Purcell Testimony Home Minutes & Appendix Hallett Testimony
Revised Jun 5 2021
At four o'clock in the morning, of the twenty-eighth day of April 1789, Fletcher Christian relieved the watch as usual, at about five o'clock; after giving orders to prepare for washing the decks, he ordered me to look out, as being master's mate of the watch, whilst he went down to lash his hammock up, a few minutes after I was looking out at a shark, which was at the stern of the ship; when, to my unutterable surprise, I saw Christian, Charles Churchill, Thomas Burkitt, one of the prisoners, John Sumner, Matthew Quintal, William McCoy, Isaac Martin, Henry Hillbrant, and Alexander Smith, coming aft, armed with muskets and bayonets. Going forward to prevent their proceeding, to ask Christian the cause of such an act, he told me to hold my tongue instantly; and left James [?] Martin a centinel upon deck; and proceeded with the rest of his party below to Captain Bligh's cabin; some men standing with their heads above the deck, Mr. Hallet, myself, Lamb, (Ellison at the helm,) and Mills, being on the deck. Christian being gone below, I asked Mills, If he knew any thing of the mutiny? he said, No. Ellison quitted the helm, and armed himself with a bayonet; the ship's decks now began to throng with men; Young, Millward, Musprat, Williams, Skinner, and Brown on the deck, armed with muskets and bayonets; Heywood, Steward, and Morrison, unarmed on the booms; Christian and his gang had not been down long, before I heard the cry of murder from Captain Bligh; and on the other hand, heard Churchill calling for the rope. It was now I found Mills was of the mutineers' party; contrary to all orders he cut the deep sea line, and carried a piece of it to Christian; soon after, I saw Captain Bligh brought upon the quarter deck, with his hands bound behind him, surrounded by most of those who came last on deck; some of the officers were permitted to come on deck, and Christian ordered us to hoist out the cutter; we remonstrated against it, being too small and unable to contain us. As soon as the launch was out, Christian ordered Mr. Samuel, Mr. Hallet, and me into it; we requested time to collect some things, which was granted; I was going down, but was prevented by Thompson, who was armed with a cutlass, and centinel over the arm chest; he stood aft a part of the main hatchway; he assented, and I went down, and saw Heywood in his birth. I told him to go into the boat, but in my hurry 1 do not remember receiving an answer. Mr. Hallet and I went down the main hatchway together; after getting a few cloaths, I went up and put them into the launch; then went to Christian and asked him for my instruments and chart, but was refused and hurried into the boat, not before I had seen Captain Bligh brought to the gangway, held by Christian, and surrounded by Mills, Burkitt, Quintal, Sumner, Millward, and McCoy, armed. I do not recollect any more, but Ellison came up in a hurry with a bayonet in his hand, swearing, Damn him, I will be centinel over him. I then went over the gangway. When I was in the launch, I saw Byrne in the cutter, I heard him say he was sorry he could not have leave to come with us. The officers and men being in the boat, Captain Bligh was then forced in, and we were veered astern, the mutineers saying, they would give us a tow towards land. In this situation we prayed much for arms, ammunition, and more provisions, and then (for a watch and boatswain's call) we got four cutlasses and a small addition of pork; a number of mutineers collecting themselves on the taffrail, amongst whom were Skinner, Quintal, Millward, Hillbrant, Ellison, Smith, and Brown, publicly insulting Captain Bligh. Skinner would have shot into the boat, but was prevented by others of the mutineers; Millward jeering, said, Go and see if you can live upon a quarter of a pound of yams per day. Just before casting off, Coleman came to the taffrail, and avowed his innocence and ignorance of the matter. After casting off, I heard orders given for loosing the top gallant sails, and saw Ellison going up the shrouds for that purpose.
Q. COURT.—I think you were sent to apprehend the prisoners gone to Otaheite; inform the court what you know.
A. Before anchoring in Mattavai Bay, in the Pandora, in the island of Otahite, I saw Coleman coming off to the ship; soon after we were at anchor, Steward and Heywood came on board, but I did not see them until they were in Captain Edwards's cabin. They made them selves known to Captain Edwards, saying, they belonged to the Bounty, and were happy they were arrived. On my asking some questions concerning the Bounty, Captain Edwards said, it was unnecessary to ask any questions. I asked how they came to go away with the Bounty? and received for answer from Steward, that when called upon he would answer all particulars. I was prevented from asking any more questions, by Captain Edwards saying again, it was unnecessary. The next day I was dispatched to Papara with a party, in order to receive the mutineers, who were supposed to be in the valley; as soon as I arrived at Papara, I had intelligence that they were not far off, and with a guide marched to find them, but without success. The next morning about eleven o'clock, I had intelligence of them coming down. I drew out my party to receive them; when they came within hearing, I called to them to lay down their arms and go on one side, which they did, and I took them into custody and brought them on board. I wrote to Lieutenant Corner, who was coming to the valley, that I had taken them.
Q. COURT.—I think you say, in the morning of the mutiny you saw eighteen under arms?
A. Yes.
Q. Do you know of any conversation between Captain Bligh and the officers, about launching the cutter?
A. None, but a general clamour.
Q. What number of men was in the boat when you were ordered into it?
A. None; I was the first that was ordered into it.
Q. How long did the boat remain alongside after you was in it?
A. About a quarter of an hour.
Q. Were all the people that went into the boat, ordered in; or did they go voluntarily?
A. I heard no one ordered but Mr. Hallet, Mr. Samuel, and myself.
Q. What number of men were on the deck at the time of hoisting out the boat?
A. I cannot say.
Q. Can you tell if there were any below at that time?
A. None, except those who guarded the officer's cabins in the after part of the ship.
Q. Look at all the prisoners, and relate all you know of them on that day?
A. Coleman. I saw nothing of him till he came to the taffrail, and declared his innocence. Heywood, I saw on the booms, not doing any thing, and afterwards in his birth below, when I spoke to him, and told him to go into the boat.
Q. Did he make any answer?
A. I believe not.
Q. Did you at any time that day see Mr. Heywood with arms in his hands?
A. I did not.
Q. Did you see him assist in hoisting out the boats?
A. No.
Byrne I saw in the cutter alongside the ship when I was in the launch, I heard him say he was sorry he could not go with us.
Morrison I saw assisting in clearing the yams from the boat, but am doubtful whether he was under arms at first or not.
Q. Did you hear any conversation between him and any officer of the ship?
A. I do not remember any.
Q. Did he at all appear to you by his conduct, to be assisting the mutineers, or in obedience to orders, to get the boats out?
A. If I was to give it as my opinion, I should say he was assisting the mutineers, wishing us away as fast as possible.
Q. Did you at any time that day see him with arms in his hands?
A. I am doubtful if he was under arms at all.
Norman was on deck forward, I neither saw him under arms nor assisting the mutineers, but assisting in getting things into the boat.
Ellison I saw at the helm, and, soon after the people had gone to Captain Bligh's cabin and quitted it, armed himself with a bayonet, and just before my going into the boat saw him as a centinel, with a bayonet in his hand, over Captain Bligh, saying, Damn him, I'll be centinel over him.
McIntosh I did not see under arms, nor did I suppose him one of the mutineers; he assisted to get out the boat.
Musprat I saw on the larboard side with a musket in his hand, supposing him one of the mutineers.
Burkitt I saw come aft, following Christian and Churchill, and saw him descend the after ladder with them armed with a bayonet.
Millward, I don't recollect seeing him at first, but after Captain Bligh was brought on deck, saw him armed as a centinel; after the boat was astern, saw him on the taffrail jeering us, and saying, Go see if you can live upon a quarter of a pound of yams per day, or some thing to that purpose.
Q. Was you present when Norman, Morrison, and Ellison were taken?
A. No, they had been left there by Lieut. Corner, under the charge of Mr. Saville.
Q. When you fell in with McIntosh, Burkitt, Musprat, and Millward, did they make any resistance?
A. None.
Q. They surrendered themselves upon your demanding them to lay down their arms?
A. They did.
Q. When you went down the main hatchway, who were between decks besides Thompson?
A. Mr. Heywood. Mr. Hallet went with me and Mr. Elphinstone.
A. Thompson was the only centinel; but there were armed men round the hatchways on the boom.
Q. Of the ten prisoners, six of whom you describe under arms; do you know of any effort made by those not under arms, or any of them, to restore the ship?
A. No,
Q. Did Norman express any desire to you of going into the boat?
A. To me, none.
Q. Did you hear him to any other person?
A. No.
A. No.
Q. Or any disapprobation of the mutineers' conduct?
A. No.
Q. How tong after the mutiny began that you saw Musprat under arms?
A. I beg leave to remind the court that they did not come up together, it might be about ten minutes.
Q. At the time the mutineers went into the cabin, was Burkitt one of them that remained on the hatchway?
A. No.
Q. Have you reason to know that Mr. Heywood would have been prevented from going into the boat at the time you did, after you desired him?
A. No.
Q. How long before your going down in the boat, before you spoke to him?
A. About two or three minutes.
Q. You say, if you were to give your opinion, it is, that Morrison was assisting the mutineers by getting out the boats, and wished to get you away from the ship. You have likewise said, that McIntosh was assisting in getting out the boats, and you did not look upon him in that light I wish to know the reason of that difference?
A. The difference in the countenances of people may be ill-grounded. One looked rejoiced, the other depressed.
Q. You said Norman was employed in putting a tool chest into the boat. Do you know why he did not accompany you?
A. No.
Q. When you spoke to Mr. Heywood in his birth and admonished him to go into the boat, was he under any restraint as to going on deck?
A. No.
Q. What was he employed about at that time?
A. Nothing but sitting with his arms folded.
Q. Did you by his behaviour, consider him as attached to his duty, or to a part of the mutineers?
A. I rather suppose, after telling him to go into the boat, and not joining us, he was on the part of the mutineers, but that must be only stated as an opinion, as he was not employed during the acting part of it.
Q. Did you observe joy or sorrow in his behaviour?
A. Sorrow.
Q. You have said that McIntosh was unfriendly to the mutineers; you mean he was not attached to them, because he was depressed in his countenance; might not the sorrow in Mr. Heywood arise from the same cause?
A. It might.
Q. per Morrison.—You give it from your opinion that I was one of the mutineers, can you declare before God, and this court, that such evidence is not the result of a private pique?
A. It is not: It is an opinion I formed after quitting the ship, from his not coming with us, when he had as good an opportunity as the rest, there being more boats than one.
Q. Ditto.—Are you certain we might have had the large cutter to have accompanied you?
A. My not being present at any conversation with you, I cannot say, but perhaps you might.
Q. Ditto.—Can you deny you were present when Captain Bligh begged, that the long boat might not be overloaded, and said, he would do justice to those who remained?
A. I was present when Captain Bligh did make such declaration, but I understood it respected cloaths and other heavy articles, with which the boat was already too full.
Q. Ditto.—Do you recollect in consequence of such declaration, I told you, I would take my chance in the ship?
A. I do not.
Q. Ditto.—Do you remember when you handed your bag up the main hatchway, and with it your fuzee, that I was the person that received them from you, and Quintal came and seized the fuzee, and swore, Damn his eyes, if you should have it?
A. I do not remember the person who took the bag and fuzee, it might have been you, but I remember Quintal swearing I should not have it, but from whose hands he took it, I cannot say.
Q. Do you remember on any time that day calling on me to assist you in any point of duty, or to give my assistance to retake his Majesty's ship?
A. I have a faint remembrance of a circumstance of that nature.
COURT. Relate it.
A. It is so very faint I can hardly remember it, or who it was.
COURT. Relate it.
A. On seeing Churchill on the booms, I thought if I had a friendly island club, of which there were many on board, had I not been observed, I could have gone forward and knocked him down at the time of handing the bag out, and you might have been the person I called to my assistance.
Q. per Morrison. What answer did I give you?
A. I do not know.
Q. Ditto.—Did not I say, "Go it, I'll back you, there are tools enough in the ship"?
A. I cannot remember.
Q. Ditto.—Did you ever observe any thing in my conduct during the voyage, or on that day, to give cause of complaint?
A. None: But on that day I thought he was pleased in preparing the boat for our departure; but, as I said before, I do not know his real intention.
Q. per Ditto.—Are you sure that there was a continual smile and appearance of joy upon my countenance all the time you observed me, or at the time only when you called upon me for assistance?
A. I cannot say.
Q. per Musprat.—In answer to a question just asked by Morrison, you allow Captain Bligh used these words. "Don't let the boat be overloaded, my lads, I'll do you justice"; which you say, alluded to the cloaths and other heavy articles. Do you mean to understand the latter words of "My lads, I'll do you justice," to apply to cloaths or men who he apprehended might go in the boat?
A. If Captain Bligh made use of the words "my lads," it was to the people already in the boat, and not to those in the ship.
Q. COURT.—To whom do you think Captain Bligh alluded, when he said he would do them justice; was it your opinion to the men in the boat with him, or to any person remaining in the ship?
A. To persons remaining in the ship.
Q. Are you of opinion that he meant, he would do them justice on account of remaining in the ship, or that he would cause satisfaction to be given them for any thing they might lose?
A. I rather think it was the few who Captain Bligh knew to be of his party, that were detained contrary to their inclination, that he would do them such justice that should throw aside all doubts of their being true to the service of their country.
Q. Do you know if any were detained contrary to their wish?
A. Coleman and Byrne, which, from the latter's answers, I suppose to be the case.
Q. What authority have you for saying Coleman was detained contrary to his inclination?
A. From hearing amongst the mutineers their intention to detain him, as well as the acting surgeon, who they afterwards let go, saying, they would have little occasion for doctors.
Purcell Testimony Home Minutes & Appendix Hallett Testimony