Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Foreign News
June 30, 1796
The Patowmac Guardian, And Berkeley Advertiser
Martinsburg, Shepherdstown, Berkeley County, Jefferson County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
Account of the capture of brig Polly by HMS Cleopatra and alleged murder of its captain John Boston by prize master Mr. Reed through severe beating, as deposed in Bermuda in April 1796 amid British naval actions.
Clipping
OCR Quality
70%
Good
Full Text
FROM THE AURORA.
EVIDENCE OF BRITISH AMITY.
BOSTON, MAY 25.
STATEMENT OF FACTS, RELATIVE TO THE CAPTURE OF THE BRIG POLLY, JOHN BOSTON, LATE MASTER, BY THE PRIVATEER, AND THE MURDER OF CAPTAIN JARVIS.
The following is a letter from the Second Mate of the vessel, who was on board Captain Brown from the moment of his being taken, till his murder.
BERMUDA, APRIL 5.
We sailed from Surinam Feb. last the windward Martinico, was spoken by the Veteran, of 64 guns, took and let go.--In lat. 20, 21 long. 65 we spoke the Cispara, Rowley, and let her go into this land. And the crew were taken out of her, Captain and all. Five days after our capture we were spoken to, supposed to be in course consequence of a false alarm from the prize master--March 16. He died. He was on at more, and every attendance given him.
BERMUDA. St. GEORGES.
GABRIEL JACOBUS VAN DERBOGT, a Dutch seaman, late mate of the brigantine Polly, John Boston, late master, maketh oath on the Holy Evangelists of God and deposeth.
That after the said vessel had been originally by his Majesty's ship Cleopatra, Charles Rowley, Esq. commander, the deponent averred, that Boston, on being hailed out, was shown panned shot, M. O'NEAL the prize master's mate, in a furious manner, after which they both went to bed near each other; when in bed, Mr. Neal said to the Captain, that he believed he was good and to play at it sticks, on which they sung out often, and played themselves at marbles, in which the Captain in a particular way, having a sword near him drew it and flourished it over the table where they were sitting, and broke a mug or two. On which the prize master who was a little time pinched the Captain who put his sword down, for they had played long enough, on which nothing at it att on the ration and went upon deck; during which time Mr. Reed took the sword, when the Captain returned and asked where it was, Mr. Reed answered him that he had it, at which time the Captain seemed to be very angry, and some time afterwards fell into a fit, and was put to bed by two men. Mr. Reed ordered a sentry and two men to be placed over him which constantly over him all that night. At about 5 o'clock the next evening, the Captain being still under confinement in bed, called this deponent and requested him to give him some drink. Soon after he went up the ladder near the deck and then directly returned to bed: immediately on which Mr. Reed, the prize master, Mr. O'Neal, and some of the crew came into the cabin: when Mr. Reed swore bitterly he would kill the Captain, as he had offered money to the crew to rise upon them; that Mr. Reed attempted to beat the Captain in bed; but was prevented by his own crew, on which Mr. Reed went to his chest to get a pistol and swore he would shoot him in his bed but was prevented by this deponent's jumping on the chest and expostulating with him to forbear such rashness in the most forceful and affecting manner: that the said Mr. Reed then went to the Captain's bed and beat him in so severe a manner, that this deponent could not bear to see it, but turned himself away, fearing that as the Captain had been lately ill of a fit it might be fatal to him--That the said Mr. Reed then put a sentry over him declaring that if he behaved as he did before he would certainly kill him: that the Captain, from the evening before mentioned, continued to abstain from eating any victuals, but would frequently call for liquor: that Reed after he had done beating the Captain went to his chest and took the Captain's sword and broke it in three pieces, and returned it into his chest: that he, this deponent saw the Captain's eyes and face much bruised, and black and blue, and heard him much complain of his head, back, and side. That during the time this deponent served on board the Polly, which was five months before she was captured by the Cleopatra, he never observed the Captain to be the worse for liquor until the vessel was captured. That the said deponent assisted in shifting the Captain after he was dead, and observed him to be much bruised on his left side.
Sworn to at St. George's, this 27th day of April 1796
Before us,
RICHARD WASHINGTON,
Louisa ETtan.
EVIDENCE OF BRITISH AMITY.
BOSTON, MAY 25.
STATEMENT OF FACTS, RELATIVE TO THE CAPTURE OF THE BRIG POLLY, JOHN BOSTON, LATE MASTER, BY THE PRIVATEER, AND THE MURDER OF CAPTAIN JARVIS.
The following is a letter from the Second Mate of the vessel, who was on board Captain Brown from the moment of his being taken, till his murder.
BERMUDA, APRIL 5.
We sailed from Surinam Feb. last the windward Martinico, was spoken by the Veteran, of 64 guns, took and let go.--In lat. 20, 21 long. 65 we spoke the Cispara, Rowley, and let her go into this land. And the crew were taken out of her, Captain and all. Five days after our capture we were spoken to, supposed to be in course consequence of a false alarm from the prize master--March 16. He died. He was on at more, and every attendance given him.
BERMUDA. St. GEORGES.
GABRIEL JACOBUS VAN DERBOGT, a Dutch seaman, late mate of the brigantine Polly, John Boston, late master, maketh oath on the Holy Evangelists of God and deposeth.
That after the said vessel had been originally by his Majesty's ship Cleopatra, Charles Rowley, Esq. commander, the deponent averred, that Boston, on being hailed out, was shown panned shot, M. O'NEAL the prize master's mate, in a furious manner, after which they both went to bed near each other; when in bed, Mr. Neal said to the Captain, that he believed he was good and to play at it sticks, on which they sung out often, and played themselves at marbles, in which the Captain in a particular way, having a sword near him drew it and flourished it over the table where they were sitting, and broke a mug or two. On which the prize master who was a little time pinched the Captain who put his sword down, for they had played long enough, on which nothing at it att on the ration and went upon deck; during which time Mr. Reed took the sword, when the Captain returned and asked where it was, Mr. Reed answered him that he had it, at which time the Captain seemed to be very angry, and some time afterwards fell into a fit, and was put to bed by two men. Mr. Reed ordered a sentry and two men to be placed over him which constantly over him all that night. At about 5 o'clock the next evening, the Captain being still under confinement in bed, called this deponent and requested him to give him some drink. Soon after he went up the ladder near the deck and then directly returned to bed: immediately on which Mr. Reed, the prize master, Mr. O'Neal, and some of the crew came into the cabin: when Mr. Reed swore bitterly he would kill the Captain, as he had offered money to the crew to rise upon them; that Mr. Reed attempted to beat the Captain in bed; but was prevented by his own crew, on which Mr. Reed went to his chest to get a pistol and swore he would shoot him in his bed but was prevented by this deponent's jumping on the chest and expostulating with him to forbear such rashness in the most forceful and affecting manner: that the said Mr. Reed then went to the Captain's bed and beat him in so severe a manner, that this deponent could not bear to see it, but turned himself away, fearing that as the Captain had been lately ill of a fit it might be fatal to him--That the said Mr. Reed then put a sentry over him declaring that if he behaved as he did before he would certainly kill him: that the Captain, from the evening before mentioned, continued to abstain from eating any victuals, but would frequently call for liquor: that Reed after he had done beating the Captain went to his chest and took the Captain's sword and broke it in three pieces, and returned it into his chest: that he, this deponent saw the Captain's eyes and face much bruised, and black and blue, and heard him much complain of his head, back, and side. That during the time this deponent served on board the Polly, which was five months before she was captured by the Cleopatra, he never observed the Captain to be the worse for liquor until the vessel was captured. That the said deponent assisted in shifting the Captain after he was dead, and observed him to be much bruised on his left side.
Sworn to at St. George's, this 27th day of April 1796
Before us,
RICHARD WASHINGTON,
Louisa ETtan.
What sub-type of article is it?
Naval Affairs
What keywords are associated?
Brig Polly Capture
Hms Cleopatra
Captain Beating
Prize Master Reed
Bermuda Deposition
What entities or persons were involved?
John Boston
Charles Rowley
Gabriel Jacobus Van Derbogt
M. O'neal
Mr. Reed
Where did it happen?
Bermuda
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Bermuda
Event Date
March 16, 1796
Key Persons
John Boston
Charles Rowley
Gabriel Jacobus Van Derbogt
M. O'neal
Mr. Reed
Outcome
captain john boston beaten severely by prize master mr. reed and died on march 16; body showed bruises on face, eyes, head, back, side, and left side.
Event Details
The brigantine Polly, master John Boston, sailed from Surinam in February 1796 bound for Martinico. Captured by HMS Cleopatra under Charles Rowley. Prize master Mr. Reed and mate M. O'Neal mistreated the captain after an altercation involving a sword and game; Reed beat him severely, threatened to kill him for allegedly offering money to crew to rise against them, broke his sword, placed sentry over him. Captain fell into fit, abstained from food, complained of injuries, died March 16. Deposition by mate Gabriel Jacobus van Derbogt sworn April 27, 1796, in St. George's, Bermuda.