ecords of Salem, written in the year 1704:

"Major Stephen Sewall, Captain John Turner, and 40 volunteers embark in
a shallop and Fort Pinnace after Sunset to go in search of some Pirates
who sailed from Gloucester in the morning. Major Sewall brought into
Salem a Galley, Captain Thomas Lowrimore, on board of which he had
captured some Pirates, and some of their Gold at the Isle of Shoals.
Major Sewall carries the Pirates to Boston under a strong guard.
Captain Quelch and five of his crew are hung. About 13 of the ship's
Company remain under sentence of death and several more are cleared."

By no means all of the bloodstained gold of Quelch was recovered by
this expedition which went to the Isles of Shoals and it is more likely
to be hidden there to this day than anywhere else. Quelch was a bold
figure of a pirate worthy to be named in the company of the most
dashing of his profession in the era of Kidd, Bradish, Bellamy, and
Low. His story is worth the telling because it is, in a way, a sequel
of the tragedy of Captain Kidd.

In 1703, the brigantine _Charles_, of about eighty tons, owned by
leading citizens and merchants of Boston, was fitted out as a privateer
to go cruising against the French off the coasts of Arcadia and
Newfoundland. On July 13th of that year, her commander, Captain David
Plowman, received his commission from Governor Dudley of the province
to sail in pursuit of the Queen's enemies and pirates, with other
customary instructions. There was some delay in shipping a crew, and
on the first of August the _Charles_ was riding off Marblehead when
Captain Plowman was taken ill. He sent a letter to his owners, stating
that he was unable to take the vessel to sea, and suggesting that they
come on board next day and "take some speedy care in saving what we
can."

The owners went to Marblehead, but the captain was too ill to confer
with them. He was able, however, to write again, this time urging them
to have the vessel carried to Boston, and the arms and stores landed in
order to "prevent embezzlement," and advising against sending the
_Charles_ on her cruise under a new commander, adding the warning that
"it will not do with these people," meaning the crew then on board.

Before the owners could take any measures to safeguard their property,
the brigantine had made sail and was standing out to sea, stolen by her
crew. The helpless captain was locked in his cabin, and the new
Commander on the qu