Introduction
Le 14 septembre 1684, le capitaine jamaïquain John Thorpe, commandant le sloop James, appareilla de Port Royal à destination de la côte de Carthagène pour aller commercer avec les Espagnols. À cette côte, exactement un mois plus tard, il est arrêté par le flibustier néerlandais Yankey, montant La Dauphine, de 30 canons. Ce dernier conduisit le sloop anglais et son équipage au Petit-Goâve, à la côte de Saint-Domingue, où le 22 novembre celui-ci fut adjugé de bonne prise par un conseil présidé par l'intendant des Isles d'Amérique, Michel Bégon, et le gouverneur de la colonie de Saint-Domingue, le sieur de Cussy. Les documents reproduits ici, qui sont des résumés de pièces d'archives britannique, témoignent de cet incident. Au retour de Thorpe et de ses hommes à Port Royal, le gouverneur de la Jamaïque, le colonel Molesworth, s'empressera d'envoyer au Petit-Goâve le H.M.S. Ruby, donnant à son capitaine, David Mitchell, des instructions pour qu'il exige des Français la restitution du sloop James à son propriétaire James Wall ainsi que réparation pour des pirateries commises par un autre flibustier de Saint-Domingue contre des bâtiments de pêche jamaïquains.
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deposition of John Thorp, Captain, and James Wale, Owner, of the sloop James November 25, 1684 [5 décembre 1684]. On the 4th October [14 octobre] we met Captain Yankey in the ship Dolphin off Carthagena, who fired a volley of small shot into our sloop, in spite of our showing our colours, and ordered us on board him, while his men plundered our sloop. We were kept prisoners for six weeks till he came to Petit Guavos, where the Intendant and Council voted her good prize. The Governor and Intendant told us that the decision was against their votes, which is apparent from the fact that the Governor di not accept his tenth of the value. We protested against the judgment to the Intendant, but he gave us reviling language, and told us to go and complain to the King of England. Laurens, the pirate, who gave Yankey his commission, took three barrels of flour from the ship, and Yankey told us that he had had forty-eight men from the Trompeuse, and hoped shortly to take some negroes from the plantations in Jamaica. Deposition of Henry White, formerly belonging to Yankey's ship. Confirms the fact of the taking of the sloop, and adds that some Spaniards on board were tortured. Deposition of Antonio Belia, Antonio Ferrera, and Antonio de la Pena. That being questioned at Petit Guavos whether Thorp and Wale brought any arms and ammunition for sale to Spaniards, or any Spanish goods on board, they said they did not. Deposition of William Wilmot and others, petty officers of the James. Confirming the facts stated in the above depositions. source: P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1681-1685: no. 1962. deposition of John Smith, late pilot of Yankey's ship [résumé] As to the capture of the sloop James. Sworn at Jamaica, 27 January 1685 [6 février 1685]. source: P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1699 (addenda 1628-1698): no. 1146 iv. extrait des minutes du Conseil du Petit Goave [résumé] 22 novembre 1684. Sentence et condamnation du sloop James. source: P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1685-1688: no. 258. Pass issued by Colonel Molesworth to John Thorp of the sloop James [résumé] 4th September 1684 [14 septembre 1684]. source: P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1699 (addenda 1628-1698): no. 1147 i. |
| LES ARCHIVES DE LA FLIBUSTE |
| sommaire || summary |
| Le Diable Volant |