Part 1

A TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE VOYAGE OF THE _Nottingham-Galley_ of _London_, _John Dean_ Commander, FROM THE River _Thames_ to _New-England_,

Near which Place she was cast away on _Boon-Island_, December 11, 1710. by the Captain's Obstinacy, who endeavour'd to betray her to the _French_, or run her ashore; with an Account of the Falsehoods in the Captain's _Narrative_.

And a faithful Relation of the Extremities the Company was reduc'd to for Twenty-four Days on that desolate Rock, where they were forc'd to eat one of their Companions who died, but were at last wonderfully deliver'd.

The whole attested upon Oath, by

_Christopher Langman_, Mate; _Nicholas Mellen_, Boatswain; and _George White_, Sailor in the said Ship.

_LONDON_: Printed for _S. Popping_ at the _Raven_ in _Pater-noster-Row_, 1711. (Price Six Pence.)

THE PREFACE.

_We having been Sufferers in this unfortunate Voyage, had reason to believe, from the Temper of our Captain, who treated us barbarously both by Sea and Land, that he would misrepresent the Matter, as we now find he has done in a late Pamphlet by him publish'd, intituled_, A Narrative of the Sufferings, Preservation, and Deliverance of Captain _John Dean_, and Company, in the _Nottingham_ Galley of _London_, &c. London, _Printed by_ R. Tooky, _and Sold by_ S. Popping _at the_ Raven _in_ Pater-noster-Row, _and at the_ Printing Press _under the_ Royal-Exchange.

_Our Apprehensions of this made us refuse the Encouragement which was offered us in_ New England, _and resolve to come home that we might have an Opportunity to lay before the World, and before those Gentlemen and others who have lost their Estates and Relations in this unhappy Voyage, the true Causes of our own and their Misfortunes, and how they might, humanely speaking, have been easily avoided, had Captain_ Dean _been either an honest or an able Commander. This we think ourselves oblig'd to do in common Justice, and to prevent others from suffering by him in the like manner._

_We cannot but in the first place take notice of a notorious Falshood he asserts in his Preface_. That he might have had the Attestation of several of his Fellow Sufferers now in Town to the Truth of what he has wrote, _since he very well knows that Two of us did positively refuse it in publick Company, after reading a part of it, and told him to his Face_, that it was not true.

_In the next place, as to what he says of_ the Encouragement his Narrative met with in _New England_ and _North Britain_, where it appeared under much greater Disadvantages as to the Particulars and Dress, _We think fit to reply, That the Acceptance it met with in_ New England _was occasion'd by our being confined from appearing in publick during our Sickness, and that he compell'd us to sign what our Illness made us uncapable to understand; but when it pleas'd God that we recover'd our Health, and made our Affidavits here subjoin'd before Mr._ Penhallow, _a Justice of Peace, and Member of Council at_ Portsmouth _in the Province of_ New Hampshire, New England, _in the Presence of the said_ Dean, _who had not the Face to deny it, his Character appear'd in a true Light, and he was cover'd with Shame and Confusion_.

_The Captain has reason indeed to commend the Charity of the Gentlemen of_ New England, _which is no more than their due, both from him and us, tho' we were unhappily deprived of the chief Effects of it by the Captain's Brother; who being the Person that received it, took care not to be wanting to the Captain and himself, whereas we had nothing but what was fit for such miserable Wretches, who were glad of any thing, since we were then uncapable of working for better._

_As to what he says in his Postscript about Insurance, we know nothing further of that matter than what we heard on Board, as will appear by our Narrative, viz._ That there were great Sums insured upon the Ship, _the truth of which is more proper for the Inquiry of others than us who are only Sailors._

_We come now to the Narrative, wherein we shall represent nothing but the Truth, of which we our selves had the Misfortune to be Witnesses, to our great Sorrow, and the manifest Danger of our Lives._

_And since what we deliver is upon Oath, we hope it will obtain Credit sooner than the bare Word of Captain_ Dean, _his Brother, and Mr._ Whitworth, _who were all Three interested Persons, and but One of them acquainted with all the Matter of Fact, which for his own Reputation and Safety he has been obliged to set off in false Colours. Besides, Mr._ Whitworth _is since dead, so that the Captain has no Vouchers but himself and his Brother; and how little Credit they deserve will sufficiently appear by what follows._

THE NARRATIVE.

The _Nottingham-Galley_ of 120 Tons, 10 Guns, and 14 Men, _John Dean_ Commander, took in part of her Lading in the River _Thames_, which was Cordage, and the rest in Butter and Cheese, at _Killybags_ in _Ireland_. But Captain _Dean_ in his Narrative has omitted to acquaint the World that 4 of the Guns were useless, and that not above 6 of the Men were capable to Serve in the Ship, in case of bad Weather. She Sail'd from _Gravesend_ the 2d Day of _August_, 1710. to the _Nore_, and from thence on the 7th, with 2 Men of War, and several Merchant-Men under their Convoy, towards _Scotland_. When we came off of _Whitby_, the Fleet brought to, and several of the Ships were a-stern. We having a fine Gale, the Captain said he would Run it, and make the best of his way for _Ireland_, which we did. And when we were on that Coast, the 12th of _August_, we saw 2 Ships in a Bay, towards whom the Captain would have bore down, but the Men would not consent to it, because they perceiv'd them to be _French_ Men of War. Upon this we stood off to Sea till 12 at Night; when the Captain coming upon Deck, we Sail'd easily in towards the Shore, by the Mate's Advice, till Daylight, and came so near Land that we were forced to stand off. The next Day we saw the two Privateers again, and the Captain propos'd to stand down towards them, or to come to an Anchor; but the Mate and the Men oppos'd it. The Captain was seconded in this by _Charles Whitworth_ the Merchant, who said in the hearing of the Boatswain, and others, _That he had rather be taken than otherwise, tho' he had an Eighth Part of the Ship, because he had Insured_ 200 l. And the Captain said, _He had rather run the Ship ashore than perform his Voyage, if he thought he could be safe with the Insurers, because his Brother had insur'd_ 300 l. _upon her_. Accordingly he put in towards the Shore, to find out a proper Place for that purpose, and ordered the Boatswain to get the Tackle upon the Boat and hoist her overside, that she might be in readiness to go ashore. At the same time the Captain and _Charles Whitworth_ went to the Cabbin to get out the best of their Goods in order to carry them with them; and putting them up in a Chest, commanded the Men to carry them into the Boat, which they did. The Captain promis'd that we should want for nothing, and resolv'd to go ashore; so that we all plainly saw he was resolv'd to lose the Ship. But he was opposed by the Mate _Christopher Langman_, who wrought the Vessel through between the Main and an Island, and she arriv'd safely at _Killybags_ in _Ireland_ that same night.

We took in the rest of our Lading there the 25th of _September_, being 30 Tons of Butter, and above 300 Cheeses, and sail'd for _Boston_ in _New-England_; which we were very uncapable to do, because the Captain, by his barbarous Treatment of our Men, had disabled several of 'em, and particularly two of our best Sailors were so unmercifully beat by him, because they oppos'd his Design abovemention'd, that they were not able to work in a Month. This gave us a very melancholy Prospect of an unfortunate Voyage, since we perceiv'd he would either lose the Ship, or betray her to the _French_, because she was insured for much above the Value. Besides, he put us to short Allowance, so that we had but one Quart of Water _per_ Head in twenty four Hours, and had nothing to eat but salt Beef, which made us so dry that we were forc'd to drink the Rain Water that run off the Deck. And the Captain was so barbarous that he knock'd down one of our Men for dead, because when he found the Hold open, he went and drew a Gallon of Water to quench our Thirst. In the mean time he wanted nothing himself, tho' he pretended to us that he confin'd himself also to short Allowance, yet we knew the contrary.

When we came to the Banks of _Newfoundland_ we saw a Ship which made all the Sail she could towards us, and soon came up with us. The Captain and Mr. _Whitworth_ hoping she was a _Frenchman_, put on their best Apparel, and gave us as much strong Beer and Brandy as we could drink: But it prov'd to be the _Pompey_ Galley of _London_, Captain _Den_ Commander, at which we rejoic'd, tho' our Captain was melancholy. We continu'd our Course towards _New England_; and the first Land we made was _Cape Sables_, which is about 50 Leagues from _Boston_ in that Country.

We made the best of our way for that Port, but the Wind blew hard, so that we were several Days without sight of Land, and were forced to hand all our Sails, and lie under our Mizzen-Ballast till Daylight; when the Boatswain having the Morning Watch discover'd Land to the Leeward, with which he acquainted the Captain and the Mate, who both came upon Deck. The Captain said that was the first Land we had made, wherein he was justly contradicted by the Mate, which caus'd some Words between 'em: For in Truth we made Cape _Sables_ a Week before; and if we had kept our Course then, according to the Opinion of the Mate and Ship's Company, we had, in all Probability, arriv'd safe the next Day at _Boston_, but the Master laying the Ship by, and the next Day proving moderate Weather, and the Wind coming to the West, we stood away to the North, and so it was a Week before we made Cape _Porpus_, which was the same Day we were lost; so untrue is it what the Captain says, that the first Land we made was to the East of _Piscataqua_. After those Words had pass'd with the Mate, the Captain went down to serve us with Water, according to Custom, and in the mean time the Captain's Brother took a Bottle of Water from the Mate, and struck him; upon which the Captain coming out of the Hold, he took up a Perriwig Block, with which he came behind the Mate, and struck him three Blows on the Head, upon which he fell down and lay as dead for several Minutes, all in Blood. This was very discouraging to the Seamen, who durst not speak to him for fear of the like Treatment. Soon after this barbarous Action we perceiv'd the Ship in Danger by being so near Land; upon which the Boatswain being on the Watch call'd the Captain, and the Mate, who being scarce recovered came on the Deck all in Gore, and told the Captain he had no Business so near the Land, except he had a Mind to lose the Ship, and therefore desir'd him to hawl further off, or else he would be ashore that Night. The Captain answer'd, _That he wou'd not take his Advice though the Ship should go to the Bottom, threatned to shoot the Mate with a Pistol_, and told him, _he would do what he pleas'd except they confin'd him to his Cabbin_. It fell out according as the Mate had said; we run ashoar that Night, being the _11th_ of _December_, between 8 and 9 a Clock, when the Ship struck upon _Boon Island_, a Rock three or four Leagues East from _Piscataqua_. And here the Captain is false again in his Narrative, when he says _p._ 2. _that he saw the Breakers ahead, upon which he call'd out to put the Helm hard on the Starboard_; for he was then undressing himself to go to Bed, according to his usual Custom. When the Ship struck, the Boatswain told the Captain, _he had made his Words good, and lost the Ship on purpose, whereas had he taken the Mate's Advice, he might in all probability have been safe at_ Boston _Ten Days before_. The Captain bid him hold his Peace, _He was sorry for what had happen'd, but we must now all prepare for Death, there being no Probability to escape it_. Upon this several of our Men went on the Deck, but cou'd not stay there, because the Sea broke in all over the Ship. Then the Captain, who had been Cursing and Swearing before, began to cry and howl for Fear of losing his Life. The Boatswain and another went into the Hold to see if there was any Water there, and finding there was, we went all into the Cabbin to Prayers, being in hopes the Ship would lie whole till Daylight. Soon after this the Mate, though hardly able, went with some others above Deck; for this Surprize made him forget his Pain. He spoke to the Captain, and told him, _It was his Business to encourage the Men, and not to dishearten them_: Yet still he insisted it was impossible for us to save our Lives. However, the Mate with three others cut down the Main-Mast and Fore-Mast, which by God's Assistance prov'd the Means of our Preservation; for the Fore-Mast fell on the Rock with one End, and the other rested on the Ship. The Mate went afterwards into the Cabbin, and desired the Captain to use his Endeavours to save the Men, for the Ship would immediately sink, and it was not time to think of saving any thing, but to get ashore as light as we cou'd. By this Time the Water came out of the Hold, and the Sea beat over the Deck, so that there was no standing upon it. The Mate got first on the Mast, and with great Difficulty escap'd to the Rock. He was follow'd by two others, who likewise got on Shore, but were scarce able to stand on the Rock, from whence they hallow'd to us to follow them, and we not hearing them any more than once, were afraid they were wash'd off by the Waves. This put us into a mighty Consternation, so that we knew not whether it were best to follow them, or to stay on board till it was Day. The Captain was for the latter; but it being dead low Water, the Tide of Flood coming on, and the Wind beginning to blow hard, the Sea beat into the Cabbin while we were at Prayers, which forced us to go upon Deck: Some more of our Men escap'd to the Shore by help of the Mast, as the others had done, and call'd to us to make haste and follow them, which we did, and by the Blessing of God got safe to the Rock, though not without much Danger, being forced to crawl upon our Hands and Knees we were so heavy with Water, and the Rock so slippery.

Here again the Captain is false in the second Page of his Narrative; for he neither call'd us down to Prayers, nor order'd us up again, nor did he either command or assist at cutting down the Mast. We know not whom he points at, where he says, several of the Company did so sink under Racks of Conscience, that they were not able to stir; for he himself had as great Reason to be under Terror of Conscience as any Man, since he was the Cause of all our Misfortunes. Accordingly he cryed heartily, and begg'd the Mate to do what he cou'd to save us, for he himself cou'd do nothing. Nor was the Captain ever upon the Deck but once, when he held by the Long-Boat, cryed out, and presently went down again, which greatly discouraged us, so that had it not been for the Mate, _&c._ who cut down the Shrowds, _&c._ as abovemention'd, we had all perish'd. He is also unjust to the Mate in his third Page, where he says, _That one of the Men went out on the Boltsprit, and returning, told the Captain he saw something black ahead, and would adventure to get on Shore, accompanied with any other Person_; upon which the Captain pretends he desired some of his best Swimmers, the Mate and one more, to go with him, and if they recover'd the Rock, to give Notice by their Calls, and direct the rest to the most secure Place; for it was the Mate who went on the Boltsprit and discover'd the Land. After which he desired the Captain and the rest to go ashore before he attempted it himself; but finding them all dead-hearted, the Mate, who cou'd not swim, as the Captain alledges, got on Shore by the Mast as abovemention'd. The Captain is also false in asserting that he attempted to save his Money, Brandy, Ammunition, _&c._ for our Relief, since he had not the Value of one Guinea aboard in Money. It is equally false that he tore his Arms and Fingers in such a lamentable manner in climbing up the Rock; for not one Man was hurt in getting ashore. Nor was the Captain in danger of being wash'd off from the Yard, the Water there being no deeper than our Middle.

When we got ashore we found it to be a desolate small Island, without any Shelter; and being wet, and having but few Clothes, some began to despair of being able to live there till the Morning; and besides, we were not certain but it might be over flow'd at high Tide. We comforted our selves however, the best we cou'd, and though we expected to perish there, return'd God Thanks for giving us some more Time to repent. In this dismal Condition we continued till next Morning, without any thing to refresh us: But being in hopes that the Wreck would remain till Daylight, and that we might recover some of our Provisions, we sent a Man down to see what was become of her, but he brought us Word that he cou'd see nothing of her. When Daylight came we went to look for the Wreck in a cold and hungry Condition; but found nothing except one half Cheese, entangled in a Piece of a Rope, and this we equally distributed among us. Soon after we found a Piece of fine Linnen and Canvas, of which we endeavour'd to make a Tent, and effected it at last by the help of the Boatswain the second Day, and this preserv'd us from being all frozen to Death, as our Cook was in a little Time to our very great Grief, since we look'd upon it as a certain Presage that we should all have the same Fate. We carried the Corpse to the Seaside, from whence it was soon wash'd off by the Flood. Here the Captain publishes another Falshood in his fifth Page, when he says _he knew where he was_; for he declared to us that he knew not: Nor is there any more Truth in the Compassion he there alledges that he shew'd to the Cook when he was a dying.

When the Weather clear'd we discover'd the main Land, which we suppos'd to be about a League from us. This fill'd us with Hopes that by the Providence of God we should soon be deliver'd, for which we return'd him Thanks, and immediately set about building a Boat out of part of the Wreck which was drove ashore, and heartily pray'd, that God would give us Success. We were so cold, hungry and feeble, that it was scarce possible for us to do any thing, nor could we walk on the Rock in order to keep us warm, it was so craggy, uneven and slippery. We made shift however to finish our Boat, the Bottom of which was made of Three Planks, and the Side was Half a Plank High. We cork'd and lin'd it with Canvas the best we could, and made it about Twelve Foot Long and Four Foot Wide, thinking it sufficient to hold Six of us.

After this some Controversie happen'd who the Six should be. The Carpenter pleaded his Right to be one, because he built it; the Captain pleaded to be another, which was agreed to; and the Boatswain was thought fit to be one, because he spoke the _Indian_ Language; but at last it was concluded that the Mate, the Captain's Brother, _Charles Whitworth_, and _George White_, should be the Men; and we carried the Boat to the Shore, where we launch'd her, putting on Board such of the Carpenter's Tools as we had sav'd from the Wreck, in order to build a better when we came on Shore. We begg'd the Assistance and Direction of God, and some of our Company went into the Boat, taking leave of the rest, and promising to bring them Relief as soon as possible. But the Boat overset, by which our Men were almost drown'd, and narrowly escaped again to the Rock. The Boatswain held the Boat almost an Hour with a Rope in hopes to save her till the Weather grew more calm, and the Gunner came to his Assistance, but soon after she was stav'd to pieces, which was a great Mortification to us. We thank'd God however that he was pleas'd again to preserve so many of us, tho' the Time for our Relief was not yet come. The Captain is out in his Account, _pag. 7._ when he says, our Boat had a Mast and a Sail, for she had neither.

The Wind blowing hard, and there being a great Snow, we betook our selves to Prayer, and earnestly begg'd that God would have mercy on us, and consider our deplorable Condition. Being wet with our Endeavours to launch the Boat, our Cloaths freezed to our Backs, which proved fatal to our Carpenter, who died a few Days after. The next Day prov'd fair Weather, so that we could see the Houses on the main Land, and several Boats rowing to and fro, which rejoyc'd us very much; and after praying that God might direct some of them to us, we shew'd our selves on several Places of the Rock, and hallow'd to them, but they could not hear us. This quite discourag'd us again, for we had no Provisions but some small pieces of Cheese, four or five pieces of Beef, and one Neats Tongue that we recover'd out of the Wreck, and a small quantity of this was distributed among us every Morning when we went round the Rock to see if it would please God to send us any further Provisions. At last _George White_, one of our Number, found some Muscles at Low Water, for which we return'd God Thanks, and we found about as many for two or three days as six or seven came to each Man's share; but the Weather was so cold, and the Tides fell out so late in the Night that we could get no more. The Captain then told us, _We must shift for our selves, there being nothing now for us to trust to but the Mercies of God_. There being a piece of a Cows Hide on the Fore Yard of the Wreck, we cut it into small pieces and swallow'd it down, which reviv'd us a little. Some of our Company got Sea Weed, which was also shar'd among us, and this was all the Entertainment we had for several Days; but still we liv'd in hopes of being deliver'd from this dismal Place; and the Captain told us, _If we were, he would sell the Cables, Anchors and Guns that were cast ashore, for our Maintenance_. In this Distress our Mate perceiving a large Sea Gull in a Hole of the Rock, he knock'd it down with the Handle of a Sawce Pan, brought her into the Tent, and shar'd her among us, to our great Relief.

Perceiving no hopes of any Boats coming to us, a stout _Dutchman_, one of our Company, propos'd the making of a Raft, and proffer'd to endeavour to get ashore with it himself, if no body else would. This Proposal being well relish'd, such of us as were able clear'd the Fore Yard of the Rigging with a great deal of Trouble, for want of sufficient Strength and necessary Instruments; and having split it in two to make the Sides of the Raft, and fastning the End pieces with Nails, we put a Plank in the Middle, with a Mast, and a Sail made of two Hammocks, and accordingly launch'd her, with _George White_ and the _Dutchman_ upon it, giving them Orders, if they got ashore, to acquaint the People with our Distress, and to beg their hastening to our Assistance. But the Raft overset, by which the Men were almost drown'd, so that none would venture upon it again except the _Dutchman_ and another. We pray'd heartily for their Success, and saw them paddle along till the Sun was down, and they appear'd to us to be so near the Shore, that we hoped they might Land safely.