John Laverdure - The pirate

This is a translation of an article written by Father Clarence D'Entremont which originally appeared in the Yarmouth Vanguard of April 11th 1989 and is meant as a complement to the article when a Scot is not a Scot.

In 1620, when the Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth Massachussets, they asked the Indians to conclude a treaty with them. Chief Massasoit accepted with the condition that it be with his equal in rank, King James of England. Two of his sons were to succeed him as chiefs of the tribe of the Pokenokets. The first was Wamsutta, his eldest son, who was given the name Alexander in honour of his prowesses and in memory of Alexander the Great. Having conspired against the newcomers, he was caught by surprise. Furious at being kept in captivity, he developped a fever and died. He was succeeded by his brother Metacom to whom the governor of Plymouth gave the name of King Philip in memory of Alexander the Great's father.

In 1675, Metacom decided to gather as many Indians as he could find in New England to win back the lands taken over by the Europeans. This event was to be known as King Philip's war. Though it was to last only one year, it was to prove the costliest conflict waged up to that time in North America. The English lost 600 men, 1200 houses, and 800 heads of cattle while 3000 Indians were killed. The war ended with King Philip's death on August 12th 1676. He died from a bullet fired by one of his own men.

While this war was raging, Major Richard Waldron of Dover New Hampshire, mandated Henry Lawton, a merchant from Picataqua Maine, to capture all Indians who might have pillaged towns or villages. Lawton chose William Waldron probably a close relative of Major Waldron and John Laverdure to assist him.

On November 9th 1675, they hired a vessel the Endeavour, and requested the ship's captain John Horton to accompany them. The same month two other young men were to be hired, Francis Mason and Edmund Cooke. These had no real idea of the purpose of this trip, Horton having told them that they were to load fish and oil in Maine to deliver at Faial Island in the Açores, Madeira and Barbados from whence they were to return to Boston.

Their first stop was in Machias Maine. We have no idea what their freight was to be, all we know is that they brought 9 Indians on board. They then sailed on to Cap Sable, the most southerly point of what is now Nova Scotia. There 3 or 4 Indians came on board. To give them the impression that this was to be a friendly outing, John Laverdure who could speak their language, invited them into the kitchen where they spent all day. In the evening, they set foot on the coast and brought back some more Indians on board among whom were the Sagamo - the chief and his wife. It has been said that there were 17 Indians in all, men, women and children. When everything was ready, they sailed to the Açores where they sold their Indian captives.

While this was taking place, there were two New England ships in the Açores which observed what happened. Upon their return to Boston, they warned the authorities. It did not take very long for the men to be arrested. Henry Lawton and William Waldron were jailed in the summer of 1676. John Laverdure was freed on 100 pound bail supplied by his mother who had borrowed the money from her landlord. On the trial date, John Laverdure did not show up.

Priscilla Mellanson, John's mother, addressed a plea to the Governor and his council to get the 100 pounds back. This was rejected by the council session of May 29th 1677. She had to depend upon public alms until her remarriage to Captain William Wright, a Dorchester (Boston suburb) innkeeper.

What happened to John Laverdure? A few years later, we find a John Mellanson, undoubtedly John Laverdure, married to Sarah. He had taken his mother's maiden name to avoid detection. Both of his companions in crime were acquitted so he skipped bail in vain.

Incidentally, our ancestor Diggory Sargeant from the Hudon dit Beaulieu line fought in King Philip's war. Father Clarence D'Entremont is a descendant of Philippe Mius D'Entremont from whom we are descended through Antyme Roy and his mother Angèle Lacasse.