Family-histories and genealogies : containing a series of ...

C^^tfstoolti
"This last October, 'tis Five years since, my Eldest Son, having a vehement
Desire to go to Sea, and concluding that I would not consent unto it, took an oppor-
tunity to make his Escape whilst I was attending the General Court. I used utmost
Endeavours to recover him, but he got off from Piscataqua, Leaving me Sorrowfully
to think what the Event might prove, of a Child's ivilfjd forsaking the Duty of his
Relation and the Means of Grace, and ingulfing himself into the Temptations of a Wicked
World. And I was the more concerned because he had been but a very Weakly Lad.
They had not been long at Sea before they were Surprized by a dreadful Storm, in
the Height whereof the Captain ordered my Son to one of the Yard-Arms, there to
Rectify something amiss, which whilst he was performing he wholly lost his Hold ;
But catching hold on a loose Rope he was preserved. This proved a very Awak-
ening Providence, and he Looked at the Mercy as greatly Enhanced by reason of his
Disorderly Departure. Arriving at Jamaica he was soon Pressed aboard a Man of
War, from whence, after diverse Months of Hard Service, he obtained a Release, the'
with the Loss of all the Little he had. He then fell in with a Privateer, on board
whereof he was Exposed unto Eminent hazard of his Life, in an hot Engagement,
wherein many were killed, and the Man that stood next unto him was with a Chain-
Shot cut all to pieces. In the time of this Fight God caused him to take up Solemn
Resolutions to Reform his Life, which Resolutions he was enabled, thro' Grace, to
observe. And he then Resolved that he would Return as soon as might be to his
Fathe7-'s House. After a Skirmish or two more he was cast away. Then he was taken
by the French, and turned ashore at the Bay of Honduras, where he with fifteen more
were taken by a Party of Spanish Indians who were Led by a Spaniard. Having
their Hands now tied behind them, and Ropes around their Necks, they were in that
manner led unto a Place called Paten, Six hundred Miles distant from the place
where they were taken, and very far within the Land, having no Food but Water
and the Cabbage that grows upon Trees. My Son had at that time the Fever and Ague
very bad, so that many times every step seemed as though it would have been his
last. Yet God marvellously preserved him, while Three men much more likely to
hold the Journey than himself perished on the Road. Upon their Arrival to the
End of their Journe}' they were fast chained, two and two ;
and
so they continued
Eight Months confined, and Languishing in Exquisite Miseries. My Son was visited
with the Small Pox while he was in these Wretched circumstances.
" In this time two Godly Ministers came to see my Family, and One of them
then putting up a fervent Prayer with us, on the behalf of my Absent Child, he was
directed into such Expressions that I was persuaded that the Prayer was not lost, and
that my Poor Son was then in some Remarkable Distress. Noting down the Time,
3°