Tools: HCA 13/124
HCA 13/124
Created page, 08/03/2015 by CSG
Contents
- 1 13/124: Index of personal answers
- 2 HCA 13/124: Personal answers of Captain William Jacket, master of the Mayflower
- 3 HCA 13/69 no fol. Deposition of Clement East Barber Chirurgeons mate one the Mayflower
- 4 HCA 13/69 no fol. Deposition of George Dethick, purser of the Mayflower
- 5 Petition to Council of State by Capt. William Jackett and Partners, 1650
- 6 Other sources
13/124: Index of personal answers
13/124: Index of Personal Answers
Orders of the ship the Mayflower
To view a copy of the orders of the ship the Mayflower (its disciplinary code) see:
HCA 24/110: Item: 235: Case: Hickman against Jackett. These orders are dated July 5th 1647.
HCA 13/124: Personal answers of Captain William Jacket, master of the Mayflower
114_03 Image: IMG_6970
[TEXT INTENTIALLY NOT TRANSCRIBED]
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Tertio decembris 1650
Repetit coram docto[XX]
Clerk [?Jud] uno etcetera
The personal Answers of Captaine
William Jackett made to the [?perused]
positions of a perused Libell given
and admitted against himm on the
behalfe of humfry hickman
as followeth videlicet
To the first hee answereth that hee
beleeveth the same to bee true/
To the second hee answereth that hee
referreth himselfe to his former Answer[?s]
to the Allegation given in this Court
on the behalfe of the said hickman
which hee beleeveth to bee true And
otherwise hee doeth not beleeve the said
position to bee true in any parte thereof
To the 3: 4: 5: 6: 7: 8: 9: 10: 11: 12: and 13th
hee answereth and beleeveth That
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dureing all the voyadge libellate the
arlate humfry hickman did carry and
demeane himselfe very uncivilly [?XXXX]=
[?XXXly] and debauchedly very much
addicting himselfe to sweareing curseing
and blasphemeing and alsoe to fighteing
and quarrelling and rayseing many
differences and debates and much conyten=
tion in the severall Shippes wherein this
Rendent went out and did dureing the sayd
voyadge most deperately strike one of
the negroes in the shipp the Mayflower
soe that hee presently fell downe and dyed
with the blowe given him by the said hick=
man and did very dangerously wound
another of the negroes soe that hee very
hardly escaped and did after most
deperately strike att and much endanger
severall of the Company of the said shipps
and amongest others did desperately stabb
att Robert Slowe (sic) the Calker of
the shippe Mayflower with a penknife
whereby his life was much endangered
and if hee had not prevented the same with
his Arme and receaved the stabb therein
hee had in all probability wounded him to
the death and Complaint thereof being
made to this Rendent hee did command
his knives to bee taken from him and his
person to bee secured in the Bilboes intill
the morneing that the buisinies could bee
thoroughly examined and then in the
morneing this Rendent caused all the
Officers of the Shippe and rest of the
Companye to bee called together and
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upon examination it did cleerely appear
that the Boateswaine of the said shipp
calleing for helpe to take in some water
which was by the shipp side the said
Robert Slade (sic) the Calker running
to helpe him did with his cloathes touch or
stirr the platter in which the said hickman
was eateing (hee being at Supper) for
which the said hickman rose upp in a
great rage and drew his pen knife and
ranne and stabbed att the said Calker in
a most desperate manner whoe seeing
himselfe in great danger of his life
held upp his Arme and receaved the stabb
thereinto which otherwise had without
doubt beene in his Brest and had in all
probabillity killed him which fault soe
appeareing to this Rendent and Company
the whole Company cryed out to this re=
spondent that the said hickman might
bee severely punished for soe foule a [?XXXt]
that thereby not onely hee but others might
for the future bee deterred from committing
such dangerous and desperate Acts Whwere
upon the orders of the shipp which att
the beginning and dureing the whole
voyadge were and had been hung upp
in the steerage for all to see and take no
tice of and which all the Companye
were bound to have observed and kept
were ordered to bee publickly read in
which amongst other thinges was con=
tained That hee that should drawe a
knife in the shippe to seeeke to doe mischeife
to any man should have his hand nailed
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to the Mast with his owne knife and there
to stand till hee teare it out upon which
the whole Company required the
penalty of the said order, and there
upon this rendent called for the Chi=
rurgeon of the Shippe to advise with
him whether such a thinge might bee
donne without danger to the hand and
with his advise for the prevention of
murder and other the like misdemea=
ours this Rendent did cause the hand
of the said hickman to bee fastned to the
mast of the said shipp by thrustenige
the same knife wherewith the said hick=
man had stabbed the Caulker and en
dangered his life, through the skinne
of his hand betweene the Two middle
fingers according to the direction of the
Chirurgeon that it might doe him least
hurte and assoone as it was put through
the Skin as aforesaid this Rendent cau=
sed the said knife to bee presently pul-
led out againe in as short a time as a
man might tell forty and hee had very
little or noe hurt thereby but his said
hand was within 5 or 6 dayes and
is as perfectly well as the other and
otherwise hee doeth not beleeve the said
pretended positions or either of them
to bee true in any parte thereof saveing
that the putteing the knife through
as aforesaid did drawe blood out
of the same
114_03 Image: IMG_6974
To the 14th and 15th hee answereth that
hee doeth not beleeve the same to bee
true in any parte Saveing his former
Answers and saveing that this Rendent
did once as hee remembreth strike
the said hickman with a small Ca[?ine]
for makeing a difference betweene
him and some of the men by his tel=
ling of lyes and untrueths./
To the 16th hee answereth That hee doeth
not beleeve the same to bee true in any
parte thereof
To the seaventeenth hee answereth that
hee beleeveth the same to bee true/
To the 18th and 19th hee answereth and
beleeveth that hee this Rendent did send
the vessell arlate to a Bay windward
of Santa domingo under the Command
of Mr hatton a merchant whoe was
factor upon the same with about Ten
english with him whereof the said hick=
man was one hee haveing soe behaved
himselfe in the Mayflower that all
the officers and Company were weary
of him and hee soe ashamed of himselfe
as this Rendent beleeveth that hee made
it his request to this Rendent that hee
might goe in the said vessell and this
Rendent beleeveth that the said place
where hee directed them to goe was out
of any Command of the Spaniard or
any of his fforts or Castles and hee gave
the said Mr hatton with whome hee
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entrusted the Command of the said vessell
and all the other that were with him spe=
ciall charge not to come within Command
but to send their papers to the President
of Santa domingo and to gett an order for
free Trade at Barsalonia and this
Rendent haveinge want of Englishmen
in the Mayflower where hee had neere
about three hundred negroes to looke to
hee could not spare more english but
gott some Spaniards to goe with them
to helpe to saile the said vessell and to
negotiate for them onshoare about theire
buisuines which with boyes in all might
bee about Tenne as hee beleeveth and
not above most of which were cheifly
to rowe the Boats ashoare that soe
the Shipps might bee kept out of Com=
mand in the possessiom of the english
as hee beleeveth but by the not observeing
the orders of this Rendent or what other
meanes hee knoweth not the said vessell
and goods were seized upon betrayed
and lost and the said Mr hatton the
factor put in prison and there still detained as hee beleeveth
might as hee beleeveth bee sent to the consultation house in Spaine
whither the said hickman must alsoe
have beene sent if hee had beene a
prisoner as hee beleeveth but he hath
heard and doeth beleeve that the said
hickman brought home to England
divers goods and [?peaXXX] And
Therefore hee doeth not beleeve
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hee suffered hardshipp or imprisonment
as is arlate
To the 20: 21: and 22th hee answereth
that hee knoweth nothing thereof nor
doeth conceive hee is bound to answer
any thing thereunto/
To the 23th hee answereth that hee doeth
not beleeve the same to bee true
To the 24: 25: and 26th hee answereth
That hee referreth himselfe to the
Records of this Courte And otherwise
saveing his former Answers which
hee beleeveth to bee true hee doeth not
beleeve the said perused positions to bee
true in any parte
Will Jackett [SIGNATURE, RH SIDE]
************************
Repetit coram
docto{XX] Clerk [?JudXX] uno et cetera
dicto die
Rensa personalia William Jackett [?for]
al[?ui] apud Acta et exhibito in eadem
[?mXXtion] at als con eum ex parte [?hXX]
fridi hickman 4o. Novembris: 1650
dat et exhibit sequuntur/
To the said Allegation and exhibit therein men=
tioned hee answereth and beleeveth that
the booke in the said Act mentioned was and
is the booke of this Rendent and the
name of the said hickman and the summe
of 24 s written thereunto was written
with the proper hand writeinge of him
this rendent as hee beleeveth but this
Rendent doeth not beleeve that hee did hire
or agree with him the said hickman for
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the said summe of 24 s or ever undertake
or promise to pay him the said summe but
beleeveth taht hee was hired by Captaine
Andrewes one of the setters forth of the
Shipp arlate whoe telling this Rendent
that hee should have or that hee promised
24 s per moneth hee did accordingly write
his name and the said summe downe in
his booke And hee beleeveth the identity
of the persons alleadged./
Will Jackett [SIGNATURE, RH SIDE]
*********************
[TEXT INTENTIALLY NOT TRANSCRIBED]
HCA 13/69 no fol. Deposition of Clement East Barber Chirurgeons mate one the Mayflower
HCA 13/69 no fol. recto: Folder: 101_06 Image: IMG_1301
The seventh day of Aprill. 1654
On the behalfe of Captaine Richard}
Crandley touching the Mayflower)
Examined upon the sayd allegation
(3.
Clement East of the parish of Saint Olaves in Southwarke
Barber Chirurgeon, late mate on board the said shipp the Mayflower
aged 30 yeares or thereabouts a witnes sworne and
examined deposeth and saith as followeth videlicet.
[?Bud] Cox dt.
To the first article of the sayd allegation This deponent saith that in the yeares
1647: and 1648. and monethes therein respectively the arlate Samuel
Vassall Richard Crandley Beniamin Crandley and Company all Englishmen
were lawfull Owners and Proprietors of the arlate shipp the Mayflower
whereof William Jacket was Commander, and of the Pinke the Peter and
of their tackle and furniture respectively, and for and as such commonly
accounted which he knoweth for that he was Chyrugeons mate
on board the said shipp Mayflower within the tyme aforesaid. And further
cannot depose.
To the 2d article of the sayd allegation This deponent saith that on or about the
16th day of June 1647 the foresayd shipp the Mayflower being fitted
out to sea by her sayd Owners upon a trading voyage sett sayle from
Gravesend under the Command of Captaine Jacket aforesayd who tooke
the Charge thereof which voyage was designed for Guinny and
so to the Barbadoes and other places beyond the seas, and the sayd Pinke
went along and attended the Mayflower upon the sayd voyage of the
knowledge of this deponent Chirurgeons mate of the Mayflower as aforesayd
And otherwise he cannot depose.
To the 3d article of the sayd allegation This deponent saith that the foresayd shipp
the Mayflower and Pinke in pursueance of the sayd trading designe
arrived safely att Guinny in the sayd same 1647. when and
where out of the proceed of severall mercahndizes there sold that
had bene brought out of England, the arlate Captaine William
Jacket bought provided and putt in board the sayd shipp and pinke
about four hundred Negroes and a quantity of Elephants
teeth which were in the sayd shipp and pinke brought safely
to the Barbadoes where they arrived toward the latter end of
the sayd yeare 1647. which he deposeth for the reasons aforesayd.
And otherwise cannot depose.
To the 4th article of the sayd allegation This deponent saith That soone after
the arrivall of the Mayflower and Pinke Peter att the Barbadoes and
whilest they remayned there, a Certaine Spanish shipp one Don
lus de Chaves Commander, arrived there also having on board her
about one hundred Negroes, but saith that the sayd shipp of the sayd
Don Chaves was so defective that he durst not adventure in her
againe to sea but left the same att the Barbadoes, of all which
this deponent was an eye witnes. And further cannot depose.
To the 5th article of the sayd allegation This deponent saith that upon occasion
of his shipps defectivenes the arlate Don Luis de Chaves who as he sayd
had a Commission for transport of Negroes to the West Indies in any foreign
bottom belonging to the freinds of the King of Spaine, which Comission
he did averr to be good and to be firmed, or authorised by his Majestie of
Spaine, did enter in to Treaty with the sayd Captaine Jacket for the
transport of his sayd hundred Negroes to the West Indies in the
vessells Mayflower and pink, which he deposeth for the reasons aforesayd. And
HCA 13/69 no fol. verso: Folder: 101_06 Image: IMG_1302
To the sixth article of the sayd allegation This deponent saith that the arlate
William Jacket having perused the sayd don Luis his
Commission or License and beleiving the same to be good, and in confidence
thereof, did about the beginning of the yeare 1648 English stile
agree and Contract with the sayd don Luis de Chaves to carry his sayd
Negroes to the West Indies together with those which the sayd Captaine
Jacket brought from Guinney. And that for the securring of the
sayd Captaine Jacket and his Interest of his English Owners It wasa
mutually agreed betweene the sayd Captaine Jacket and Don Luis de
Chavez that all the sayd Negroes aswell those brought by Captaine Jacket
from Guinny as the rest of the sayd Don Chaves should passe
under the foresayd License or Commission in consideration of a certayne
freight agreed upon, which this deponent came to knowe and take
notice of for the reasons aforesayd, and otherwise cannot depose.
To the seaventh article of the sayd allegation This deponent saith that in
persuance of the foresayd Agreement , the sayd William Jackett
did receyve the sayd Don Chavez his Negroes amongest his owne on board
his sayd vessells the Mayflower and Pinke, and undertooke to
transport them to the West Indies together with the sayd don Luis de
Chavez himselfe who embarqued himselfe together with some of his Company in the Mayflower, and
saith that the sayd vessells and Negroes, arrived in safety about
the moneth of May 1648. att New Barcellona in the sayd Indies, where
the arlate Don del Campe was Governour by authority of the
King of Spaine, the premisses he deposeth being an eyewitnes
thereof sayling along mate of the Mayflower as aforesayd.
And otherwise he cannot depose.
To the 8th article of the sayd allegation This deponent saith that the foresayd don Luis
de Chavez upon the arivall of the sayd vessells att New Barcellona
did present his license aforesayd before the Governour there who with his
Officers did allow the same for good and the sayd don Luis having
soe desired releife and food for the sayd negroes the sayd Governour and Officers declared that for the
importance of his Majestyes service they would accomodate him with
all conveniencies and accordingly did send downe severall
oxen and severall Cargoes of Cassava for the succour and
releife of the sayd negroes. The premisses he saw, and well
observed as Chirurgeons mate of the Mayflower. And otherwise
he cannot depose.
To the ninth article of the sayd allegation This deponent saith that thereupon the
foresayd Governour of New Barcellona caused the sayd Pinke the
Peter to be sent to Santa Domingo with the foresayd License of the
sayd Don Luis to the intent as was pretended that the Governour
of that place (being the Cheife place for Administration of
Justice in those parts) might allso peruse and approve them
and give his allowance thereunto. And saith that not long
after, albeit the sayd Pinke returned not, the foresayd Governour
of New Barcellona did send word and declared to the sayd Captaine
Jacket, that the Governour of Santa Domingo and other the Officers of
the King of Spaine there had allowed the foresayd License as [?XXX GUTTER]
and had sent to him notice thereof, and that there fore the sais
Captaine Jacket might land and bring to shore all his Negroes, And
further cannot depose.
HCA 13/69 no fol. verso: Folder: 101_06 Image: IMG_1303
To the tenth article of the sayd allegation This deponent saith that the foresayd
Captaine Jacket being soe ensured by the Governour and officers of New
Barcellona that the sayd License was good and allowed so to be, and in
confidence thereof and having first sent some part of his Negroes on
shoare as a gage or security for the Customes of all the sayd Negroes
And after the sayd pledge or security was accepted by the sayd Governour
of New Barcelona for the securing of the sayd Customesm, and
not before, did land and bring a shoare
all his sayd Negroes relyeing upon the word and assurancse of
the sayd Governour and his officers to be fairly dealt with. all
which this deponent well saw and observed abd otherwise cannot
depose.
To the 11th article of the sayd allegation This deponent saith that the premisses
notwithstanding the foresayd Governour and officers of the King of Spaine
att New Barcellona, though the sayd Captaine Jacket had not done nor
acted any thing whereby to forfeit his liberty or the sayd shipp) did
soone after Cause the sayd Jackett to be apprehended and putt in
Chaynes and did then in fact seize and take in to their possession
and Custody the sayd shipp the Mayflower and all the lading that
was in her and all the sayd Negroes Contrary to the will and
good likeing of the sayd Captaine Jacket who was putt into Chaines as
aforesayd, the premisses he deposeth being an eyewitnes of the
passages aforesayd. And otherwise hee cannot depose.
To the 12th article of the sayd allegation This deponent saith that thereupon
the sayd Captaine Jacket being a prisoner did petition for his liberty and
restitution of his sayd shipp and goods and pleaded his Contract nade
as aforesayd with the sayd Don Luis att the Barbadoes, and the sayd don Luis did
averr and acknowledge the same upon his oath, and the sayd Jacket did
likewise plead for himselfe that the foresayd Royall License and the
allowance thereof by the sayd Governour and acceptance of security
for the Customes of the sayd negroes was a sufficient warrant for kanding the
sayd Negroes, and that there was not any crime of fault
in him nor could any fraud be iustly imputed to him. And
further deposeth not.
To the 13th 14th and 15th articles of the sayd allegation This deponent saith that the
premisses notwithstanding the ffiscall for
the King of Spaine did plead and pretend that the foresayd License was
Counterfeit, which yet was averred by the saud Don Luis upon oath to
be true, and by comparing the same with other the like Licenses
did appeare to be true. And saith that albeit bnoe legall proofe
was made to iustify the sayd seizure, nor any iudiciall sentence
thereupon given so farr as this deponent ever heard, yet the
sayd shipp goods and negroes were not restored but were sold
or otherwise disposed of and converted to the use of the King
of Spaine or his officers, and the foresayd Captaine Crandly and
Company the true owners of the same utterly dispoiled thereof which he knoweth being
present att Barcellona when the premisses happened upon occasion aforesayd
And otherwise he cannot depose, saving that the sayd shipp Mayflower
and the goods in her and 300. of Captaine Crandly and Companies Negroes aforesayd and allso the foresayd Pinke
with
HCA 13/69 no fol. verso: Folder: 101_06 Image: IMG_1304
all to her belonging were and are all lost to the foresayd
Owners and converted to the use of the King of Spaine or his officers
by the sayd fraudulent injurious and illegall proceedings of the
foresayd Governour and officers of the King of Spaine att New Barcellona
in the West Indies.
To the seventeenth articvle of the sayd allegation This deponent saith that the
arlate shipp the Mayflower was an able and strong shipp of the burthen
of 400. tonnes or thereabouts, and had thirty peices of Ordnance
mounted in her and was worth with her tackle and furniture
guunnes and provisions on board her att the tyme of her sayd seizure
the summe of five thousand pounds sterling or thereabouts. And
the foresayd Pinke the Peter was of the burthen of [?100] tonnes and
upwards with ten peices of ordinance mounted and was worth with
her gunns takle and furniture att the tyme of her sending to Santa
Domingo from whence she returned not, one thousand
pound sterling or thereabouts. And saith there came three hundred
of the sayd Captaine Crandly and Companies Negroes that
were bought and provided att Guinny as aforesayd, into the hands
and possession of the sayd Governour of New Barcellona and his
officers, which sayd Negroes were there worth per head one with
another the summe of four score pounds sterlung, amounting
in the whole to four and twenty thousand pounds sterling And
that there were likewise a quantity of Elephants teeth and some
bales of goods belonging to the sayd Captaine Crandly and Company
seized by the sayd Governour and his officers in the sayd shipp the
Mayflower the values whereof he knoweth not; And further
or otherwise he cannot depose saving he beleiveth that the sayd
vessells and Negroes might have bene really sold for the [?XXX GUTTER]
prices and rates above specifyed.
HCA 13/69 no fol. Deposition of George Dethick, purser of the Mayflower
HCA 13/69 no fol. recto: Folder: 101_06 Image: IMG_1724-IMG_ 1728
NOTES:
- "A busines of Examination of witnesses in perpetual remembrance of the matter on the behalfe of Captaine Richard Cranley (sic) Samuell Vassall Captaine Beniamin Crandley (sic) John Whickars and Company all Englishmen late Owners of the shipp the Maf fflower (William Jacket Captaine) taken and seized to the use of the King of Spaine by his officers and subiects in the West Indies against all that will take upon them the Justification of the sayd seizure et cetera. Budd. The 13th day of June 1654/"
- Deposition (numbered 4) of "George Dethick of Poplar in the County of Middlesex Mariner Purser of the shipp the May fflower aged 28 yeares or thereabouts"
- Samuell Vassall was sole owner of the 400 ton burthen ship the Mayflower from February 1647
- Captaine Jackett, Samuell Vassall, Beniamin and Richard Crandley (sic) and John Wickars and Company (all Englishmen) were the joint owners of the pink called the Peter
- The two ships were fitted furnished and set out at the proper costs and charges of all the men named above in June 1647
- Captaine William Jackett was constituted the master of the Mayflowr and took upon him the charge and government, not only of the Mayflower but also the pink the Peter, which was "subordinate and under the power of the sayd shipp the Mayflower
- George Dethick the deponent went purser of the Mayflower on the voyage in question
- The ship arrived safely "at a place called the Bite in Ginney and there and at both the Calabarrs and other places in Guinney tooke in and onboard the sayd shipp the Mayfflower 352 Negroes and on board the sayd Pinke 113 negroes for the Accompt of the producents and alsoe severall other goods as Elephants teeth and some gold and safely arrived with the same at the Barbados on or about the 12th day of March 1647 [i.e. 1648]"
- As purser, George Dethick took exact note of the negroes and goods laded onboard the ships
- Dethick saw the alleged "Register or Licenses and dispatches" allegedly signed by the King of Spain in the hands of Don Luis de Chaves "impowering him the said don Lewis to Transport Negroes for the use and service of the sayd Kinge into the West Indies and to hyre any shipps belonging to any Nation in amity with the sayd King for the better transportation of them"
- Dethick states that Captain Jackett received 107 Negroes from Don Luis ship aboard the Mayflower and set sail for New Barcelona
- ffrancisco Bororall da Campo was governour of New Barcelona
- Arrived at New Barcelona in April 1648 "having all the forementioned Negroes (save some few who dyed by the way)"
- Officers of New Barcelona came on board the Mayflower and inspected the Licence of Don Luis
- Governour provided four oxen and twenty three roves of flesh ready killed and divers cargoes of cassava and other provisions necessary...for the releife of the negroes and companie on board the sayd vessells"
- Goverbnour claimed that approval of the licence was necessary from "the Vice Kinge resident at Santa Domingo"
- The Pink was dispatched to Santa Domingo with thirty one of the sayd negroes and other goods on board her
- Captain Jackett was arresred in November 1648 and his ship, negroes and goods seized
- Dethick describes how "the ffiscall or Advocate for the King of Spaine at Barcelona did in the house of the Contidore there Pedro Rensel in the presence of this deponent and the sayd Jackett, and divers others there assembled [?pretend] in defence of the sayd seizure that the same was lawfull and that the license and dispatches of teh sayd don Lewis before mentioned were false and counterfeit"
- Claims that "the negroes on board the sayd shipp the Mayfflower and Pinke arlate for the Accompt of the producenrs and goods on board for their Accompts sayd Vessells were worth fifty two thousand five hundred sixty sixe pounds sterling at the keast as by this deponents booke of Accompts as purser of the sayd shipp Mayfflower appeareth"
Petition to Council of State by Capt. William Jackett and Partners, 1650
Other sources
- William Jackett, To the most honorable the Council of State, the humble petition of Captain William Jackett, and his partners, London, s.n., 1650, EEBO
- Investigate: C 22/902/32 Jackett v. Humphry Between 1558 and 1714
- Investigate: C 22/545/23 Jackett v. Humphry Between 1558 and 1714
- Investigate: PROB 11/304/482 Sentence of William Jackett of Hendon, Middlesex 20 June 1661
- NOTE: Jackett appears to be a Cornish name
