Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1840-03-19
From the Gardiner Spectator.
SIR WILLIAM PHIPPS.

The History of this State, presents no
more striking instance, Of what may be
termed the romance of real life, than the
story of Sir William Phipps. Born of
humble Parentage, in desolate part of an
almost uninhabited country, by the most
unlocked for occurrence, he rose to wealth
rank and honors, seldom attained by those,
born under far happier auspices.
Sir VIM. Phipps was born Feb. Cd 1850,
in small and obscure plantation in this
State, near the mouth of Kenncbec rivers
! and was one of the youngest of family of
twenty-six children AS might be sup
posed, the opportunities Tor acquiring
| knowledge in this State, one hundred
NINETY years ago, were but few and trlnlng.
Il was here, however, that this man, des-
| tined TO act so conspicuous a part in the
affairs of New England, passed The early
years of his life.
Al the age Of eighteen "actuated" (as
Cotton Mather obseryes) by an unacount-
bic impulse, ''that he was born to greater
things" he repaired to Boston and was
there for four years, an apprentice to
ship carpenter, during which time he learn
ed to read and write. After pursuing his
business as ship carpenter in Boston, for
about year, he married the widow Of
Mr.. John Hull merchant Soon after
his marriage, he entered into an agreement
with several persons in Boston, TO build
| ship at Sheepscot river in this State. The
ship was nearly completed, and Phipps
was about to load it with lumber, when The
Indians upon the Sheepscot, commenced a
barbarous and exterminaiing war "upon
the English settlers at that place, and the
ship lying in the river became their only
place of refuge. 1t twas then, that Phipps
gave proof of his generous nature, 70,
disregarding all thong hit of gain he carried
his fathers family, and their friends and
neighbours, free of all charge TO Boston.
thus placing them in security. Unfortu-
nately however the loss of profits on this
voyage, subsequently caused him great
pecunlary embarrassment, and was the
means OF bringing him into difficulty with
his employers
But this tended yer, little to depress the
mind of Phipps, for at this dark and I'M
promising hour, he would frequently tell
his wife, THAT he should yet be the cap
tain of kings ship, and that he should be
the owner of fair brick house, the onM one
then in Boston, at that time being consid-
cred very important affair in New Eng
lard. In pursuit of future greatness, he
commenced the life of a sailor. Hearing
ola Spanish wreck near the Bahamas, he
made voyage thither; but with little sue
cess, from thence he proceeded to England
Being informed that there was another
| Spanish wreck in which was lost vast
! quantity of treasure, and which was still
undiscovered, he thought he had a pre-
sentiment, that he should be The person, to
restore il to the world, and he made such
representations of his design at Whitehall,
that in 1858, he was appointed captain ola
kings ship as he had so confidently predic-
ted. The ship was the Algier Rose, aves-
sell Of l8 guns.
lie now commenced his long contempla-
ted search. Fortune however at this time
seemed adverse to him, and his crew at
length weary of the many and unsuccess-
full voyages, they had hitherto made mu-
timed and resolved to compel him to Join
them in piratical expedition to the South
Seas, They approached Phipps, who was
unarmed on the quarter deck, and with
drawn swords, stated to him their deter
mination. Phipps, with fearless reso-
luton rushed upon them, and with his bare
hands felled several, and compelled the
rest to submit. But the INSTRUMENTATION Of
his sailors did not cease here; one day
while the lrigaie lay careening, by DESC
late island, ninety ofthe crew, which con-
sisted of about an hundred, went on shore,
and while there, entered into an agreement
which they signed in ring. according to
tie practice of seamen, to leave Phipps and
the eight or nine faithful seamen on the ISL
and to perish. and then commence their
pira,ical scheme The muiineers compile
ted their plan, when they recolected they
were without carpenter, the only one al
tached to the vessel, being then at work,
upon it.
To him they communicated their deter
m'nation threatnng him with the most
dreadful consequences, should he refuse to
join them. Finding it useless to resist, he
seemingly consented, hut pretending to be
seized with sudden illness, he ran into the
cabin as ii for some spirits, and there in-
formed Phipps of the whole plot. In
situation apparently so hopeless, Phipp's
pre- sence Of mind, did no, desert him, he
told the carpenter TO return to the muffin
GERS in the woods, and to sign the articles;
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