The Last Pirates Executed in Boston

By Shannon Webber (Summary and Analysis)

Don't become a pirate because you will get caught and die.

It was a beautiful summer day in Havana, Cuba. The year was 1832. Captain Don Pedro Gilbert of Spain and his crew took their pirate ship the Panda out on the seven seas. While out at sea they spotted a brig called the Mexican, a cargo ship from Salem, Massachusetts. The crew of the Panda hailed over the Mexican who did not stand a chance against the heavily armed pirates. Soon the crew of the Panda had taken over the Mexican and was taking all of the Massachusetts’ ship’s cargo. Once everything they could find was taken, the crew of the Panda was ordered by Don Pedro Gilbert to kill everyone on board and set the ship ablaze. However, the crew decided to simply lock the crew of the Mexican in the lower deck of the ship and set it on fire. The crew of the Mexican managed to put the fire out as the Panda sailed away, and even managed to sail back to Baker’s Island Light in Salem Harbor. A detailed account of the incident was recorded and produced in the Essex Register.

A Captain Hunt of a vessel called the Gleaner sailed out of Salem with the account and conveniently saw the Pandawhile at port in St. Thomas. Captain Hunt informed an English man-of-war vessel of the Panda’s location, but soon the Panda was gone and out of reach. Soon every British warship was given a detailed description of the Panda and it was quickly seen off the coast of western Africa by the British warship Curlew. Captain Trotter of the Curlew sunk the Panda and conducted a manhunt for the crew members who escaped. Eventually sixteen crew members were found in various locations and sent to England.

After being in England these captured crew members were sent to America to be sentenced for their crimes. They initially arrived in Salem and were then transported to Boston where they were put in the Leverett Street Jail. Five of the men were freed after it was proven that they were not on the Panda when the Mexican was attacked. One man named Manuel Delgardo committed suicide while in jail. The Mexican’s first mate, Bernardo De Soto, was granted a pardon after former acts of heroism that he performed were brought to light. He also had help from his powerful wife vying for his freedom after a personal audience with the United States President, Andrew Jackson, who intervened on his behalf. The remaining six pirates were all sentenced to death. Five were hung together: Captain Don Pedro Gilbert, Manuel Boyga, seaman Castillo, Angel Garcia, and Juan Montenegro. The last pirate, Francisco Ruiz, was hung later than the rest as he was given a temporary stay of execution due to a plea of insanity (Snow, 152-166).

Personally, my first thought after I read this story in Edward Rowe Snow’s book was, WOW THIS WOULD MAKE AN AMAZING MOVIE. And there is a very good reason for this. Pirates are an historical ‘character’ that has been romanticized and popularized throughout stories and film for hundreds of years. Arguably the most famous film to do with pirates is the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise but there is also Peter Pan, The Goonies, and Captain Phillips, just to name a few. Pirates are attractive to us because they can be written to be fun, dangerous, exciting, brave, courageous, and sometimes even chivalrous. In his book The History of Piracy author Philip Gosse explains that,

“The master pirate had to be able to handle his ship (in the beginning often an unseaworthy one until he could steal a better) in tempests and in fights, make his way disabled to sheltering harbours, control his unruly ruffians through disease and discontent, employ the arts of the diplomat to provide himself with a safe market on shore for his stolen wares. Men like these are rare, and few of the respectable professions can show more masterful personalities than those to be met at the top of the pirate tree” (2-3).

The history of pirates, like the history of crime and vice in general, is very attractive, exciting, and interesting to most people with everyday lives and jobs. To that end it can be used to talk about many other aspects of history such as other types of seafaring history, trade routes, goods for trade, class structure, the list goes on and on. Using a story like that of the Last Pirates Hanged in Boston is a way to intrigue audiences, encouraging them to learn more. It is a gateway story, if you will. History does not always have to be as boring as people may think, sometimes you can actually have a really good time learning, even though the people you are talking about are all demised.

Sources

Altman, Alex. 2008. “A Brief History Of: Pirates.” TIME Magazine 172 (6): 24. http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.neu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,sso&db=bth&AN=33469516&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Gosse, Philip. History of Piracy. New York: Tudor Publishing Company, 1934. HathiTrust. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015003557488.

Snow, Edward Rowe. Pirates and Buccaneers of the Atlantic Coast. 1944. Reprint, London: Forgotten Books, 2018.

United States Circuit Court. A report of the trial of Don Pedro Gibert, Bernardo de Soto, Francisco Ruiz, Nicola Costa, Antonio Ferrer, Manuel Boyga, Domingo de Guzman, Juan Antonio Portana, Manuel Castillo, Angel Garcia, Jose Velazquez, and Juan Montenegro, alias Jose Basilio De Castro, before the United States Circuit Court on an indictment charging them with the commission of an act of PIRACY, on board the Brig Mexican, of Salem; containing a full statement of the testimony, and the arguments of the counsel on both sides, the charge of the court, pronounced by the Hon. Judge story, and the verdict of the jury. Boston: Russell, Odiorne & Metcalf, 1834. HathiTrust. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/umn.31951002343279q.

United States Circuit Court. Trial of the Twelve Spanish Pirates of the Schooner Panda, a Guinea Slaver, consisting of Don Pedro Gibert, Captain; Bernardo de Soto, Mate; Francisco Ruiz, Carpenter; Antonio Ferrer, the tattooed Cook; Nicola Costa, Manuel Boyga, Domingo de Guzman, Juan Antonio Portana, Manuel Castillo, Angel Garcia, Jose Velazquez, and Juan Montenegro, Seamen, For Robbery and Piracy, committed on board the Brig Mexican, 20^th Sept. 1832. Boston: Lemuel Bulliver, 1834. HathiTrust. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044089061733.

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Execution of the Spanish Pirates: Execution of the Spanish Pirates—The sentence of the law was executed on five of the Pirates, yesterday forenoon. The names of the pirates executed, were Fedro Gilbert, the Captain of the Panda, Manuel Boyga, Angel Garcia, Manuel Castillo, and Juan Montenegro, seamen. Some of the prisoners made attempts on Wednesday night to commit suicide, to prevent which, a strong guard was placed over them. Manuel Boyga, however, succeeded in obtaining a strip of tin, with which he inflicted a deep wound in his throat, but not sufficient to produce death. The wound was dressed, and he was conveyed to the scaffold in a chair. Long before the time appointed for the execution, throngs of individuals excited by a morbid curiosity, began to collect around the jail and on the neighboring wharves and sheds—and by 10 o’clock a dense multitude had assembled, and the roofs of many of the adjacent houses were covered with spectators. We regret to state, that many females were present on this occasion. At a few minutes past 10 o’clock, the prisoners were taken from their cells, and accompanied by two clergymen, were conducted by the officers to the place of execution. The prisoners were neatly, but plainly dressed—their countenances appeared haggard, and their frames debilitated by long confinement—but they marched towards the scaffold with a firm and steady step. The Captain, Pedro Gilbert, took the lead in the solemn procession—exhibiting the same firmness and indifference which characterized his deportment when on trial. On reaching the scaffold, and involuntary shudder seemed to pass over some of the prisoners—and their fortitude seemed to be shaken. It was but momentary, however—But Gilbert surveyed the awful apparatus of death and the crowd alternately, with a cool and steady gaze—and ascended the scaffold without betraying the slightest emotion. He afterwards kissed the face of Boyga, who was nearly insensible; and listened with composure to the reading of the warrant, which was interpreted to them. Soon after which the Catholic clergymen repeated their last protestations of innocence—and at 11 o’clock the awful sentence of the law was executed upon them. —Boston Mer. Journal ~ Source: Newspapers.com ~ Creator: Poughkeepsie Journal (Poughkeepsie, New York) ~ Date: June 17, 1835

TRIAL OF THE PIRATES: TRIAL OF THE PIRATES The trial of the thirteen individuals charged with having committed an act of piracy on board the brig Mexican of Salem, came on yesterday in the Circuit Court, before Judges Story and Davis. The prisoners were placed at the bar a little before nine o’clock, and shortly afterwards the door was opened, when an impetuous rush was made by the crowd on the outside, and in less time than we could take to write it, every nook and corner of the Court was filled with anxious and deeply interested spectators. Mr. Child, one of the counsel for the prisoner, addressed the Court in relation to a motion which he had formerly mad respecting the log-book of the Panda, (the alleged piratical schooner) and read an affidavit from the mate of the Panda, and others, stating that the log-book was in the possession of certain parties in Portsmouth, England; that the manifestos of the cargo, &c. of the Panda were also at the Havana, and might be had by sending for them. Time was requested in order that these necessary documents might be procured. The court overruled this motion, on the ground that it could issue no process which could be effective in procuring the papers alluded to; it had no authority in Great Britain. On a former occasion it had also been stated by an English officer who would appear as a witness, and was one of those who boarded the Panda, that the log-book of that vessel had never been discovered. Another motion of Mr. Child, to have the prisoners tried separately was overruled. Mr. Dunlap, for the government, then addressed the Jury and gave an outline of the commission of the act for which the prisoners stood indicted. He said that the brig Mexican, belonging to Salem and owned by one of the most eminent merchants of the place, having on board a valuable cargo and $20,000 in specie, sailed from Salem for Rio Janeiro on the 27th Aug. 1832, under the command of Captain Butman. While quietly pursuing her voyage over the common pathway of nations, and having arrived in 33 deg. N. lat. And 24. 30. W, lon. she fell in with a suspicious looking vessel from which she made many efforts, but unsuccessfully to escape. This vessel, a schooner, having come up with the Mexican, fired a gun, and the captain of the latter, seeing that the schooner was armed with one long and two small guns, and that her decks were crowded with men, felt himself obliged to submit, and accordingly hove to. He was then hailed and ordered to come on board the strange vessel, which mandate he obeyed in his own boat, but on reaching the schooner, five men jumped into the boat and ordered it to be rowed by to the brig. On arriving on board the brig, they directed the Captain to accompany them into the cabin, where brandishing their knives, threatening and beating him, they compelled him to acknowledge and give up the money which was in his possession. A communication was then made with their companions on board the schooner, who sent a launch, and carried away the treasure. The party on board the Mexican then left, after confining the crew below, breaking the compasses and destroying the rigging tand tackle. They also set frie to the caboose, in which they placed a tub of combustibles, and lowered the mainsail in such a way that it would speedily ignite. A short time afterwards, however the captain contrived to get upon deck, and extinguished the fire before it had caught the mainsail. They then repaired their damages as well as they were able, and returned to Salem, where they arrived on the 2nd October. Information of what had taken place was immediately disseminated throughout this and other countries, and reached the coast of Africa, where Captain Trotter, commanding the British brig of war Curlew, was then cruising. Circumstances led that gentleman to believe that the schooner Panda, then lying in the river Nazareth, was the vessel which had captured the Mexican. He immediately therefore proceeded to take measures against her. The measures resulted in the capture of the Panda, but the escape, for the time, of her crew. No ship’s papers or log-book were found on board of her, although diligently sought for, and owing to some accident she shortly afterwards blew up, thereby killing several of the Curlew’s men. Captain Trotter, then sailed ot other parts, still making efforts to discover the crew of the Panda, and at last succeeded in arresting six of the present prisoners, at Fernando Po, and the reminder at Cape Lopez. One of these men named Perez, and confessed, and would appear as a witness. The only witness called yesterday by the District Attorney, were Mr. Peabody, the owner, and the Captain and mate of the Mexican. We regret that our limits prevent us from laying their testimony before our readers. The prisoners were all neatly and cleanly dressed in the usual garb of sailors. Among them are three or four men of color (Peruvians) and one negro. The face of the latter is curiously tattoed. The mate and captain of the Panda, (Bernardo de Soto, and Pedro Gilbert) are both fine looking men. The former possesses one of the noblest countenances we ever looked upon, and the quck bright eyes, and determined visage of the latter, (the captain) indicate the habits of command and decision to which he has been accustomed. The Spanish Consul was in attendance and took notes during the whole of the trial. ~ Source: Newspapers.com ~ Creator: The National Gazette (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) ~ Date: November 14, 1834

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Shannon Webber (Summary and Analysis), “The Last Pirates Executed in Boston,” Histories or Stories? The Power of Historical Narratives, accessed April 19, 2024, https://dh2020.rawhistories.com/items/show/4.

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Published on Jan 28, 2020. Last updated on Feb 15, 2020.

The Last Pirates Executed in Boston

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