The Preamble of Captain Peter Solgard’s Copy of His freedom.
Robert Walter, Esq.; mayor, and the aldermen of the city of New York.
City of New York, SS.
To all whom these persents shall come, send greeting.
Whereas, Captain Peter Solgard, Commander of His Majesty’s ship the Greyhound, (the present station ship of this province,) in his cruise, having intelligence of two pirate sloops of considerable force in consortship, under the command of one Low, a notorious pirate, that had for upward of two years, committed many depredations, murders and barbarities, upon many of His Majesty’s subjects and allies, lately come upon this coast, hath, with great diligence, and utmost application, pursued, overtaken, and after a stubborn resistance, vanquished and overcome both of them, taking one, and driving the other from our coast; which action, as it is glorious in itself, so it is glorious in the public benefits and advantages that flow from it, (to wit) the safety and freedom of our own trade and commerce, and of all the neighbouring provinces on this continent, such signal service done against the enemies of mankind, merits the applause of all good men, but more immediately from those of this province, who are appointed his particular care and charge. We therefore, the mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of New York, assembled in common council, to express our grateful sense and acknowledgment, to the said Captain Peter Solgard, for so noble and faithful a discharge of his duty, and as a particular mark of the great esteem and just regard we bear to his kind acceptance of the freedom of the corporation of this city of New York, and that he will please to become a fellow citizen with us. These are therefore to certify and declare, that the said Captain Peter Solgard is hereby admitted, received and allowed a freeman and citizen of the said city of New York, to have, hold, enjoy and partake of all and singular advantages, benefits, liberties, privileges, franchises, freedoms and immunities whatsoever, granted or belonging to the same city: in testimony thereof, the said mayor hath hereunto subscribed his name, and caused the seal of the said city to be affix’d the , in the ninth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. Anno. Dom. .
This narrow escape of Low and his companions, one would have thought might have brought them to a little consideration of their black and horrid crimes, and to look upon this interval as an opportunity put into their hands by providence, to reconcile themselves to God, by a hearty and sincere repentance. But alas they were dead to all goodness, and had not so much as one spark of virtue to stir them up to be thankful for such an eminent deliverance: but instead thereof, vented a million of oaths and curses upon the captain of the Greyhound, vowing to execute vengeance upon all they should meet with afterwards, for the indignity he put upon them.
The first prey that they met with, after their flight, was a small sloop belonging to Nantucket, a whale-fishing, about 80 miles from land; the master of which, one Nathan Skiff, a brisk young fellow, the pirates cruelly whipp’d naked about the deck, making his torture their sport; after which they cut of his ears, and last of all shot him through the head, and then sunk his vessel; putting the rest of the hands into their whaleboat, with a compass, a little water, and a few biscuits; and it being good weather, they providentially got safe to Nantucket, beyond all expectation.
There was another whaleboat belonging to this sloop last mentioned, which happened to be at some distance from her, and perceiving what was doing, rowed with all speed to another sloop not far off, to acquaint her with the misfortune, that the men might take care of themselves; and she happily got away in time. Some days after,
