CAPTAIN JOHN BOWEN. THE exact time of this person's setting out I am.
not certain of. I find him cruising on the Malabar coast in the year 1700,
commanding a ship called - the Speaker, whose crew consisted of men of all
nations, and their piracies were committed upon ships of all nations
likewise. The pirates here met with no manner of inconveniencies in carrying
on their designs, for it was made so much a trade, that the merchants of one
town never scrupled the buying commodities taken from another, though but
ten miles distant, in a public sale, furnishing the robbers at the same time
with all necessaries, even of vessels, when they had occasion to go on any
expedition, which they themselves would often advise them of.
Among the rest, an English East-Indiaman, Capt. Coneway, from Bengal,
fell into the hands of this crew, which they made prize of, near
Callequilon. They carried her in, and put her up to sale, dividing the ship
and cargo into three shares; one third was sold to a merchant, native of
Callequilon aforesaid, another third to a merchant of Porca, and the other
to one Malpa, a Dutch factor.
Loaded with the spoil of this and several country ships they left the
coast, and steered for Madagascar; but in their voyage thither, meeting with
adverse winds, and, being negligent in their steerage,they ran upon St.
Thomas's reef, at the island of aauritius, where the ship was lost; but
Bowen and the greatest part of the crew got safe ashore.
They met here with all the civility and good treatment imaginable. Bowen
was complimented
in a particlar manner by the governor, and splindidly entertained in his
house; the sick men were got, with great care, into the fort, and cured by
their doctor, and no supplies of any sort, wanting for the rest. They spent
here three months, but yet resolving to set, down at Madagascar,'they bought
a sloop, which they converted into a brigantine, and about the middle of
March, 1701, departed, having first taken formal leave of the governor, by
making a present of 2500 pieces of eight ; leaving him, besides, the wreck
of their ship, with the guns, stores, and every thing else that was saved.
The governor, on his part, supplied them with necessaries for their veyage,
which was but short, and gave them a kind invitation to make that island a
place of refreshment in the course of their future adventures, promising
that nothing should be wanting to them that his government afforded.
Upon their arrival at Madagascar, they put in at a place on the east
side, called Marital], quit their vessel, and settled themselves ashore in a
fruitful plain on the side, of a river. They built themselves a fort on the
river's mouth, towards the, sea, and another small one on the other side,
towards the country ; the first to prevent a surprise from shipping, and the
other as a security from the nati yes, many of whom they employed in the
building. They built also a little town for their habitation, which took up
the remainder of the year 1701. When this was done, they soon became
dissatisfied with their new situation, having a hankering mind after their
old employment, and accordingly resolved to fit up the brigantine they had
from the
Dutch at Mauritius, which was laid in a cove near their settlement; but
an accident, that they improved, provided for them in a better manner, and
saved them a great deal of trouble.
It happened that about the beginning of the year
1702, a ship called the Speedy Return, belonging to the Scotch-African
and East-India company, Capt. Drummoud, commander, came into the port of
Maritan in Madagascar, with a brigantine that belonged to her; they had
before taken in negroes at St. Mary's, a little island adjoining to the main
land of Madagascar, and carried them to Don Mascarenhas, from whence they
sailed to this port on, the same trade.
On the ship's arrival, Capt. Drummond, with Andrew Wilky, his surgeon,
and several others of the crew, went on shore ; in the mean time John Bowen,
with four others of his consorts, Gwent off in a little boat, on pretence of
buying sortie of their merchandise brought from Europe : and finding a fair
opportunity, the chiefmate, boatswain, and a hand or two more only upon
deck, and the rest at work in the hold they threw off their mask ; each drew
out apistol and hanger, and told them they were all dead men if they did not
retire that moment to the cabin. The surprise was sudden, and they thought
it necessary to obey: one of the pirates placed himself sentry at the door,
with his arms in his hands, and the rest immediately laid the hatch- es, and
then made a signal to their fellows on shore as agreed on; upon which, about
forty or fifty came on board, and took quiet possession of the ship, and
afterwards the brigantine, without bloodshed, Jr striking a stroke. Bowen
was made, or rather made himself, of course, captain ; he detained the old
crew, or the greatest part thereof, burnt the Dutch brigantine as being of
no use to them, cleaned and fitted the ship, took water, provisions, and
what necessaries were wanting, and made ready for new adventures.
Having thus piratically possessed himself of Capt. Drummond's ship and
brigantine, and being informed by the crew, that when they left Don Mas-
earenhas, a ship called the Rook galley, Capt. Honeycomb, commander, was
lying in that bay, Bowen resolved, with the otherpirates, to sail thither,
bat it taking up seven or eight days in watering their vessels, and settling
their private affairs, they arrived not at the island till after the
departure of the said galley, who thereby happily escaped the viilaneous
snare of their unprovoked enemies. The night after the pirates left Maritan,
the brig antine ran on a ledge of rocks little west side of the,island
ofMadagascar,which not being perceived by the ship, Bowen came into
Mascarschas without her, not knowing-what was become of his consort. Here he
stayed eight or ten days, in which time he supplied the ship with
provisions, and judging that the Rook galley was gone to some other island,
the ship sailed to Mauritius, in search of her; but the pirates seeing four
or five ships in the N. W. harbour, they thought themselves too weak to
attempt any thing there so they stood immediately for Madagascar again, and
arrived safe, first at Pori Dauphin and then at Augustin Bay. In a few days
theCon tent brigantine, which they supposed either to hive been lost, or
revolted that honourable service, came into the same bay, and informed their
brethren of the misfortune -that happened to them. The rogues were glad, no
doubt, of seeing one another again, and calling a council together; they
found the brigantine in no condition for business, being then very leaky .
therefore she was condemned, and forthwith hauled ashore and burnt, and the
crew united, and all went onboard the Speedy Return.
At this place the pirates were made acquainted, by the rye roes of the
adventures of another gang that had settled for some time near that harbour,
and had one Howard for their captain. It was the misfortune of an India ship
called the Prosperous,
to come into the bay at the time that these rogues were looking out for
employment ; who under the pretence of trading (almost in the same manner
that Bowen and his gang had seized the SpeedyReturn) made themselves master
of her, and sailed with her to New Mathelage. Bowen and his gang consulting
together on this intelligence, concluded it was more for their interest to
join in alliance with this new company, than to act single, they being too
weak of themselves to undertake any considerable enterprise, remembering how
they were obliged to bear away Ain the island of Mauritius, when they were
in search of theRook galley, which they might have taken, with several
others, had they had, at that time, a consort of equal force to their own
ship.
They accordingly set sail from the bay, and came into New Mathelage, but
found no ship there, I though upon enquiry they understood that the pirate
they looked for, had been at the place, but was gone ; so after some stay
they proceeded to Johanna, but the Prosperous not being there neither, they
sailed to Mayotta, where they found her lying at anchor. This was about
Christmas, 1702.
Here these two powers struck up an alliance. Howard liking the
proposals, came readily into it, and the treaty was ratified by both
companies. They stayed about two months at this island, thinking it,
perhaps, as likely a place to meet with prey as cruising out for it, and so
indeed ifs happened; for about the beginning of March, the ship Pembroke,
belonging to our East-India company, corning in for water, was boarded by
their boats, and taken, with the loss of the chief mate and an. other man
that were killed in the skirmish.
The two pirate ships weighed, and went out to sea along with their
prize, and that day and the next plundered her of the best part of her
cargo, provisions, and stores, and. then taking the captain
and carpenter away, they let the Pembroke go where the remainder of her
crew pleased, and came with their ships into New Mathelage. Here the two
captains consulted, and laid a plan for a cruise to India, for which purpose
they detained Capt. Wool ey, of the Pembroke, lately taken, in order to be
their pilot in those seas; but a very hot dispute arose between the two
companies which ship he should go aboard of, insomuch that they had gone
together by the ears, if an expedient bad not been found to satisfy each
party, that one might not have the advantage of the other by the captain's
skill and knowledge of the Indian coast, and this was to knock the poor man
on the head, and murder him: but at last, by the authority of Bowen, Capt.
Woolley escaped the threatened danger, by bringing his company to consent to
his remaining on board the Prosperous, where he then was.
The Speedy Return being foul, and wanting a. little repair was judged
proper for her to go back to Augustin Bay to clean ; in the mean while the
Prosperous was to have a pair of boot-tops where she lay, and likewise to
take in water and provisions, and then to join their consort again at
Mayotta, the island appointed for the rendezvous.
The Prosperous put into Mayotta as agreed on, and waiting there some
time for Bowen's ship, without seeing or hearing any news of her, went to
Johanna, but not meeting with her there, they apprehended some accident had
befell her, and therefore left the place, and sailed on the expedition
themselves. As to the Speedy Return, she arrived safe at St. Augustin Bay,
at Madagascar, and there cleaned and victualled ; but tarrying there
somewhat too long, the winds hung contrary, and they could not for their
lives beat upi to Mayotta, and therefore went up to Johanna, where, ere,
hearing that their friends had lately left that Island, they steered
for the Red, Sea, hut the wind not proving fair for their design, they
bore away for the high land of St. John's near Surat, where they once more
fell in company with their brethren of the Prosperous.
They cruised together as was first agreed on, and after some time they
had sight of four ships, to which ,they gave chases but these separating,
two standing to the northward, and two to the southward, the pirates
separated likewise, Bowen standing after those that steered southerly, and
Howard crowding after the others. Bowen came up with the heaviest of the
two, which proved to he a Moorish ship of 7Q0 tons, bound from the Gulf of
Mocha to Surat. The pirates brought the prize into Rajapora, on the coast of
India, where they plundered her ; the merchandise they sold to the natives,
but a small sum of current gold they found aboard, amounting to 22,000
English money, they put into their pockets. Two days after, the Prosperous
came in, but without any prize; however, they soon made their friends
}acquainted that they had not succeeded worse than themselves, for at Surat
river's mouth, where all the four ships were bound, they came up with their
chase, and With a broad side, one of them struck, hut the other got into the
bay. They stood down the coast with the prize till they had plundered her of
the best of her cargo, the most valuable of which was 84,000 sequins, a
piece of about ten shillings each, and then they left her adrift, without
either anchor or cable, off Daman.
While they were lying at Raj apora they passed a survey on their
thipping, and judging their own to be less serviceable than their prize,
they voted them to the flames, and straightway fitted up the Surat ship.
They transported both companies aboard of her, and then set fire to the
Prosperous and Speedy Return. They mustered at this place 164 fighting
men ; 43 only were English, the greater number French, the restDanes,
Swedes, and Dutch. They took on board 70 Indians to do the drudgery of the
ship, and mounted 46 guns, calling her the Defiance, and sailed from
Rajapora the latter end of October, in the year 1703 to cruise on the coast
of Malabar. But not meeting with prey in this first cruise, they came to an
anchor about three leagues to the. northward ofCochen,expecting some boats
to come offwith supplies of refreshments,for which purpose they fired
several guns, by way of signal, but none appearing, the quarter-master was
sent in the pinnace to confer with the people, which he did with some
caution, keeping the boat upon their oars at the shore side. In short, they
agreed, very well, the pirates were promised whatever necessaries they
wanted, and the boat returned aboard.
The next day a boat came off from the town With hogs, goats, wine, &c.
with a private intimation from Malpa, the Dutch broker; an old friend of the
pirates, that a ship of that country called the Rhimar, lay then in Mudbay,
not many leagues off, and if they would go out and take her, lie would
purchase the cargo of them, and likewise promised that they should be
further supplied with pitch, tar, and all other necessaries, which was made
good to them ; for people from the factory flocked aboard every hour, and
dealt with them as in open market, for all sorts of merchandise,
refreshments, jewels, and plate, returning with coffers of money, &c. to a
great value.
The advice of the ship was taken very kindly, but the pirates judging
their own ship too large to go close into the bay, consulted their friend
upon means for taking the said ship, who readily treated with them for the
sale of one of less burthen, that then lay in the harbour; but Malpa
speaking to one Punt, of the factory, to carry her out, he not only
refused to be concerned in such a piece of villany, but reproved Malpa
for corresponding with the pirates, and told him, if he should be guilty of
so base an action, he must never see the face of any of his countrymen more
; which made the honest broker change both his countenance and his purpose.
At this place Capt.Woolley,whom they had taken for their pilot on the
Indian coast, being in a very sick and weak condition, was, at his earnest
entreaty, discharged from his severe confinement among them, and set ashore,
and. the next day the pirates sailed, and ranged along the Malabar coast, in
quest of more booty. In their way they met a . second time with the
Pembroke, and plundered her of some sugar, and other small things, and let
her go again. From the coast they sailed back for the Island. of Mauritius,
where they lay some time, and lived after their usual extravagant manners
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