Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-01-27
NO. %.
#iseelIa
SIR WILLIAM PHIPPS.


In your issue of the 18th inst. you speak
OF the Redmans of Brooksville, a. being
the champion family Of the State for the
number Of their children, (twenty-one,
sixteen of whom are now living-). Per-
haps that is true at the present time, but
history speaks of family in Eye olden
time, y which transcends that number, by
about one-fourth. Many years ago, be-
fore the American Revolution, there dwelt
upon the banks of the noble Kennebec, a
man by the name of Phipps, gun-smith
by occupation. who was the father of
twenty six children by one wife, twenty
one sons and five daughters Of the sons,
Sir William Phipps. name familiar to
students of history, and for whom the
town OF Phippsburg was named, was near
ly the youngest. As his was somewhat
eventful life, a concise sketch of his career
may not be uninteresting to your readers.
Until his eighteenth year, he was con-
cerned in the care Of sheep. He then
went to Boston and indenturd himself as an
apprentice to ship-carpenter; and while
acquiring his trade, he also learned to read
and write. Soon after attaining his major
ity, he was respectfully married: but as
his wife soon after died, and his plans
in life being disconnected, he turned his
attention to the sea, and went in search
OF wrecks in which large amounts ftreas-
ures were supposed to have been lost.
From one of these he obtained sum suf-
| ficient TO furnish himself for a voyage to
England. Through the assistance Of the
Duke of Albemarle and several other per-
sons Of distinction. he was furnished with
| a ship and a tender with crew of about
one hundred men. He then directed his
course to the West Indies, where he re-
newed his search for lost treasures. 1t
seems as il Providence saw fit to try him
with the severest disappointments, before
crowning his efforts with success. At one
time, while on the qnarter deck, the crew.
| becoming discOntented. mutinied, and
rushing upon him with drawn swords, de-
manded Of him, as the only condition of
life. that he would join with them in es-
Gaping to the South Seas. to engage in
piracy. Although entirely unarmed he
stood firm and collected until he had fixed
his plan, then with courage bordering
on rashness he rushed in upon their point.
ed swords. dealing his blows SO judicious-
ly that he felled numbers to the deck, and
SO awed the rest that they consented to
yield" At another time finding it neces-
sary to repair his ship, he put into q des-
olate Spanish island. To make the repairs
the vessel must be careened; therefore
temporary bridge was built from the ship
to the shore, over which tho provisions
were landed and placed in q tent around
which several guns were planted 10 de-
fend them from the Spaniards, should any
chance to pass that way. While thus
employed ninety of his men left him and
retired to the woods under pretence of d.
version; but in reality for matinous pur-
poses. In maturing their hellish plans it
was found that the carpenter who was then
at work on the ship, was indispensably nec
essary totheir success, and messenger was
dispatched for him. On arriving at their
place of rendezvous he was informed OF
theirplans and threatened with death should
| he not second their views. Their plan was
men who were known to be friendly to
him, abandon them to their fate on the
island and then sail to the South Seas to
engage in piracy! The carpenter being an
honest man requested half an hour to con-
| slider ;and returned to his work, accompani
ed by a spy from the mutineers. Feigning
himsef severely distressed with pain, he
excused himself, while he should hasten
to the Captain, who was below, for
dram. In as few words as possible, while.
| the dram was preparing, he informed Capt.
Phipps of the plot and asked his ad vice
The Capt. bade him 60 back to the YES.
sells sign their articles and leave the rest to
him No sooner were they out of sight
than he summoned the nine or ten
men who were on board and asked whether
they would join the mutineers or stand by
him and share his fate. They unanimously
agreed to stand by the Captain to the last
Capt. Phipps then directed the bridge to
be let down and the provisions brought
on board. The guns were heavily charged,
and silently pointed in the direction Of the
mutineers while the men stood by them,
with lighted matches in their hands, with
orders to fire should a single mutineer
advance! These preparations were scarce
ly completed, when the mutineers hav-
ing arranged their plans, and being flush
ed with their anticipated success, made
their appearance On their nearer ap-
proach, Capt. Phipps hailed them from
the quarter deck, and informed them that
their plot had been discovered, and that
he was determined to leave them to that
fate which they had designed for him ana
his crew, who were too virtuous to second
their villainous purposes. The prospect
Of lingering death on desolate island,
had this effect to subdue the mutineers,
who now, on their knees, besought his
pardon. Being unwilling to trust them.
Capt. Phipps tied their arms behind them
one after another; and when they were
all on board weighed anchor and sailed
for Jamaica, where he discharged them.
Having shipped another crew, he re-
newed his search; but the men proving
incompetent. he returned to England. He
was then appointed to another ship. called
the "Algier Rose, with suitable COM
plementof men. He then once more return
ed to the scenes of his former labors
and disappointments. His field Of oper.
ations was now near the Bahamas. In the
neighborhood Of reef of rocks called the
Boilers" He had long toiled in vain.
discouraged and cast down by anxiety and
repeated disappointments. further search
was about being abandoned, when, as one
of the boats was returning across the reef.
one morning, one of the men listlessly
looking over the side, spied, as he thought
''sea feather" growing out Of rock At