[Rarebooks] fa: EXECUTION OF JOHN WILLIAMS [et al] FOR PIRACY & MURDER - BOSTON: 1819 - RARE

[Ardwight Chamberlain]

Listed now, along with other titles relating to Piracy & Naval History, auction ending Sunday, January 20. More details and images can be found at the URL below or by searching under the seller name arch_in_la.

http://tinyurl.com/boyw7qe

Thanks again,
Ardwight Chamberlain
L.A.

A Concise Sketch of the Execution of John Williams, Peter Peterson (alias Nils Peterson), Francis Frederick and John P. Rog. Who were Executed on the 18th of February, 1819, for Murder and Piracy. Prefaced with Moral Reflections. To which is added, A Solemn Address. Boston: Printed for N. Coverly, 16 Milk Street, 1819. FIRST EDITION.  Stitch-bound, early/original buff paper wraps, small 8vo (17.75 cm); 24 pp.; folding woodcut frontispiece.

In rough shape, but an exceedingly scarce pamphlet: OCLC locates none but microform or digital copies at any libraries or institutions. Horizontal tear to the title-page and all the text leaves, repaired with tape (appears to be archival tape), with some loss to the last five leaves, these leaves also having chips to the fore-edge with some additional loss of text. Covers soiled, worn and chipped; rear cover coming loose at the top; frontispiece with tape repairs to the verso; contents toned with occasional spots and stains. Early pencil signature of Mrs. O. M. Moulton, Lakeport N.H.

Williams and his cohorts, seamen on board an American merchant schooner, were convicted of murdering their captain and first mate and taking possession of the ship, which they sailed to Norway. Arrested in Copenhagen, they were returned to the U.S. for trial.