Note 80 — Chapter VI · Thomas Tew, who Retired and Lived at Newport

Jeremiah Basse, writing to the Secretary of the Council of Trade in a letter that reached London on July 26, 1697, reported as follows:—“In all I am told that there are gone from Boston, New York, Pennsylvania and Carolina, from each one ship and from Rhode Island two.... The Nassau met one of these rovers at the Cape Bonne Esperance homeward bound from India. I was told by the mate of her that being fearful lest the Dutch should make prize of her they got leave to put some chests of money on board her, which chests were so heavy that six men at the tackles could hardly hoist them in. The chests were given back to the rovers at sea, who announced that they were bound to Madagascar. The persons expected to return are Tew’s company, and all those that sailed from New York and Rhode Island. It is expected that they will try to conceal themselves in the Jerseys or Pennsylvania being little inhabited about the harbour, they reckon themselves safe there. I am told that some persons have already been preparing for their reception there.”—Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies, 1696-1697, p. 1203.