A Privateering Case Off Chincoteague and in the Chesapeake in 1762 - Part 3

   This is the third post about the French privateer "Mariane," and her encounters with the "Charming Nancy" and the "Peggy," and the confluence of Captain John Baird, two of his crew, three passengers from the "Peggy," and the Captain of the "Peggy," William Grimes or Grymes.  Part one dealt with a letter reporting the privateer, and three affidavits from Captain Baird and two of his crew, along with an affidavit regarding Baird's character.  Part two was a rebuttal letter from two passengers on the "Peggy," then prisoners of the privateer, and then unwanted "crew members" of the release schooner. 

   This third part deals with an affidavit from Captain William Grimes (Grymes) of the "Peggy."  The following appeared in The Maryland Gazette newspaper, of Annapolis, in issue #920, printed on Thursday, 23 December 1762, on page 2, in column 1:

   "Annapolis, December 23.   ...

  Last week, arrived at Oxford, the schooner "Peggy," Capt. William Grymes:  This is the same vessel that was taken in the Chesapeak Bay, by Don Pedro, in July last, loaded with bale goods, as formerly mentioned.  After Don Pedro had sent Mr. John Glassell, and others who were taken in her, ashore near our Capes, he put Capt. Grymes aboard the prize schooner to navigate her; but soon after they left the Capes, they parted company, and Capt. Grymes being the only navigator on board, instead of carrying her to Augustine, steer'd her into Savannah in Georgia, from whence she is now just arrived.  Soon after the arrival in Maryland, of Mr. John Glassell, and other gentlemen concerned in the cargo, a letter was published in The Virginia Gazette, complaining of the conduct of one Mr. Baird, who had likewise been taken by the same privateer; that letter, and the consequent reports, produced several affidavits by Mr. Baird, and others, published in The Pennsylvania Gazette, to vindicate the character of Baird, and throw an odium on Glassell, &c.  In answer to which, Messrs. Glassell and M'Caull, published a letter in The Maryland Gazette of the 18th of last month:  And now, in order to strengthen that vindication of their innocence, with respect to their wrongfully accusing Mr. Baird, the following deposition of Capt. Grymes is here inserted.

   'Talbot County, Maryland.

 On the thirteenth day of Decem. 1762, came William Grymes, master of the schooner "Peggy," before me, James Dickinson, one of the Right Hon. the Lord Proprietary of the Province of Maryland his Justices of the Peace for Talbot County, and being sworn on the Holy Evangels of Almighty GOD, did Depose as followeth, "That while he was a prisoner on board the "Mariane" privateer, Don Pedro Ordogner, Commander, with Messieurs John Glassell and Ebenezer Mackie, who were taken with him in the said schooner, he saw and often conversed with a certain John Baird, who was also a prisoner:  That the said Baird several times earnestly desired and requested of this Deponent, that he would be silent and not make it known that he the said Baird had been taken; for that he was resolved to endeavor to get insurance made on his sloop, before his misfortune should be heard of.  -  That this Deponent being about to write to his partner, Mr. John Goodrick of Portsmouth in Virginia, the said Baird gave him HONEST AND FRIENDLY advice, to let writing alone, and not FOOLISHLY acquaint his partner, or any other, with what had happened; for that Mr. Goodrick, on this schooner's being long missing, might probably resolve to get insurance made on her.  And further this Deponent saith not.

 William Grymes" 

  Taken and sworn to the day and year above written, before

James Dickinson' "

   The only other mention I can find for (Captain) John Baird is that at the end of January 1763 he had a letter waiting for him in the Post Office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He is not listed in any of the naval registries, nor in any newspapers - not in Wilmington, Delaware, his home of more than 20 years in 1762, nor in any other port.

   Below is a print of the American Colonies 20-gun sloop and privateer, "Polly."  This is pretty much what the privateer sloop the "Mariane" looked like when it captured the people involved in this and the past two blogs...