QUELCH, Captain John
A native of Massachusetts Colony.
In 1703 was one of the crew of the brigantine Charles, eighty tons, owned by some leading citizens of Boston, and fitted out to go privateering off the coasts of Arcadia and Newfoundland. On leaving Marblehead the crew mutinied, locked the captain in his cabin, and elected Quelch their commander. They sailed to the south, and shortly afterwards threw the captain overboard. They hoisted a flag, the "Old Roger," described as having "in the middle of it an Anatomy with an Hourglars in one hand and a dart in the Heart with three drops of Blood proceeding from it in the other." They took nine Portuguese vessels off the coast of Brazil, out of which they took plunder of very great value.
Quelch now had the audacity to sail back to Marblehead, where his crew landed and quickly scattered with their plunder. Within a week Quelch was in gaol, and was taken to Boston, where his trial began on June 17th, 1704, and he was found guilty. The days between the sentence and the execution must have, indeed, been trying for the prisoner. We read in a pamphlet published at the time: "The Ministers of the Town used more than ordinary Endeavours to Instruct the Prisoners and bring them to Repentance. There were Sermons Preached in their hearing Every Day, and Prayer daily made with them. And they were Catechised, and they had many occasional Exhortations. And nothing was left that could be done for their Good."
On Friday, June 30th, 1704, Quelch and his companions marched on foot through the town of Boston to Scarlil's Wharf with a strong armed guard of musketeers, accompanied by various officials and two ministers, while in front was carried a silver oar, the emblem of a pirate's execution. Before the last act the minister gave a long and fervent harangue to the wretched culprits, in all of whom were observed suitable signs of repentance except Quelch, who, stepping forward on the platform, his hat in his hand, and bowing left and right to the spectators, gave a short address, in which he warned them "They should take care how they brought Money into New England to be Hanged for it."
The Larimore galley
LARIMORE, Captain Thomas, or Larramore
Commanded the Larimore galley. In 1704 was with the pirate Quelch and several other pirates, and, among other prizes, seized a Portuguese ship, the Portugal, from which they took gold dust, bar and coined gold, and other treasure, and at the same time "acted divers villainous Murders." For these Larimore was tried, condemned and hanged at Boston, June 11th, 1704.
Crew members who attempted unsuccessfuly to escape in the Larimore
CARTER, John
Captured by Major Sewall in the Larimore galley, and brought into Salem. One of Captain Quelch's crew. Tried at Boston in 1704.
JAMES, Charles
One of Captain John Quelch's crew taken in the Larimore galley at Salem. Tried for piracy at Boston in 1704.
KING, Charles
Attempted to escape in the Larimore galley, but was captured and brought into Salem. Tried at Boston with the rest of Quelch's crew in June, 1704.
KING, John
One of Captain Quelch's crew taken out of the Larimore galley. Tried at Boston in June, 1704.
WELLS, Lieutenant Joseph
An officer on board Captain John Quelch's Charles galley. Attempted to escape at Gloucester, Massachusetts, in the Larimore, but was captured by Major Sewell and brought to Salem, and there secured in the town gaol until tried for piracy at Boston in June, 1704.
WORMALL, Daniel
Master on the brigantine Charles, commanded by Captain John Quelch. Attempted to escape from Gloucester, Massachusetts, by sailing off in the Larimore galley, but was followed and caught by Major Sewell and taken to Salem. Here he was kept in the town gaol until sent to Boston to be tried for piracy in June, 1704.
Crew members who nearly got away
AUSTIN, James
Captured with the rest of Captain John Quelch's crew in the brigantine Charles. Escaped for a time, but was caught and secured in the gaol at Piscataqua, and later on tried for piracy at the Star Tavern at Boston in June, 1704.
ROACH, Peter
When Captain Quelch was captured with his crew, Roach escaped near the Cape by Snake Island. He was afterwards captured and thrown into the gaol at Salem. Tried for piracy at the Star Tavern at Boston, and on June 30th, 1704, was hanged. At the place of execution Roach disappointed the onlooking crowd, as, instead of the expected and hoped-for repentant speech, "he seemed little concerned, and said but little or nothing at all."
Other crew members
BRECK, John
One of the crew of the brigantine Charles (Captain John Quelch). Tried for piracy at Boston in 1704.
CARTER, Dennis
Tried for piracy in June, 1704, at the Star Tavern in Boston. One of John Quelch's crew.
CHEVALLE, Daniel
One of Captain John Quelch's crew. Tried for piracy at Boston in 1704.
DOROTHY, John
One of Captain John Quelch's crew. Tried for piracy at Boston in June, 1704.
DUNBAR, Nicholas. Pirate
One of the crew of the brigantine Charles (Captain Quelch). Tried for piracy at Boston in 1704.
FARRINGTON, Thomas
One of John Quelch's crew on the brigantine Charles. Tried for piracy at Boston in June, 1704, at the Star Tavern.
GIDDENS, Paul
One of Captain Quelch's crew. Tried at Boston in 1704.
HARWOOD, John
Tried for piracy at Boston in 1704. One of the crew of the brigantine Charles (Captain John Quelch, Commander).
HOLDING, Anthony
One of John Quelch's crew of the brigantine Charles. Tried for piracy at Boston in 1704.
HUTNOT, Joseph
One of the crew of the notorious brigantine Charles, commanded by Captain Quelch. Tried for piracy at the Star Tavern, Boston, in 1704.
JOHNSON, Isaac
One of Captain Quelch's crew. Tried for piracy at the Star Tavern at Boston in 1704.
LAMBERT, John
One of Captain John Quelch's crew. Hanged on Charles River, Boston Side, on Friday, June 30th, 1704. In a broadside published at Boston in July of the same year, Lambert's conduct on the gallows is described thus: "He appeared much hardened and pleaded much on his Innocency. He desired all men to beware of Bad Company and seemed to be in great Agony near his Execution."
LAWRENCE, Nicholas
Tried for piracy with the rest of Quelch's crew at Boston in 1704.
LAWRENCE, Richard
One of Captain John Quelch's crew. Tried for piracy at Boston in 1704.
MILLER, John
One of Captain John Quelch's crew. Hanged at Boston on June 30th, 1704. A broadsheet published at the time, describing the scenes at the execution, tells us that Miller "seemed much concerned, and complained of a great Burden of Sins to answer for, expressing often: 'Lord, what shall I do to be Saved?'"
NORTON, George
One of Captain John Quelch's crew. Tried for piracy in June, 1704, at the Star Tavern at Boston.
PARKINS, Benjamin
One of Captain John Quelch's crew in the brigantine Charles. Tried at Boston for piracy in 1704.
PERKINS, Benjamin
One of Quelch's crew. Captured at Marblehead in 1704.
PETERSON, Erasmus
Tried for piracy with the rest of Captain Quelch's crew at Boston. Was hanged there on June 30th, 1704. When standing on the gallows "He cryed of injustice done him and said, 'It is very hard for so many lives to be taken away for a little Gold.' He said his peace was made with God, yet he found it extremely hard to forgive those who had wronged him. He told the Executioner 'he was a strong man and Prayed to be put out of his misery as soon as possible.'"
PITMAN, John
One of Captain Quelch's crew. Tried for piracy at Boston in 1704.
QUITTANCE, John
One of Captain Quelch's crew of the brigantine Charles. Tried with the rest of that crew at the Star Tavern at Boston in June, 1704.
RAYNOR, William
One of Captain John Quelch's crew. Tried at Boston in 1704.
RICHARDSON, Nicholas
One of Captain Quelch's crew. Taken out of the brigantine Charles, and tried for piracy at Boston in 1704.
SCUDAMORE, Christopher
One of Captain John Quelch's crew. Tried for piracy at the Star Tavern in Hanover Street, Boston, in 1704, and hanged on Charles River, Boston Side, on June 30th. A report of the trial and execution of these pirates, describing Scudamore's conduct on the gallows, says: "He appeared very Penitent since his Condemnation, was very diligent to improve his time going to, and at the place of Execution."
WAY, John
Tried at Boston in 1704 for piracy with the rest of the crew of the Charles brigantine.
WILES, William
One of John Quelch's crew of the brigantine Charles. Tried at Boston in 1704.
Crew members who escaped hanging by turning king's evidence
CLIFFORD, John
One of Captain John Quelch's crew; tried at the Star Tavern at Boston in 1704 for piracy. All the accused pleaded "Not guilty" except Clifford and two others who turned Queen's evidence.
PARROT, James
One of Quelch's crew, who turned King's evidence at the trial at Boston in 1704, and thus escaped hanging.
PRIMER, Matthew
One of Captain Quelch's crew. Turned King's evidence at the trial for piracy held at the Star Tavern, Boston, in June, 1704.
Crew members who also escaped hanging
KING, Francis
One of Captain Quelch's crew captured in the Larimore galley by Major Sewall, and brought into Salem Harbour on June 11th, 1704. Tried at Boston and condemned to be hanged. Was reprieved while standing on the gallows.
TEMPLETON, John
One of Captain John Quelch's crew of the ship Charles. Tried for piracy at Boston in 1704, but, being discovered to be not yet 14 years of age and only a servant on board the pirate ship, was acquitted.
Crew members who died before their trial
WHITTING, William
One of Captain Quelch's crew. In 1704 we read that he "lyes sick, like to dye, not yet examined" in the gaol at Marblehead, when awaiting trial for piracy.