- The following was taken from "The Narrative of Captain John Fillmore" a brochure printed in 1837 bu A. M. Clapp of Aurora, NY.
At an early age, John had a yearning to go to sea. This, his mother, understandably, opposed, and John respected her wishes awaiting the time when he would become of age, or gain his mother's consents. In the meantime, John was apprenticed to learn the carpenter trade. One of his acquaintances, William White, was apprenticed to a tailor.
After about two years, John again sought permission to go on a voyage to the West Indies. Recognizing his strong desire for the sea, and realizing that his could not be long postponed, Abigail, now Mrs. (Dr.) Robert Bell, gave consent for him to go aboard the fishing sloop, Dolphin, with Captain Mark Haskell.
After a few weeks at sea and off the coast of Newfoundland, the Dolphin was hailed by another vessel, which they feared to be a pirate ship, as indeed it was, and commanded, by none other than the notorious pirate, Captain John Phillips. The fishing sloop was capable of neither fight nor flight.
The pirate ship sent a boat to the sloop demanding the names of the crewmembers and content of cargo. When these had been supplied the boat returned to the pirate ship. After a short delay it again came to the fishing sloop with a message from Captain Phillips. If they would send him John Fillmore the sloop and the remainder of the crew would not be
molested. There was a hurried conference in which John refused to go aboard the pirate ship. Captain Haskell also gave his refusal.
Phillips was incensed with the refusal and sent again with orders to bring Fillmore dead or alive, saying also, that if Fillmore came he would release him at the end of two months. John realized that further refusal would, in all probability, mean instant death for himself and all of the crew. He decided to go rather than to bring the vengeance on the pirates upon his comrades.
Once on board the pirate ship John was amazed to find his former acquaintance William White, as a member of the pirate crew. White had told Captain Phillips that if he could engage Fillmore in his service he would have a good stout, resolute fellow, every way, as a hand.
Aboard the pirate ship, John refused to sign the "Articles of Piracy", and thus became what was known as a "forced man." There were ten men in the pirate crew, all but John having subscribed to the articles.
Treatment at first was better than he had anticipated, John being assigned mainly to the helm. In the weeks, which followed, no capture of any consequence had been made. At the end of two months John requested his release according to agreement, but Phillips replied that since they had done little business as yet he could not spare him, but would set him at liberty at the end of a further three months.
Little of value was taken during this period. However, a few new hands had been acquired, some of whom did and others did not sign the articles. John again requested his release, according to promise, saying he wished to go to see his mother who had heard nothing from him since the return of the fishing sloop with the news of his misfortune.
"Let you at liberty! Damn you, you shall be set at liberty when I'm damned, and not before," replied Phillips in a rage.
Thereafter conditions for John worsened. One day when they had failed in an attempt to overtake a fine merchant vessel, Phillips, in a rage, cut with his sword, eleven holes through John's hat and the skin of his head. On another occasion Phillips accused John of plotting against him and drawing a concealed pistol from his coat, pointed it at John's breast and pulled the trigger. Happily for John, it missed fire. Phillips recocked the pistol and again attempted to shoot, but John struck the pistol aside and was unharmed.
John became more fearful and also more watchful of any attempt upon his life. He determined that if such an attempt were made he would sell his life as dearly as possible.
About the end of the seventh month from my entering on board, we took a merchantman belonging to Boston, Captain Harridon commander; young man about twenty-two years of age. The father of this young man was a merchant in Boston, and had given his son the education requisite for a mariner, and sent him to the West Indies, Captain of this vessel, in which he was returning when we took him.
This vessel, the 'Squirrel', of Cape Anne, was taken in April 1724. This vessel was a fine, fast ship and Captain Phillips took her for his operations, handing over his former ship to other members of his crew.
John is credited with having formed a plan to overcome the pirate crew and take charge of the ship. When an opportunity arrived the plan was put into action. There was a brief, bloody battle in which Captain John Phillips was 'dispatched'. The pirates were overcome, and those still living were bound. The new crew brought the ship into Boston Harbour and handed it over to the authorities. All crewmembers were arrested and charged with "Piracy, felony and robberies."
The trial was held at the Court of Admiralty, Boston, 12 May 1724, with the Honorable William Drummer, Esq. "Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England."
John Fillmore and Edward Cheeseman were the first prisoners to be brought before the court. Nine charges of "piracy, felony and robbery" were read. They pleaded "Not Guilty".
Evidence was taken from other crewmembers and from the two "prisoners at the bar". After the trial the prisoners were taken away and "The Court was cleared and in private."
"Then the Court having duly weighed and maturely considered the evidence, unanimously agreed, and voted, that the said John Fillmore and Edward Cheeseman were "Not Guilty."
The Court awarded John Fillmore a gun, a silver-hilted sword, a curious tobacco box, silver shoe and knee buckles and two gold rings the pirate captains used to wear.
Of the eleven other persons tried, four were found "guilty" and sentenced to be executed. Seven others were found "not guilty."
The record of the trial is in the Massachusetts State Archives, State House, Boston, Volume 63, pages 342 and following; Criminal Trials, May 12, 13, 1724.
John Fillmore was known as Captain John and "Cpt. John Fillmore" is inscribed on his gravestone. He is buried in Plain Hill Cemetery, Franklin, Conn. The rank of 'Captain' was a military one. He was commissioned a Captain of the 7th Military Company in Norwich, May 1750. He was discharged, at his own request, April 29, 1754. (Military Papers in the State Department at Hartford, Conn. Vol. IV, pg. 253, and Vol. V,
pg. 176)
John also purchased property, from Samuel Griswold, Jr., conveying some 70 acres of Plain Hill in Norwich, on November 9, 1724. He bought the property for 103 pounds. Plain Hill was in the part of Norwich known as West Farms. On May 2, 1786, this area was incorporated as Franklin, named in honor of Benjamin Franklin.
John and Mary had four children, John; Abigail; Mary, and Henry. Mary (Spiller) Fillmore died following the birth of Henry on June 1733. It is unknown where she is buried.
An incident recorded in Caulkins, History of Norwich:
"In 1756, three sons of Capt. John Fillmore, Jr., viz., Nathaniel, Comfort and Amaziah, were brought before Mr. Justice Huntington charged with driving the rate collector from their father's house, armed with clubs and making use of threats and abusive language. Being minors, they were released without penalty, but the record intimates that their father was implicated in the misconduct of his sons." The family was probably Separatists and refused to pay rates for the support of the regular ministry.
The 'regular ministry' would be that of the Episcopal Church. Several Fillmore families of this and the next two generations were staunch supporters of the Methodist-Episcopal Church. Later generations of the Fillmores were predominately Baptists. In the earliest Nova Scotia Census Records extant many Fillmores designated themselves as "Dissenters" in the column indicating religious affiliation.
Of the three sons of John Fillmore, Nathaniel had a distinguished record as a soldier; Amaziah joined the expedition to Cuba in 1762, was present at the reduction of Havana, where he died shortly after of fever. Comfort continued to reside on his father's homestead and had a family of fourteen children.
Dorcas, second wife of John Fillmore, died on March 16, 1759, she was 45 years of age. Their youngest child, Deliverance was known as 'Dillie' and was born on January 2, 1757. Capt. John Fillmore married, third, widow Mary Roach on January 1760. They did not have any children. Mary died on April 23, 1798.
Capt. John Fillmore died in Norwich (Franklin), Ct., on February 22, 1777. He was buried in Plain Hill Cemetery beside his wife, Dorcas. The inscription of his gravestone read:
"Behold and see as you pass by
As you are now so once was I
As I am now so you must be
Prepare for death & follow me."
John's homestead went to Comfort Fillmore and subsequently to his youngest son, Comfort Day Fillmore. The gun, awarded to John from the pirate ship, also went to Comfort Day. Comfort Day later resided in Lisbon, Conn.
In his will, dated September 19, 1774, Capt. John Fillmore mentions his wife Mary, and all of his surviving children, fourteen in number. His estate was appraised on March 14, 17, 19 and 20, 1777.
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1702 - 1777 (74 years)
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