image from mappa mundi c1700 copy public domain
Welcome to the unfortunate story of Peter Heaman and Francois Gautiez
image from copy of Claude Lorrain painting c 1600 public domain
Gautiez, aged 26 along with Heaman, aged 35, did attempt the piratical and unlawful seizure of the Schooner Jane of Gibraltar, they stand accused of murdering Thomas Johnston, for confining Peter Smith and Robot Strachan, subjecting those confined to suffer damage by attempting to suffocate them by smoke, and the attempted robbery of a valuable cargo, including specie to the amount of 38,180 Spanish Dollars.
The court found them guilty and sentenced them, they were to be hanged at Leith. Through the trial the accused tried vainly to shift blame and were said to blame each other or have no recollection or idea of who actually shot who, all said they all attacked at once and therefor it couldn't be determined, when they were sentenced and they began to accept their fate it is reported they lamented, one spoke of his wife and children and hoping they would receive support his wife being of good character, both were penitent and turned to their faith. Both wrote their laments and they are recorded along with the trial.
And here is the actual transcript of their plight:
and so on Wednesday the 9th January, 1822, soon after nine o'clock in the morning, a hurdle was drawn up opposite the door of the jail, into which the unfortunate men were placed, with their backs to the horse's tail, and facing the executioner, who sat opposite to them, holding the end of a rope, with which they were bound, in his hands. In this manner the cart moved slowly down to Leith, accompanied by the Sheriff, and surrounded with a detachment of Dragoons, Sheriff and Police Officers. They arrived at the scaffold, which was erected on the sand opposite the Royal Naval Yard, about ten o'clock ; and, after spending ten or fifteen minutes in fervent prayer, they mounted the drop, where they shook hands, and again prayed earnestly for a few minutes, the fatal signal was given and the event witnessed by a crowd of spectators.
After hanging half an hour, they were cut down, and their bodies sent to Edinburgh in a cart to be dissected.
I originally chose another pirate to feature but it was very difficult finding any information about him, so instead I chose to feature these two men because we can read the full account of what happened, the link in the refs will take you to the actual original account of the trial its official records, and it includes their laments, which when read are quite heartbreaking, if like me you also like to read old history books, or you would just like to read the full story then click the link and enjoy, I found it very interesting and it really brings home the actual life of a pirate.
tis pirate sunday and I hope you have a fine day
refs:
http://www.britishexecutions.co.uk/execution-content.php?key=1536
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=lawlib3&fileName=law0001_201000173321351page.db&recNum=12
(the trial and laments)
Hi! I am a robot. I just upvoted you! I found similar content that readers might be interested in:
http://www.britishexecutions.co.uk/execution-content.php?key=1536
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A very good story, totally suitable for a PirateSunday. Thanks.
hiya good to hear from you i hope you are well, thank you for your support i appreciate it, i thought it was interesting hearing a real pirates voice from many years ago , many thanks for visitng i hope you have a ovely day, much respect to you
I Love When Pirates participate in #PirateSunday......Thank You @beckieg
Very Impressive ! Arrrrrrgh !
thank you mr jockey i always appreciate your comments love the gif :) thank you for visiting i hope you have a lovely day much respect to you
@beckieg I Want to Thank You Very Much for Getting involved in Steemmonsters Via my Link. I am Grateful.......
That happens when you get caught. We pirates must therefore be carefull and not have wife and children. ;)
or you could have a piratey wife like my queen grace better than many male pirates :) and theres of course the piratey children always good to have a horde of piratey peoples :) i think where he went wrong was , firstly; getting caught, the best pirates are only heard of never caught, and secondly he should have let his wife do the pirating she was obviously better at it :) she probably shook her head and said something like 'if you want a job doing....' then gathered the kids and went done a proper job, if i was a pirate queen i would rob all the ships without harming a hair of a single person :) i mean obviously one would have to endeavour to convince the poor victim that in fact they are doing a good deed by giving me all their loot but i would go one better and try to help them see it as a donation rather than being robbed, no need for harsh terminology :) great to hear from you mr rooster i hope you are well thank you for visiting me in my little steem home i greatly appreciate it, i hope you have a lovely day, much respect to you