(Un) Known pirates and criminals of the seas
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John Quelch *1666 - +30.6.1704. English pirate and captain, operated in the Caribbean.

He was the first convicted pirate in America, outside of England, and under the maritime law without a jury. The necessity to organise these maritime trials arose from the need to solve piracy and maritime crime. Civil and penalty courts were unable to combat piracy.

John Quelch began his career on the corsair ship CHARLES, as Lieutenant, the captain was Daniel Plowman. In July 1703 the governor of Boston Joseph Dudley made ready the CHARLES ship against the French and Spanish ships around Newfoundland. Shortly after the departure, the captain Daniel Plowman became ill and because of his quarantine he stayed in his cabin. The crew, led by quartermaster Anthony Holding, however, rebelled and chose Lieutenant John Quelch as their captain. At the end of September, Captain Daniel Plowman died of fever.

Later, on the shores of Brazil, they pillaged nine Portuguese ships and they received valuable cargo of weapons, skins, sugar, cloths, boxes of gold dust and money. At that time, however, an alliance was made between Portugal and England. Therefore, the English Admiralty, following a report from Portugal about the looting of their ships, issued an arrest warrant for the whole crew. In May 1704, the CHARLES ship landed in Marblehead today in the state of Massachusetts where unsuspecting crew broke away with their share of prey. Within a week, most of the crew, including Dennis Carter, were caught and imprisoned.

At the beginning of June, he was brought to Boston for trial.

On the basis of testimony of crew members, John Clifford, James Parrot, Matthew Pimer and 13-year-old John Templeton were found innocent and released. And James Austin, John Breck, Dennis Carter, John Carter, Daniel Chuley, Gabriel Davis, John Dorothy, Nicholas Dunbar, Thomas Farrington, Paul Giddens, John Harwood, Joseph Hutnot, Charles James, Isaac Johnson, William Jones, Charles King, John King, Richard Lawrence, Nicholas Lawson, John Miller, George Norton, James Pattison, Benjamin Perkins, Erasmus Peterson, George Pierse, John Pitman, John Quittance, William Rayner, Peter Roach, Christopher Scudamore, Richard Thurbar, John Way, William Wiles a William Whiting were found guilty and sentenced to several years in prison.

Daniel Chevalle, Anthony Holding, Francis King, John Lambert, Nicholas Richardson and captain John Quelch were found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. The execution was made on Friday 30th June, 1704. The execution was secured by the Musketeers Regiment. There were also several Admiralty officials, court officers, two ministers, and several monks.

This was the first example of an execution by law in America.

John Quittance *1670?? - +1710?? The English pirate worked in the Caribbean. He was a member of the captain Daniel Plowman crew of the corsair ship CHARLES.

CHARLES sailed from Boston in July 1703 to a corsair expedition against the French and Spanish ships. Shortly after the departure, the captain Daniel Plowman became ill and because of his quarantine he stayed in his cabin. The crew, led by quartermaster Anthony Holding, however, rebelled and chose Lieutenant John Quelch as their captain. At the end of September, Captain Daniel Plowman died of fever.

Later, on the shores of Brazil, they pillaged nine Portuguese ships and they received valuable cargo of weapons, skins, sugar, cloths, boxes of gold dust and money. At that time, however, an alliance was made between Portugal and England. Therefore, the English Admiralty, following a report from Portugal about the looting of their ships, issued an arrest warrant for the whole crew. In May 1704, the CHARLES ship landed in Marblehead today in the state of Massachusetts where unsuspecting crew broke away with their share of prey. Within a week, most of the crew, including John Quittance, were caught and imprisoned.

At the beginning of June, he was brought to Boston for trial. On the basis of testimony of crew members, John Quittance was found guilty and sentenced to several years in prison.

Texts: P. Patočka, P. Steinhardt, H. Prien
Proofreading: Ali
Translation: S. Harasimová
Graphic design: M. Gorejová
Updated: September 24, 2020
Sources: see ZDROJE