Immigrant Ships
Transcribers Guild
Ship Good Speed
Liverpool, England to Annapolis, Maryland
18 October 1716
A List of the Rebell prisoners transported into this province in the
Ship Good Speed, on the 18th Day of October, Anno Domini 1716, with
the names of the persons who purchased them:
Prisoners Names. Purchasers.
Wm Macferson Michael Martin
Tho. Shaw Michael Martin
Miles Beggs Michael Martin
John Macgregier Rich'd Eglin
Daniel Steward Rich'd Eglin
Duncan Ferguson John Fendall
John Mackewan John Fendall
David Graham Charles Digges
Wm. Johnson Charles Digges
Jas. Mallone Charles Digges
Geo. Nuelson (Neilson) Charles Digges
John Chambers Charles Digges
James Sinclare Henry Wharton
Alexr. Orrach Henry Wharton
John Stewart John Middleton
Patt Smith Gustavus Brown
Geo. Hodgson John Nelly
Malcolm Maccolm John Wilder
James Mac Intosh Henry H. Hawkins
John Cameron Wm. Penn
David Lander Francis Goodrich
Francis Macbean Charles Born
Wm. Simpson John Rogers
John Kennery Marmaduke Simms
James Bowe John Philpott
Laughlin McIntosh Henry Miles
Alexr. McIntosh Daniel Steward
Wm. Ferguson John Bruce
James Dixon John Bruce
Ricd. Withington, Randall Garland.
(This may be our Witherington! Barry Wetherington (Witherington-L)
Tho. Berry Randall Garland
Jas. Maclearn Randall Garland
Rowl'd Robertson Thomas Jameson
Ninian Brown Thomas Jameson
Daniel Kennedy John Courts
Patrick Mackoy John Courts
Angus Macdormott John Courts
James Mac Intosh Robt. Hanson
Hugh Macdugall Robt. Hanson
John Maccollum John Hawkins
Wm. Shaw John Hawkins
Hugh Mac Intire John Vincent
Finloe Mac Intire John Penn
Richard. Birch Benj. Tasker
James Shaw Jno. Donalson
Danl. Grant Wm. Macchonchia
Hugh White Danl. Bryant
James Rutherford Arthur Smith
Tho. Hume Judith Bruce
James Renton Unsold
Alexr. Macgiffin Runaway
Humphrey Sword
James Sumervill
John Shaftoe Dead
Maryland, 28th April, 1717.
Sire:
I am honored with the Favour of yours of the 16th of August post,
Signifying His Royall Highness, his Pleasure, to return exact Lists of
the Rebel Prisoners that have been landed in this Province.
In obedience to His Royall Highness, to whose Commands I shall ever
pay a most dutifull Submission, I have inclosed you exact Lists of all
the Rebel Prisoners that are come to this Province, Indorsed on the
Proclamations I published by the advice of the Councill here which were
formed from the Letters I had the honur to receive from the Right
Honourable Mr. Secretary Stanhope on that occasion, And exprest in such
a manner as might be consonant to his Majesty's merciful Intentions of
sparing the Rebels' lives, and securing their Persons for the space of
seven years in the plantations, and also to give due encouragement to
the Inhabitants of this Province to Purchase them for servants.
I was comanded by Mr. Secretary Stanhope's Letters (which I answered,)
to oblige the Rebel Prisoners toenter into Induentures serve for seven
years, and upon their Refusing to Indent, I published the Inclosed
Proclamation, which had the effect propos'd, of their being immediately
purchased by the Respective Persons whose names are likewise sent to you
for your further sattisfaction, that his Majesty's Pleasure has been
punctually obey'd.
Some of the Rebel Prisoners have run away from their Service, but on
Complaint of their Masters I have given strict orders for the
Apprehending of them whereever they shall be found in the Province.
I hope that what I have transacted in relation to the Rebel Prisoners
will be considered by you as agreeable to that Duty I owe to his Sacred
Majesty's Commands for whose Service I have a most Inviolable Zeal, and
shall embrace all occasions to demonstrate it, and that I am with very
great respect, Sir,
Your most obedient and most faithfull humble Servant,
JN. HART.
Richard With(er)ington and the Jacobite Prisoners Transported to
Maryland on the Ship Good Speed- 1716 (from Liverpoole) and other
interesting things.
By Michael A. Smolek April 30, 1999, edited May 1, 1999
(Michael is a descendant of Robert Witherington)
Jacobite Prisoners
In 1716 two ships, the Friendship of Belfast and the Good Speed of
Liverpoole, arrived in Annapolis Maryland with Jacobite prisoners taken
in the Rebellion at Preston, in Lancashire. These two shiploads of
prisoners were sent over after the defeat of Mar and Derwentwater's
risings in 1715-1716 (Scharf 1880:385). Listed among the prisoners
is a Richard With(er)ington , a Jacobite, who was transported 28 July
1716 on the ship Good Speed which arrived in Maryland in October,
1716 (Dobson 1992:v-vi).
After the political union of Scotland and England in 1707 all
restrictions on trade between Scotland and the colonies were lifted.
The Scottish Burghs expanded their economic links to the Chesapeake, but
the first major group of Scottish emigrants to arrive were the
Jacobite prisoners captured after the Siege of Preston in 1715 and
subsequently banished to America. (Dobson 1992:v-vi)
Jacobites fought for the restoration of the House of Stuart well into
the 18th century and their devotion stemmed variously from their belief
in divine right, attachment to Catholicism, and later with their
discontent with the Hanoverian Dynasty. Richard Witherington was
probably a Catholic who was being banished to the Catholic colony
(Maryland). The prisoners were sold into indenture for the standard
seven year term.
It is noteworthy that Richard's last name is variously spelled. In
Dobson's Scots on the Chesapeake 1607-1830, which appears to have used
several secondary sources to create the lists of names, Richard's last
names is spelled Witherington. Whereas in the transcription of the
documents provided in Scharf's A History of Maryland, he is referenced
as Withington. In some subsequent documents he is listed as
Withorington. It is probably of no real significance since the
spellings of W....ington varies so wildly, however it may explain some of
the various spellings in the descendant lines.
The documents relating to the disposition of the prisoners were
transcribed by Scharf (1880: 387-389) and the documents relating
specifically to the Good Speed were re-typed and are presented below.
The documents concerning the Ship Friendship were also included in
Scharf but are not provided here. The Friendship carried eighty
prisoners and the Good Speed carried 55 prisoners.
According to the documents, transcribed below, Richard With(er)ington's
indenture was purchased by Randall Garland. Garland also purchased the
indentures of Thomas Berry and James Maclearn. A quick search of the
Maryland State Archives probate records indicates that Randolph
Garland's Will was probated in Charles County, Maryland in 1722 (State
Records Liber 17 folio 299, County records Liber AB3, folio 159). No
mention of Richard Witherington is made in the Garland will, however
there also survives three Perogative Court accounts from 1723, 1724 &
1727, as well as inventories from 1722 and 1723. The Accounts are
listings of payments related to settlement of the estate. In one of
these account listings Rd. With(o)rington is listed as being paid 600
lbs of tobacco. This provides several very important bits of
information. First and most importantly, Richard With(o)rington was no
doubt still living in the area of his (former) master's residence of
Charles County, which is adjacent to St. Mary's County. Secondly, the
absence of a bequest in the will is evidence that the payment was owed
Rd. With(o)rington, rather than being left something in Garland's will.
Thirdly, it also indicates that although Richard's indenture was
probably for the term of the standard seven years, only six years after
his arrival he was probably already free. His former master died owing
him. It was fairly common for indentured servants, if they earned
outside income, to be able to buy themselves out of indenture. The
shortage of labor in the region provided many opportunities.
Richard Witherington/Withington/Withorington a Jacobite Catholic came
to Southern Maryland where he was welcome in this significantly Catholic
region. He may be the original founder of the St. Marys/Charles County
Withington/Witherington[Worthington(?)] families, however it is unclear
how he relates to James and Thomas Withington [Note: Jean Witherington
indicates that she had understood that this Richard W...ington had no
issue- May 2, 1999]
A Curious Coincidence or Unknown Connection
On the ship the Good Speed there was a James Somervell. According to
the Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature James Somervell
(Somerville) was a physican who studied at the University of Edinburgh.
He was captured at the Battle of Sheriff Muir in 1715 and was
transported with the other prisoners. Dr. Somervell settled in Christ
Church Parish, Calvert County where his descendants still reside.
Curiously, on the inventory of Robert Widdrington/Witherington who died
in Calvert County in 1722 James Somervell is listed as a creditor. In
fact the only creditor. It is probably only a strange coincidence that
James Somervell happened to be one of fifty-five Catholic prisoners on a
ship that also brought Richard With(o)rington to Maryland and that
Somervell later became involved with possibly the only other known
Witherington family (Robert) in the Maryland colony at the time. It is
certain that Robert and Richard were not the same person, although they
may have been related. Robert Widdrington/Witherington, his wife's
ancestors and subsequent families appear to be Quakers and/or
Protestants rather than Catholic, although this is only an impression.
In a further twist of fate, James Somervell's son, James Somervell
(1731-1774) married Susannah Dare, daughter of Gideon Dare. Gideon
Dare's aunt was Elizabeth Dare Widdrington/Witherington who was married
to Robert Widdrington (d. 1722).
References
Calender of State Papers Colonial America and the West Indies (London,
1880)
Calendar of Treasury Books (London, 1904) series
Dobson, David
1992 Scots on the Chesapeake 1607-1830 Genealogical Publishing Co.,
Inc, 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, Md. 21202.
Papenfuse, Edward C, Alan F. Day, David W. Jordan and Gregory
Stiverson
1985 A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature
1635-1789. The Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore and London.
Scharf, J.S.
1880 History of Maryland: Hatsboro,
Smith, Clifford Neal
Transported Jacobite Rebels, 1716. National Genealogical Society
Quarterly.
Vol. 64 No. 1, pp. 27-34. (Note: This reference was not
consulted as it was unavailable at the time this was written.)
Copies of documents related to the Jacobite Prisoners
Att a Councill held at the City of Annapolis, in the Province of
Maryland, on the Eleventh day of January, in the third year of the Reign
of our Sovereign Lord, King George, and in the second of his Lordship's
Dominion, &c. Annapolis, Anno Domini 1716. Present: His Excellency,
John Hart, Esq., Governour in Chief, &c; The Honorable Col. Wm. Coursey,
Lt. Col. Sam'l Young, John Hall, Esq'r, Phile. Lloyd, Esq'r Col. Rich.
Tilghman, & Col. Tho. Smyth.
Resolved and Ordered, That a proclamation issue, declaring whosoever
setts free any of the Rebbells transported into this Province, in the
Ship Good Speed, shall give security for their abideing in this
province, and be of good behaviour for the term of Seven Years, as
follows: By his Excellency, the Capt Generall, &c.
A PROCLAMATION
Whereas, There has been transported into this province by his
Majesty's Royall Command, fifty-five persons, most of them Scots, men
taken in the late Rebellion at Preston, and Imported in the Ship the
Good Speed, of Liverpoole. Whereof Arthur Smith is commander,
concerning whom his Majesty has been graciously pleased to Signify to me
by Letters from the Right Honourable James Stanhoupe, Esq. One of this
Principall Secretarys of State, dated at Whitehall the fourth day of May
last, that it was his royall pleasure that the Rebbells so taken &
Imported as aforesaid should either enter into Indentures to serve such
persons as would Purchase them for the term of Seven Years, or
otherwise, that on the Sale of such who should refuse so to do, I should
grant to the respective purchasers or Masters under my hand and Seale a
proper Certificate that it was his Majesty's pleasure the said Rebbells
so transported into this province should be sold by the factor of
Messrs. Richard Guildard & Company to serve the term of aforesaid, And
aforemuch as fifty of them have been sold to the severall purchasers as
by the list hereunder written is expressed, and that John Shaftoe is
dead, And Humphrey Sword and Alexander Macgiffin have exempted
themselves To the end, that his Majesty's pleasure may be duly complyed
with in this province, and that the said runaway Rebbells be retaken and
Subjected to his Majesty's commands by proper certificates by me to be
granted therefore; And the traiterous & wicked attempts and designations
of the said Rebbells may be entirely Obviated, and their persons secured
within this province during the term aforesaid. I have thought fitt by
and with the advice of the Lordship's the Lord Propiertary's honourable
Councill to issure this my proclamation notifying the same , and
Comanding and requiring all Officiers, Military & Civill, and Especially
all Sherriffs, Magistrates, & Constables, to use their utmost endeavors
uponv notice or knowledge of any the said Rebbells absenting themselves
from their said Masters or purchasers to apprehend and secure their
persons, and oblige them to remain in their bounden Service according to
his Majesty's royall directions, and particularly to apprehend the
aforesaid Humphrey Sword and Alexander Macgiffin, and bring them before
me to be dealt with according to Justice and their Demerritts, and
further, I do hereby will and require all Officiers, Magistrates,
Sherriffs & Constables, and other his Majesty's good Subjects within
this province in case of any the said Rebbells being sett free by their
respective Masters or purchasers, immediately to Apprehend and bring
them before the next Magistrate, who is hereby required to oblige them
to give good security not to depart, but remain in this province dureing
the term of Seven years from their Arrivall in this province, and also
to be of good abearance towards his Majesty and his Lordship's
Government in this province, or otherwise comitt them to the County
Gaole, there to remain till such further proceedings may be had against
them as their Demerritts shall require, And to the end that all persons
may have due notice hereof, and none pretend Ignorance, I do hereby in
the Lordship's the Lord Proprietary's name command and require the
respective Sheriffs of the severall Counties in this province to
publish this my proclamation at all Churches and Chappells of Ease,
and others the most frequented places in their said Counties , whereof
they are not to fail at their perills. Given at the City of Annapolis
under the broad Seal of the province the eleventh day of January, in the
2nd year of his Lordship's Dominion, &c., Anno Domini, 1716.
God save the king.
JNO. HART.
JNO. BEARD, Cl. Councill
Vera Copia.
Correspondence 1/8/01 passengers
I found not one but two ancestors on the Ship Good Speed. My 6th great
grandfather's name is misspelled. It should be, George NEILSON not NUELSON.
Information that I have: "Neilson, George. Jacobite Prisoner. Transported
to Maryland on Goodspeed, ex. Liverpool, 28 July 1716. (Calendar of State
Papers. Colonial Series, America and West Indies, 1716-17. edit Cecil Headlan.
London, 1930) 4835" (6).
William Johnson was also on board the Ship Goodspeed. George Neilson
changed his name from NEILSON to NELSON. He married (?) and had three sons,
Jarrett, Benjamin and William. His son William married Hannah JOHNSON,
daughter of William Johnson.
I would be most interested in finding anyone else who is researching these
families. I will gladly share the information that I have on the descendants
of George..........my information on William Johnson ends with Hannah.
Mary Nelson Pazur
Correspondence 06/30/01 passenger Somervell
James Somervell, my direct ancestor, was caught at the Battle of Preston,
not Sherriffmuir. He married on 1 Jan 1722, Sarah Howe, daughter of Thomas
Howe and Rebecca Mauldin, at Christ Church, Calvert. Co. MD. In addition
to being a large land owner he was Justice in 1741, 44, 47, 50. He was
High Sheriff 1744-47. He died testate on 15 February, 1750 and was buried
at Christ Church. The monument there says he had a previous wife in
Scotland who died. I am seeking the place in Scotland where he was born.
CY Franklin
Correspondence 04/19/2003 passengers Shaw
I descend from James Shaw that is listed on the manifest of the ship
Good Speed. I'd be interested in the other two Shaws listed...my cousin
and I have been wondering if the three men were related. I'd love to be
in contact with anyone else researching this family. I'd also like to
know about the man that purchased James, Mr. Donalson...He got the short
end of the deal, as James died three years after arriving in Maryland.
Marci Shaw Peralez
Correspondence added 10-20-2006, Wm Macferson
Concerning a passenger on the ship "Good Speed", Liverpool, England
to Annapolis, Maryland, 18 October 1716.
Wm Macferson (purchaser Michael Martin) is the direct ancestor of my
wife, Nee Catherine McPherson. I have the complete family tree which
connects William to Catherine.
After serving his 7 years, he married Barbara Acton in 1725 and had
seven children, two of whom, Alexander and William attained the rank
of Captain in the revolutionary war. He was a successful tobacco planter
and when his son Alexander (my wife's ancestor) died in 1804 he left ten
children each of whom inherited about half a dozen slaves and either a
many hundred acre farm or, in the case of the youngest children, the cash
to buy a farm. William senior had 20 great great grandchildren bearing the
McPherson name, that I know of, and who were still living in Southern
Maryland. However only one of these had descendants to carry the name
through to today (2006). Only about 20 acres of well over a thousand acres
at one time, remain in the possession of the family. I will be happy to
share my findings.
Feel free to add this to your wonderful collection of information on the
Good Speed, and feel free to edit or abbreviate it to your taste.
If you have more information on ships that transported other of the
many men captured in the Jacobite Uprising in Preston, England I would
be pleased to hear about them.
Hugh Tornabene
Generously donated by Barry Wetherington
Information on Jacobites and Witherington's by
descendant of
Robert Witherington Michael A. Smolek
Reformatted by Sheila Tate
a member of
the Immigrant Ships Transcribers
Guild
Original 17 August 1999
Reformatted 29 June 2001
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