had English colors flying, the boat was sent on board under charge of Mr. OSBORNE, with orders to bring the captain and two of her crew together with the papers; these orders were executed and Capt. FINLAYSON of the Pam-be-civil, remained on board the La Jeunne Creole. I returned in the boat to the Pam-be-civil, from which vessel I acknowledge I took a few articles such as turtle, ducks, &c., but neither Captain F’s trunk nor any of his personal property; which I afterwards found these had been taken by Osborne, I determined to make reparation as soon as possible for the loss. We proceeded to Key Lopez where we found Peter MOTT commanding the sloop Spring Budd, and at Key Comslata, we met with Weaver, commanding the sloop Industry. Here we fell in with the sloop San Tisima Trinidada, with a cargo of slaves from Lagona bound to the Havanna. As she lay at anchor I went on board in company with Weaver; considering it practicable to make a prize of her, we waited at anchor until she made sail, and in the interim we prepared our arms, she at length made signal for a pilot, which we answered by hoisting British colors; she proceeded to sea, when we gave chase, and succeeded in getting under her quarter, and after a short running fight she surrendered. The crew were landed in Cuba, and the slaves were to be ransomed for 6000 dollars – they were put into a vessel commanded by Thomas CATTO, but the money was never paid. The sloop afterwards was dismantled, her sails, rigging, materials and copper sent into New Providence by the vessels of MOTT and WEAVER – these were to be disposed to procure ammunition, and to reimburse Capt. FINLAYSON for his loss, and a letter was sent to the President in Nassau, in which I stated my regret for the circumstances – this letter, however, was never delivered. In December we captured the Spanish Felucca El Conception, with a valuable cargo, a few days after which, the circumstance for which I was first tried occurred. DELVILLE order me to use coercive measures if necessary, to suppress mutinous conduct. A seaman named WALSH conducted himself improperly, I remonstrated, he replied abusively. I threatened him, he dared me to execute by threats. I drew my sword, more words passed, at length I wounded him. I found his situation dangerous and rendered him every assistance, but without avail, for in twenty eight hours he died. Previous to his dissolution he confessed himself the aggressor and freely forgave my offence. I performed his last sad offices, and had him decently interred. This act was committed at the impulse of the moment, without any malice against the unfortunate man, and I sincerely regret that I committed an act so directly contrary to every principle of feeling and humanity. No event of consequence happened until the capture of our vessel by the schooner Primrose, the circumstances of which are well known. I consider myself unfortunately and intentionally led into error. I do not deny that I have offended the laws of nations, and that my sentence is perfectly just according to the testimony given against me, where much has been adduced in a more severe light than it ought. I freely forgive my enemies, and leave those who were evidences (evidenced?) for the prosecution against me, to take warning by my fate
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