Have you heard of the Dover pirate, Thomas BRETT: executed in London, hung in chains at Dover Pier:
Admiralty Session, Old Bailey, on Monday November 29th The Trial of Thomas BRETT:
"The prisoner was indicted that he, on the 7th day of March last, together with Joseph EDGERLY, James NICKSON, Daniel WALKER and William WILKINS of Dover; George HARTLEY, Samuel WAPPING alias "Flying Jack", and a man of the nickname of Pye APPS of Hastings, on the high seas, within the jurisdiction of the High Admiral, and about three miles from Dungeness, had piratically robbed a Dutch hoy of 12 cakes of beeswax, 11 salted bullocks' hides and three anchors (ankers - barrels) of Geneva, the property of persons unknown......
"It appeared that Joseph EDGERLY had shot himself in Dover gaol the evening after he was apprehended; but the following facts came out from the testimony of James NICKSON an accomplice, who was admitted in evidence for the Crown, and from two free and voluntary confessions made by the prisoner on his examination before Mayor of Dover.
"On the 9th March 1789 the persons named in the indictment having armed themselves with pistols loaded with swan-shot, and large bludgeons, set sail from Rye harbour, on board a lug-sail boat belonging to and commanded by Joseph EDGERLY, with a determined resolution to plunder any of the subjects of their high Mightinesses that should come in their way. For this purpose they steered towards Dungeness where they observed a Dutch hoy lying at anchor, with seven or eight Dutch sailors on board. After having reconnoitred her for some time they lay by until the dusk of the evening should favour their design. Accordingly about 6 o'clock the prisoner and two others boarded her and showed their pistols to the Dutch sailors, commanding them immediately to go below, which command the prudent Dutchmen quietly obeyed, and abandoned the cargo of their hoy to the depredation of the pirates. On searching the hold however they only thought proper to take away that part of its contents which was mentioned in the indictment which they brought into a Gut called Providence, lying between the two Romney harbours. The next morning they were hoisted on shore and carts were provided to carry them away. The goods were afterwards sold and the produce equally divided at the rate of £4. 10s. each between the parties.
"Mr Baron THOMPSON summed up the evidence to the Jury with infinite precision and they found the prisoner guilty'; but they requested that Sir James Marriot would recommend him to the King's Mercy, as they conceived there was a possibility of his having been seduced and drawn in to accompany the gang upon this adventure by the arts of EDGERLY who appeared to have been the ringleader throughout the whole transaction." (Kentish Gazette Dec 1 - 4 1789 p.2 col.4):
and later:
"In consequence of Sir James Marriot's report of the pirates on Wednesday last, the following were ordered for execution on Tuesday 5th January next, viz: Hugh WILSON, Edward WELCOME, Wm HOBBINS, John CLARK, and Thomas BRETT." (Kentish Gazette 18-22 Dec 1789 back page, col.3):
and later:
"The pirates, executed on Monday are to be hung in chains; one at Dover and the rest on the banks of the Thames between Limehouse and Gravesend. BRETT, the Dover pirate, when he got into the cart at Newgate, on Monday shook hands with many of his friends, seemed quite composed and had a smile on his countenance; when he sat down in the cart he took off his hat and threw it to his friends. He was a well looking young man about six feet high and only 21 years of age." The other two called CLARK (mate of a Yarmouth-man) and HOBBINS, convicted with him.
(Kentish Gazette 5.1.1790 - 8.1.1790 p.4 cols 3 & 4)
and later:
"London": "Four or five pirates who were executed yesterday se'nnight are hung on gibbets (in iron chains), between Greenwich and Erith; the body of the other is sent down to Dover, to be hung up in chains at the end of the pier."
(Kentish Gazette 8 - 12 Jan 1790 back page col.2, near bottom)
Kath