ass. Archives, vol. 51, pp. 289, 289a.]

EASTHAM May the 8, 1717

_Maye itt Pleass Your Excellency_

_Sir_, Captt. Gorham, Mr. Little, Mr. Cuttler and Mr. Russell,
Gentt'men that I have Deputed, have Rid at Least Thirty miles a moung
the Inhabtances, whome I have had Information of ther being at the
Pirate Rack, and have Gott Concernable Riches out of her. the first
men that want Doun to the Rack with the English man that was Saved out
of the Rack, I shall Mention their Names to Your Excellency in Order
for a Warrant to me for bringing them for boston before Your
Excellency, or as You Pleass, Sir, for all thes Pepol are very stife
and will not one[2] Nothing of what they Gott, on the Rack. Sir,
Fryday 26 April, at 12 night, Pirate Ship Came a shoare. Saturday 27
Instant, at 5 morning, Came the English man that was Saved out of
Pirate Ship,[3] Came to the house of Samuell harding, Two miles from
the Rack. After a smalle time the saide harding took the English man
on his Horse and Carred him to the Rack. thes Two made Serverall
Turnes from the Rack to harding house, so they most Gett much Riches.
by 10 Clock the same morning their Gott to the Rack a bout 10 men
more, and Gott a Great Dell of Riches. Sunday morning, Joseph[4]
Doane, Esqr., gott to the Rack but all was Gon of Vallue. Sir, he
Comanded the Inhabtances to save what they Could for the King, which
was them Things I Rett[5] to Your Excellency before of. Sir, the
Curner[6] and his Jurey Putt a stop to serverall Things beloning to
the Rack in Part for buering[7] Sixty Two men Came a shoare Dead from
the Pirate Rack, the Curner and his Jurey says their Due is Eight
Three Pounds. Sir, I am of the mind that the Curner and Jurey should
have nothing for buering aney of thes men After they New them to be
Pirats, and they had bured but Thirteen before they new them to be
Pirats. as Your Excellency Pleass, I humbley Desier Your Excellency
Orders to this Afare. the Curner name is Samuell freeman, for his
stoping aney of the Rack Goods for Paye is very hard. Sir, the weather
has ben very bad, and Great Sea, so we Can Due Nothing as yett on the
Rack with my Whale boat and men, but se the Anchor Every Low Watter.
Sir, If some Gentt'men ware Commissined here to Give Serverall of them
their Oath Concerning the Rack, itt will be of Great Service. Sir,
Coll. Ottis[8] and Joseph Doane, Esqr., are Very Good men.

[Footnote 2: Own.]

[Footnote 3: Thomas Davis; see his memorial,