Cabildo Digest

City Archives
New Orleans Public Library

Digest of the Acts and Deliberations of the Cabildo
Pirates

Introduction to the Digest

Subject Book Volume Page Date Description

Pirates 4 I 197 3/10/1797 Governor: Carondelet; Royal Ensign: Almonaster – At this time the Governor and President informs the Cabildo that nine small Pirate boats from the English Nation were crossing from the zone of Tortuguillas up close to the buoy, and had captured many ships which had left Vera Cruz. He presumed that these pirate boats have detained ships coming to, and leaving this port. He feared that the silver leaving Vera Cruz for Havana, to be sent here, would be intercepted; in which case he would be forced to replace it with paper money. In order to avoid this, he had asked the merchants and the farmers to contribute toward the arming of a boat which would be sent to protect the one bearing the silver. The merchants and farmers being unwilling to contribute, the Commissioners agreed to contribute one thousand Pesos from the City Treasury.

Pirates 5
54 3/4/1803 Governor: Salcedo; Royal Ensign: De La Ronde – The Governor and President informed the Cabildo that the Commandant of the “Nuevo Madrid” had sent ten criminals, among whom were the principal chiefs of a band of notorious pirates who intercepted the navigation of the river from Nogales to Ohio; that the majority of the outlaws were Americans, and the majority of their crimes were committed in American Territory; therefore he has determined to send the criminals to the Governor of Natchez for his instructions and sentence. He asked the Cabildo to advance from the City Treasury the sum of 1570 Pesos for the transportation of the criminals, to be guaranteed by 2000 Pesos in drafts on the Bank of the United States of America out of the 7000 Pesos in the possession of the outlaws, until the 1570 Pesos are reimbursed by whichever Government may have the right to claim the 7000 Pesos; the 7000 Pesos to be deposited in the Royal Treasury to be used for the transportation and satisfaction of the military men conducting them, etc. The Commissioners resolved that this being a matter of State, the expense should be borne by the Royal Treasury, and agreed that an advance from the City Treasury be made by draft drawn by the Royal Treasury for this purpose.

Pirates 5
57 3/7/1803 Governor: Salcedo; Royal Ensign: De La Ronde – The Cabildo is called into extraordinary session by the Governor and President at which time he states that in view of the opposition shown by the Commissioners in regard to the advance from the city funds of the 1,570 Pesos for the prompt disposal of the criminal Sam Masson and other pirates, he finds himself obliged to order this amount from the City Treasury, against their protests. He has, therefore, given the key in his possession (See “Safe of Three Keys”) to Lieutenant Colonel Don Gilberto Guillemard, Adjutant of this Plaza, and directs that the Royal Ensign, the City Treasurer and the Secretary of the Cabildo take their keys and place the two thousand Pesos in bank notes in the City Treasury, and take therefrom the 1,570 Pesos which he requested.

Pirates 5
73 4/22/1803 Governor: Salcedo; Royal Ensign: De La Ronde – The City Treasurer presents to the Cabildo at this time a document from the Governor authorizing him to sell at public auction, and without lose of time, the small vessel used by the Captain of Militia, Don Roberto Mc Cay, in conducting the prisoners to Natchez (who escaped after wounding Mc Cay) and to inform the Cabildo of the disposition of the vessel “taken by His Lordship to safeguard the city’s funds.” The Commissioners resolved that the transfer of these prisoners was made at the expense of the city against the protests of the Cabildo, and they would therefore do nothing regarding the sale of the said vessel.

Subject	Book	Volume	Page	Date	Description
Pirates	4	I	197	3/10/1797	Governor: Carondelet; Royal Ensign: Almonaster – At this time the Governor and President informs the Cabildo that nine small Pirate boats from the English Nation were crossing from the zone of Tortuguillas up close to the buoy, and had captured many ships which had left Vera Cruz. He presumed that these pirate boats have detained ships coming to, and leaving this port. He feared that the silver leaving Vera Cruz for Havana, to be sent here, would be intercepted; in which case he would be forced to replace it with paper money. In order to avoid this, he had asked the merchants and the farmers to contribute toward the arming of a boat which would be sent to protect the one bearing the silver. The merchants and farmers being unwilling to contribute, the Commissioners agreed to contribute one thousand Pesos from the City Treasury.
Pirates	5		54	3/4/1803	Governor: Salcedo; Royal Ensign: De La Ronde – The Governor and President informed the Cabildo that the Commandant of the “Nuevo Madrid” had sent ten criminals, among whom were the principal chiefs of a band of notorious pirates who intercepted the navigation of the river from Nogales to Ohio; that the majority of the outlaws were Americans, and the majority of their crimes were committed in American Territory; therefore he has determined to send the criminals to the Governor of Natchez for his instructions and sentence. He asked the Cabildo to advance from the City Treasury the sum of 1570 Pesos for the transportation of the criminals, to be guaranteed by 2000 Pesos in drafts on the Bank of the United States of America out of the 7000 Pesos in the possession of the outlaws, until the 1570 Pesos are reimbursed by whichever Government may have the right to claim the 7000 Pesos; the 7000 Pesos to be deposited in the Royal Treasury to be used for the transportation and satisfaction of the military men conducting them, etc. The Commissioners resolved that this being a matter of State, the expense should be borne by the Royal Treasury, and agreed that an advance from the City Treasury be made by draft drawn by the Royal Treasury for this purpose.
Pirates	5		57	3/7/1803	Governor: Salcedo; Royal Ensign: De La Ronde – The Cabildo is called into extraordinary session by the Governor and President at which time he states that in view of the opposition shown by the Commissioners in regard to the advance from the city funds of the 1,570 Pesos for the prompt disposal of the criminal Sam Masson and other pirates, he finds himself obliged to order this amount from the City Treasury, against their protests. He has, therefore, given the key in his possession (See “Safe of Three Keys”) to Lieutenant Colonel Don Gilberto Guillemard, Adjutant of this Plaza, and directs that the Royal Ensign, the City Treasurer and the Secretary of the Cabildo take their keys and place the two thousand Pesos in bank notes in the City Treasury, and take therefrom the 1,570 Pesos which he requested.
Pirates	5		73	4/22/1803	Governor: Salcedo; Royal Ensign: De La Ronde – The City Treasurer presents to the Cabildo at this time a document from the Governor authorizing him to sell at public auction, and without lose of time, the small vessel used by the Captain of Militia, Don Roberto Mc Cay, in conducting the prisoners to Natchez (who escaped after wounding Mc Cay) and to inform the Cabildo of the disposition of the vessel “taken by His Lordship to safeguard the city’s funds.” The Commissioners resolved that the transfer of these prisoners was made at the expense of the city against the protests of the Cabildo, and they would therefore do nothing regarding the sale of the said vessel.

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