The New York Journal, And Daily Patriotic Register

Salt water rhyme.
June 18.

In the account written by captain Rogers, a few days previous to his execution, there appears very little worthy of remark, containing nothing but a journal of uninteresting events which happened in the course of his life. He relates that he was born in New London, the 25th day of August, 1748, of good parents, from whom he received a very religious education—that he had been married twice, and has five children alive, and possesses some property where he was born—that he had frequently been deprived of his senses, upon which circumstance he dwells very forcibly in many parts—that on or about the thirtieth of October last, when in Bull's Bay, a dispute arose between him and Mr. Nathan, about getting under way;—and the latter uttering very abusive language he struck him two blows with a stick, which threw Nathan upon his knees: he did not recollect of having seen any blood, except on his temple, and solemnly affirmed, that he believed Nathan would have survived and been well in a few days, had it not been for the inveterate hatred which the people bore towards him, who embraced that opportunity of glutting their revenge, by throwing the poor man overboard. With respect to the money, he denies having known that there was any money on board until his arrival in this port, when he found the key of Nathan's trunk, in which a bag of money was discovered—this he was prevailed on by the people to divide, as they said it was as much theirs as any body's, Mr. Nathan having no friends short of Turkey—that he never spent or intended to make use of any of the money; but having got drunk, he was entirely ignorant of what happened afterwards, and of his examination and confession—that he knew nothing of the sassafras root produced in court, and did not believe it ever had been on board the vessel.

He concludes with declaring, that he did not conceive himself guilty of the murder or robbery of Mr. Nathan (for which he was to suffer the ignominious punishment of being suspended between heaven and earth, as a horrid spectacle to the rest of mankind) having only deservedly struck him in resentment for abuse, and having had no intention of applying the money to his own use; but would have given a faithful account of the transaction, at the custom-house, had it not been for his fatal intoxication, to which he attributed his unhappy end. Rogers's narrative is written with such incoherence and confusedness as clearly evinces a deprivation of his senses; another proof of which is, that among his papers was found a malicious scrap of paper, on which was written, "Monday died Capt. Rogers, John Masters, William Pendergrass, William Cain, Richard Williams."

Rogers did not confess to the sheriff, as mentioned in yesterday's paper, but remarked, that his death was rather an act of mercy than of judgment.

Pendergrass was asked, under the gallows, if he was the person of that name who was concerned in the murder of Mr. Wilkinson, on board the schooner Friendship, in 1784, bound from Virginia to St. Thomas's, which he denied. Cain and Williams were also interrogated to what became of Kegan and the boy, who, it appeared from several circumstances, were on board the vessel previous to the commission of the murder; but they persisted in a refusal to give any information respecting the fate of those two persons, and of making any confession.

June 19.

On Monday last were executed, pursuant to sentence of the court of admiralty sessions, for piracy on the American seas, Captain William Rogers, of New London, in Connecticut; John Masters, of Cheshire, in England, and William Pendergrass, of Derbyshire, in England, charged and found guilty of the murder of Mr. Abraham Nathan, of the Jewish nation, joint-owner with Rogers, and passenger on board the sloop Betsey, in October last. Also, Richard Williams and William Cain, both of England, for the murder of Captain Nathaniel C. Webb, and Mr. Cleod, or M'Cleod, on the nineteenth or twentieth of May last, on board the schooner Two Friends.

The unhappy and miserable Rogers appeared uncommonly penitent and resigned, from the day of his being apprehended to the moment of his execution, where he solicited the attendance of the clergy, and joined in pathetic prayer to the supreme being, soliciting the pardon of his God for every trespass he had committed, and the forgiveness of every mortal that felt himself injured by him. He to the last denied having wilfully or maliciously killed Mr. Nathan, and uniformly persisted in the declaration, that he was not in sound mind when the bloody transaction took place; and that he was subject to fits of lunacy. * This assertion Rogers has repeatedly made to Mr. Phalon, both before and after his trial (and to divers other gentlemen) as he likewise has, in sundry parts of a narrative of his life, which he had been writing several days prior to his death. The contemplation of leaving an aged father and mother—an affectionate, respectable wife, and five young children, seemed to distress him beyond expression or description, and deeply affected the numerous spectators, male and female: Rogers repeatedly at the place of execution, begged the prayers of all present, and as often conjured Major Phalon to give good advice and directions to his unfortunate children.

Which Mr. Fanning, of Connecticut, cousin of governor Fanning, and several others from that state, have likewise declared, as also to his being addicted to strong liquor, which always bereaved him of his reason.