JOHN BESSAC’S GRANDSON CLOSES THE STORY

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Abraam Storms, American revolution, Anah Bessac, Chenango County, Chenango Forks, Chenango River, Fur Trader, George Park, Greene NY, Henry Birdsall, John Bessac, Madrid, North Fenton, Priest, Privateer, Royal Guard

John Bessac’s grandson Benjamin L. Bessac gave the introduction to this story with a short note. See the bottom of the following post.

https://waldotomosky.wordpress.com/2012/04/13/the-story-of-jean-guilliame-de-besse-1760-1824/ 

It would be proper, I believe, to allow Benjamin L. Bessac speak to us from his notes of July 30, 1863, written in Albion, NY.

My grandfather had eight children, four sons and four daughters, of whom all but one survived him. His widow [Anah] died at the city of Hudson on the Eleventh day of February, 1834, aged seventy-seven years.

[One paragraph is set aside for each child. Each paragraph gives the details of each child, their spouses and their children.]

It only remains for me to add a few personal recollections of one of the noblest men I have ever known. I first saw him in the spring of 1816 at my father’s house in Tioga County. He was then in his fifty-eighth year, about five feet ten inches high, straight as an arrow, and perfect in form and features; his face was bronzed by exposure, but his eye was as keen as the eagle’s, and his chestnut hair, without a stripe of grey, hung in curls about his neck. His movements were light and rapid, and his language as polished as that of an officer of the reign of Louis the Grand. He was as courteously polite to the pauper, who begged his bread by the wayside, as he would have been to the proudest monarch on earth. He was a man of unusual physical power, and was endowed with a constitution of iron. It was my good fortune to go with him to his home on the Chenango River, where I remained for some months, following him about on his daily walks about the farm and listening to his instructive and most entertaining conversation. In the cool evenings of that cold summer, when the rambles of the day were over, it was a pleasure never to be forgotten to sit near him by the cheerful fire and listen to the reminiscences of his eventful life – – – a life that had been passed in France, Spain and America, upon the sea and the land, and covering the overthrow of the Bourbon Dynasty, the crash of the French Revolution, the rise and fall of the great Napoleon, and the glorious uprising of this great and, then, happy and prosperous nation; “all of which he saw and part of which he was.” He told me of Louis the Sixteenth, and the good Lafayette, of Rochambeau, and Washington, of Kosciuszko and Pulaski, of the sunny slopes and smiling valleys of his beloved France; of his mother in that beautiful land, who he reverenced almost to idolatry; of Spain, the land of rugged mountains and sparking rivers, immortalized by the song of the Troubadour, and of his wanderings and romantic life and adventures. So the evenings would glide away until the small hours of the night, when he would rise from his chair, and with courteous obeisance, retire. I saw him again in the fall of 1817, a few weeks only, and then for the last time on earth. The disease of which he died had begun its fatal work upon his iron frame; his step was less elastic, his face appeared care-worn and tinged with a shade of sadness entirely unusual. I was about returning to the eastern part of the State to commence my education, and he walked from his house with me to the river and ferried me across. We went up the bank together, and then he gave me his blessing and turned away. May God so direct my footsteps on earth that I shall meet him in the realm above the stars, where the weary are at rest.

When I first became acquainted with Grandfather I noticed a small purple spot or pimple on his chin; when I saw him last it was so much enlarged that in shaving himself he cut around it. This incipient cancer continued to increase in size and virulence until the early spring of the year 1824, when on the 25^th day of March he was gathered to his fathers. So passed away from earth JEAN GUILLIAUME BESSAC, the novitiate of the French Catholic Church, the wanderer over the Pyrenees, the member of the life guard to the King of Spain, the soldier of the American Revolution, and aid-de-camp of Count Rochambeau; an affectionate son, brother and father; a wise and faithful counselor and friend. May all of his descendants strive to imitate those virtues which have rendered his memory so fragrant.

[Another page is used to describe encounters with people who knew of John Bessac or his family in France.]

There is nothing I could add to the story of John Bessac. So I close out these posts with a few relevant items that may serve as a summary of this story; in chronological order starting with John Bessacs parents and siblings.

JOHN BESSAC VISITS MOROCCO

 

JOHN BESSAC THE RUNAWAY PRIEST

 

JOHN BESSAC LEAVES A TEARFUL MOTHER

 

JOHN BESSAC PASSES GERONA ON HIS WAY TO MADRID

 

JOHN BESSAC’S FIRST LOVE

 

THE KNIFE FIGHT

 

JOHN BESSAC OFFERS HIS RESIGNATION FROM THE ROYAL GUARD

 

 

JOHN BESSAC SEARCHES FOR HIS BROTHER’S SHIP

 

JOHN BESSAC BECOMES A PRIVATEER

 

JOHN BESSAC INVOLVED IN AMERICAN REVOLUTION

 

JOHN BESSAC THE FUR TRADER

 

 

JOHN BESSAC SUFFERS FROM CANCER

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Albany, Anah Bessac, Chenango Valley, George Park, John Bessac, Susquehanna Turnpike

John Bessac was at peace with the world. He had his family, his farm and his past times along the riverbanks and hillsides of the Chenango Valley.

It was 1822 when John noticed that when he shaved a spot on his chin would become irritated. John solved the problem by allowing a beard to grow around the area. In fact, John came to like the idea of a beard.

The sore spot turned into a tumor.

By the end of the summer the tumor created a sharp and constant pain. John’s normal exuberant personality seemed to ebb. Anah talked John into visiting a doctor in Albany who specialized in such things. John agreed and took the rutted pathway that was soon to be called the Susquehanna Turnpike.

John received no medical relief in Albany. However, while there, he sought atonement by making an overdue confession and attending mass. It had been several years since he had attended mass.

He was not able to cheer Anah by telling her that the tumor had been taken care of. His heart was heavy due to the solicitude of Anah and his children. He had always been independent and wished not to be waited on. But once again John was able to bring himself back to a semi-normal life.

John Bessac lingered for another two years and passed away in the spring of 1824. He was peacefully put to rest on the banks of the beautiful river which in life he had loved so much. John rests under a small hillock shaded by stately elm trees. Their branches lean over and toward him as if to say;

“Here lies a man who represents all that is true, honest and right with the world; John Bessac.”

The following is from Esquire George Park’s mid-1800’s pamphlet about John Bessac.

JOHN BESSAC’S TIES TO FRANCE ARE SEVERED

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Aaron Squire, Anah Bessac, Anah Nichols, Baptiste, Barte, Bertrand, Canadian French, Canadian Indians, Captain Aaron Squire, Chenango River, Chenango Valley, George Park, Jersy City, Lost at Sea, Martel, New York Harbor, Protestant, Quercy, Tories

John Bessac, prior to his move to the banks of the Chenango River, had sent letters to France.  He received letters from his friend Barte and his brothers Bertrand and Baptiste. John even received a nice letter from his father inquiring about his well-being and informing John that he should come home.

John had not, to this point, told anyone about his marriage and his children. Probably with good reason; he was not sure how his family would accept his wife Anah, a Protestant, into the family. John decided that at fifty years old it was about time to face up to this difficult problem.

John sat down and wrote a letter updating the family about everything that had happened since his brother Baptiste had departed America. Included in this short history were his businesses as a merchant in Jersey City, the raids of the Tories, his movement to Hudson, New York and his circuit trading with the Canadian French and the Indians of Niagara. He informed them that he was now living as a farmer in the Chenango Valley.

John saved the news of his marriage and children until the bottom of his letter. He told them of his wonderful wife Anah, about her father Colonel Nichols, and of course his eight children. He informed his father that although he had married a Protestant he would remain a true and faithful servant to the church.

All communications from his relatives in France ceased after that. John was puzzled because his father had, in previous communications, assured John that he was dearly missed at home. John continued to write Baptiste and Bertrand but without results.

John was afraid that his mother had died. He was sure that if she were alive she would prevail upon his father and brothers to respond to his letters. His only thoughts were that she had passed from this earth and that his father forbade his brothers from writing to him because he had “united his destiny with a heretic.”

Finally, in 1822, he tried one more time. The letters were given to his son-in-law, George Park, for delivery. George, a meticulous diarist, made note of the date and addresses on the two envelopes.

For France.

     Messieurs Jean & Baptiste Bessac

          en Quercy.     Martel

 

For France.

     A Monsier le Cure on autre PasteurEcclesiastic de la Parousse de Montvalant.

     en Quercy.          Martel.    

 

The two letters were entrusted to Captain Aaron Squire of Norwalk, Connecticut. Captain Squire was the master of a vessel headed for Nantz, France. He was instructed to place them in the post office upon his arrival. The ship, the crew and Captain Squire were never heard from again after leaving the New York Harbor. They had been lost at sea.

John’s immediate family was all he had remaining. His wonderful wife Anah and the eight children gave him great joy.

And, of course, the mountains and river that he had come to so dearly love.

JOHN BESSAC MOVES TO THE CHENANGO VALLEY

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Albany, American revolution, Battle of Oriskany, British, Chenango County, Chenango River, Chenango Valley, Cherry Valley, Cherry Valley Massacre, Continental Army, Cooperstown, General Burgoyne, General Clinton's Dam, General Sullivan, Hanau, Indian Territory, Indian Warfare, Jager, Joseph Brant, Loyalists, Montvalant, New York City, Oquaga, Oriskany, St. Leger, Susquehanna River, Tioga, Tory, Walter Butler, William Butler

John Bessac, in 1809, was offered a place to dwell. It was a peaceful valley plot that his son Lewis had purchased. The Chenango River was at its base and the hills, almost mountains, rose above it for several hundred feet.

The Chenango River Valley As Seen From Between the Mountain Top Trees

This was the first movement of people west of the banks of the Susquehanna River. Prior to John Bessac’s move the American Revolution had turned into a very unconventional and nasty war. There were two army officers named Butler. Walter Butler fought for the British and the William Butler for the Continental Army.

All the territory to the west of the Susquehanna River was questionable territory. The white man had moved in and began farming. But with the American Revolution the territory was muddied; and no one wins when drinking muddied water.

There were farming settlements in Cherry Valley, Oquaga and Tioga. The British saw these territories as fair game for deflecting the war. Their thrust was towards those farmers who had no defense. This was especially true after the Battle of Oriskany. The American Revolution had moved from New York City to the midlands of New York.

The British had decided to split New England in half by taking control of the Hudson Valley. General Burgoyne, “Gentleman Johnny”, drove his forces from Quebec, Canada southward. This was timed with Lieutenant Barry St. Leger’s expedition of about 1,800 men that were a mix of British regulars, Hessian Jäger from Hanau, Loyalists, Indians, and hired rangers. St. Leger’s drive was a surprise attack from the west. They were to meet Burgoyne in Albany.

Between June of 1777 and 1778 General Walter Butler, a Loyalist to the British, had created havoc for the small farming communities. In 1778, he and Joseph Brant, a Mohawk chief, led a company of Tories and Indians in the raid that culminated in the Cherry Valley Massacre. He has been blamed for the deaths of the many women and children that were killed on that occasion.

The battles and massacres between the American’s Continental Army and the British mixture of Hession Soldiers of Fortune, Indians and Torys continued.

General Sullivan’s Expedition, which wiped out all opponents, halted these attacks on defenseless small farming communities. The expedition was a “scorched earth” campaign that flooded the entire Susquehanna Valley.

A dam was constructed by General Clinton’s men at the mouth of Otsego Lake. After several months the damn was destroyed. Indian, Tory and Loyalist settlements were wiped out; if not at first by the flood then with follow up troop movements that burned any remaining homes, Indian lodges and fields of corn.

With the opposition finally beaten the United States opened up the “Indian Territory” west of the Susquehanna River. This included the Chenango River Valley where Lewis Bessac, John’s son had purchased property.

When John Bessac moved to the Chenango Valley he found a previous settler already established. That settler was Abram Storms. Storms had hauled mill stones across the Katskill Mountains; from the Hudson Valley to the Chenango Valley. He had established a grist mill in what was to become Brisban, New York. Storms then started farming in what was known as the Stillwater Area of the Chenango River.

John Bessac learned proper farming methods from Storms. Then another farmer moved his family from the Connecticut/New York border; this farmer was Henry Birdsall.

Bessac, Storms and Birdsall learned from each other. Their farms became prosperous.

John Bessac had found a river, hills and friends that reminded him of his boyhood in Montvalant, France.

John Bessac was a happy man.

JOHN BESSAC: FUR TRADER, FATHER AND FRIEND OF THE HOMELESS

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Anah Nichols-Bessac, Betsey N Bessac, Canada, Canadian Indians, Catherine Bessac, Ephriam Nichols, Ester Peet, Francis OReille, French Refugees, French Revolution, Harriett Bessac, Henry William Bessac, Hudson NY, Jean Bessac, Joann Frances Bessac, John Bessac, John William Bessac, Louis Bessac, Niagara, trading, William John Bessac

John Bessac was a resident of Hudson, New York, in 1788. His business was drastically downsized. Monetarily, John was far removed from where he had been as a middleman between France and the United States. Much money was owed to him but due to the cost of the war quite a large number of the indebted no longer had the money to pay. Others, who had supported the British, fled the United States and settled in Canada.

John was beginning to carve out a comfortable living by trading with the French speaking natives of Lower Canada and the Indian tribes of the North and West who also spoke French. He would load a wagon with light-weight articles and travel north into Canada. From there he would travel west to Niagara.

By then his light-weight articles would have been sold or bartered. His wagon-load, during each trading session, would slowly have changed to furs purchased from French trappers and Indians. The notes and currency he received always paid for the venture and the valuable furs were clear profit.

This circuit trading continued on for three years.

John Bessac eventually had enough money to open a business in Hudson and remained there until 1809. During that time he enjoyed the comforts of home and his growing family.

There were eight children in all. They stayed close to him and his excellent wife Anah. John’s example of culture and intellectual pursuits were not wasted on his sons. They were frugal, honest and industrious. The daughters, likewise, followed the example of their mother who maintained a home of happiness and hospitality.

FROM FAMILYSEARCH.ORG

The Bessac home during that time was open to the poor penniless French refugees and travelers who had no home. The French Revolution had treated no one well.

It did not matter how ragged and destitute the refugees appeared to be. John and Anah always welcomed them into their home for a meal and a place to stay. Quite often a new set of clothing was obtained for the wanderer.

Few, if any, communications from his home country of France were received; other than a letter or two from his old friend Barte. Barte gave good account of his own activities but always ended in a warning for John to stay in the United States.

The Kingdom of France was being threatened by the National Assembly.

Letters from John to his brothers Baptiste and Bertrand were sparse.

During this period John never mentioned his wife or children.

 

 

 

JOHN BESSAC ENTERS THE DOMESTIC LIFE

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American Patriot, Anah Nichols, Colonel Nicholls, Cornwallis, Dutchess County, Fishkill, Jersy City, Prisoner of War, The Committee of Safety

John Bessac was released by the British within a few weeks after he, once again, became a prisoner of war. His fortune was depleted and his self-confidence was a waning. He returned to Jersey City to determine if he could salvage his business. Once again he dredged up the courage and buoyancy that had, to date, carried him through life.

His father and mother sent him several letters that wished him well. They expressed their deep affection for him and ensured that he knew he was welcome home. Not only welcome but also that their lives were not full without him being there.

John Bessac was elated that his father would still welcome him home.

John decided that when the American War for Independence was over he would sail back to Montvalant.

John often, in the line of business, visited the residence of Colonel Nichols. Aside from the business John seemed to be visiting the Colonel more often in recent days. He had noticed that the Colonel’s daughter Anah had blossomed into a beautiful woman. With blue eyes and a hospitable manner it was not hard for her to capture John Bessac’s attention.

A mutual attachment developed between the gallant young Frenchman and the daughter of a American Patriot. John soon offered her his hand. She accepted and within weeks they were married. John Bessac may not have realized it at the time but Anah Nichols-Bessac was a kind, supporting, devoted and affectionate wife through his subsequent years.

John Bessac had abandoned his gallant and gay life for one of more substance.

He remained in his Jersey City business for two years after his marriage. Lord Cornwallis suffered a defeat of magnitude at Yorktown. His troops were moved to New York City and were far from controllable. The marauding and unprincipled British Tories raided home and business. John Bessac closed his business in Jersey City and moved to Fishkill on the Hudson. There in Dutchess County, New York, John expected to continue whatever business he could muster.

However, the uncontrollable British troops continued to pillage whatever they could. A group of American citizens formed “The Committee of Safety” for their own protection. Several of the marauders were killed but Colonel Nichols lost a son in one of these skirmishes.

John Bessac was robbed and severely wounded by these British vagabonds before the war came to an end.

JOHN BESSAC ROLLS THE DICE

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America, Baptiste Bessac, Brest, British, Chesapeake Bay, Continental Army, Dublin, French Fleet, International trade, John Bessac, New Jersey, New York City, Philadelphia

Baptiste Bessac had purchased a load of flax seed that filled the entire ship. It sailed out of Philadelphia for Brest on the westernmost tip of France.

The British men-o-war must have been too busy with outgoing goods headed for America. The ship load of flax seed made it safely to Brest. Baptiste sold the goods to a German merchant who had a customer ready to receive the seed in Dublin.

Business was going quite well in Europe.

Not so in America.

British forces had been camped in the area of New York City. They made a sudden excursion into New Jersey which was defenseless. They ravaged the countryside and plundered the inhabitants. This was not the honorable warfare as the French had practiced it nor as the Americans had expected. The principles of war were turned upside down.

Business and trade in New Jersey ebbed to a trickle. John Bessac needed merchandise for resale. The Continental Army had need of supplies. On the other hand there was not much faith put into the American currencies. The new nation was deeply in debt. The gloom of failure for the citizens of America was starting to weigh heavily. They had pledged “life, fortune and sacred honor” as their collateral for their independence. The British were ready to collect on that debt.

Another French fleet had arrived near the Chesapeake Bay; the mouth of the Susquehanna River. The fleet was in need of provisions. John Bessac purchased what he could with his remaining money and chartered a vessel to deliver the supplies. Unfortunately the pilot of the vessel pulled out of a fog bank only to find himself looking into the canons of an English man-o-war.

The vessel was taken as a prize. The crew and John Bessac were held as prisoners of war.

John Bessac’s calculated risk ended in disaster. John was starting to question this life of international merchandising.

JOHN BESSAC THE HONORARY SURGEON

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American revolution, Anna Nichols, Count Rochambeau, de Ternay, de Vimeur, DeKalb County, Dutchess County, Ephriam Nichols, Jersey City, Monsieur de Ternay, Newport RI, Patriot, Poughkeepsie, Whig

The French connection continued to play in John Bessac’s favor. Another French fleet under Monsieur de Ternay had arrived at a safe port; Newport, Rhode Island. It was a troop fleet delivering the land forces of Count de Rochambeau.

The brothers Bessac were acquainted with several officers of Ternay and Rochambeau. During several conversations with these officers they asked about Rufus Bessac. They were interested in obtaining the skills of a physician to help handle the wounded who were sure to need help. When told that he had unexpectedly died in the hospital at Cadiz they discovered that John Bessac had some medical skills. They attempted to enlist him as a surgeon.

John was aghast at the thought of using what little surgical skill he had. He only watched and read about surgery. Surely there must be a surgeon with the correct skills available. John made them aware that he was not properly skilled. The French officers imagined that their needs would outstrip the surgeons available. They begged John to sign on.

A compromise was made. John would help if he would be allowed additional time to observe other surgeons at practice. Also, he would be allowed to act as stand-in and only do surgery on his own if a real surgeon was unavailable.

John Bessac received a commission as assistant surgeon on the staff of Count Rochambeau without exacting the performance of active professional duty.

John’s commission as assistant surgeon was not called upon. He and his brother Baptiste continued to obtain provisions for the Continental Army. Business in Jersey City was good.

During these dealings he met and formed a friendship with Colonel Ephriam Nichols. The colonel was an ardent “Whig and Patriot” of the American cause from Dutchess County, New York. The colonel was heavily engaged in waging war with his Mother Country. He supported the American cause with the time, money and talents that God had made available to him.

Colonel Nichols accepted responsibility for the payment of goods and provisions deemed necessary by the Commissary General of the Continental Army. Hopefully, repayment would be received at a later date. Of course that all depended on the Americans becoming victorious in their rebellion. If not, then Colonel Nichols would end up without so much as an acre of property or a penny in his pocket, not to mention the specter of jail.

John Bessac obtained the goods for the Continental Army. Ephriam Nichols paid for those goods. A close business relationship was established.

The relationship between John Bessac and Colonel Nichols had yet another turn to take.

JOHN BESSAC THE PRIVATEER

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1779, American revolution, American Society, Atlantic Ocean, Baptiste Bessac, Bay of Biscay, Bordeaux, Caribbean, Central America, Continental Congress, Count d'estaing, Declaration of Independence, Delaware Bay, Diplomatic Meeting, dye wood, East River, George Clymer, Gulf of Mexico, John Bessac, Letters of marque, molasses, New York, Philadelphia, Prison Ship, Prisoners of Brittan, Prisoners of War, privateering, rum, South Sea, sugar

The privateer “Letter Of Marque”, who was ready for her dangerous mission, sailed out of the Port of Bordeaux in the early summer months of 1779.

There was, surprisingly, little action in the Bay of Biscay. The destination for the “Letter of Marque” was the West Indies. Her intentions were to sail both the Atlantic Ocean and the “South Sea” which was becoming known as the “Caribbean.” The Gulf of Mexico was quite calm aside from the privateering action.

The Marque took two prizes consisting of rum, sugar, molasses and dye woods which were rare except for in Central America. The ship was loaded to the point where it was best to head for port. She entered the Delaware Bay and sailed up to Philadelphia.

There, the prize was exchanged for money which was divided between the ship owners, the officers and the crew. John and Baptiste deposited their money with Clymer & Sons, a reputable ship builder and banker.

Money had been set aside for repairs and refitting of The Marque. As soon as that task was complete she sailed once more, in search of a prize.

A British sloop-of-war outmaneuvered The Marque. The sloop fired a majority of its eighteen guns and The Marque lost the battle. Three men were killed and several wounded. The Marque was captured and held by the British. Likewise, Baptiste and John Bessac also came to the same fate.

The British had a prison ship docked in the East River of New York. Baptiste, John, the officers and crew were imprisoned within this ship. Diplomatic efforts were made between the British and the French. An exchange of British for French prisoners was made. John and Baptiste Bessac headed to Philadelphia to retrieve their money from Clymer.

The gentleman handed over their money and the two brothers traveled to Jersey City across the Hudson from New York. Once there, they intended to start merchant and commercial businesses.

Connections had to be established. A light ship of shallow draft was chartered with the intent of visiting the French Fleet laying off the coast. The chartered ship was sufficient enough to avoid the heavy British men-o-war that remained hovering off the coast. The British were attempting to strangle the American uprising by starving it of needed goods.

The Bessac brothers met with Count d’Estaing who commanded the fleet. Arrangements were made for newly shipped goods to be delivered to Jersey City. These good would be sold and distributed by the Bessacs.

From Wikipedia

It was a very lucrative business and the brothers did quite well for themselves. John, cutting a masculine figure about town, rapidly commanded the English language. He was graced with the polished manners of a well-bred Frenchman and soon became a known figure within the best of American society.

Another chapter of John Bessac’s life was in full bloom.

JOHN BESSAC SAILS TO BORDEAUX

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1779, Baptiste Bessac, Bessac the Pirate, Bordeaux, British animosity, French animosity, French schooner, Letter of Marque, Montvalant, Santander

John Bessac spent very few days in Santander. Just enough time to rest up and book a place on a schooner to Bordeaux.

John could hardly wait to set his brother Baptiste. So much had taken place since the day that John had left everything in Montvalant behind. There was much to talk about.

Seamen were a tight knit group so John asked everyone, including the captain, if they knew of his brother Baptiste and what ship he may be on. No one seemed to have ever heard of a Baptiste Bessac. John became concerned about his situation. He reread Baptiste’s letter several times to make sure that he had not overlooked some word that may change the interpretation of what Baptiste had said.

No sooner had the schooner docked when John leaped off and started making inquiries about Baptiste.

John finally ran across a sailor who seemed to know something about Baptiste.

“Oh, you mean Bessac the Pirate?” said the sailor.

“No, he is not a Pirate. He is a merchant” answered John.

The sailor responded “Well, if you go down to dock four you will find ‘The Letter of Marque’ tied up there. I have heard that Baptiste the Pirate is on board.”

John decided there was no point in correcting the ignorant sailor again.

“Even so, there may be another Baptiste Bessac in this world and he may be a pirate” John thought.

John found dock four and a ship there was named “The Letter of Marque.”

“Ahoy” called John in his best new-found seaman’s vernacular. “Is there a Baptiste Bessac aboard?”

No sooner had he finished his words when his brother’s head popped up over the gunwale. Simultaneously both brothers were overcome by the biggest smiles that either had in the last year. Each of them ran towards the boarding plank; John on the dock and Baptiste on the boat. On that narrow board they hugged each other with deep feeling. Their eyes became a little misty. They both turned their heads and hoped that the other had not noticed.

“Come up and let me show you our enterprise” said Baptiste.

Several men were busy securing canons on the deck and powder below.

“Why all the arms?” asked John.

Baptiste’s answer verified the supposedly ignorant sailor’s words “Oh, you have heard of Bessac the alleged Pirate?”

Baptiste informed John that he and a few other gentlemen had received a letter of marque from the king. The letter gave them a commission to make reprisals on British vessels and cargos. The letter also gave indemnification for any injuries or losses that they may suffer while in the course of their duties.

John was now satisfied that his brother was not a “pirate” but rather a “privateer.” They would be supporting the American cause with the approval of the king. As always, French and British animosity continued.

John was so close to Montvalant that he gave thought to visiting his family. However, Baptiste informed him that they were about to set sail. There was not enough time for a visit.

John considered this dangerous future that he was about to embark upon. Knowing that he had to make amends he sat down and wrote a letter.

To his father he wrote a deep apology and asked for his blessing, forgiveness and all the derelictions of duty that he had made. To his mother he tried to write his love for her. But alas, only a few lines could be completed before he completely broke down. Even those few lines could hardly be read due to the tear stains that fell upon the wet ink.

The privateer “Letter Of Marque” was ready for her dangerous mission. John, fueled with his natural enthusiasm, was aboard.

The brothers Bessac and the Letter of Marque sailed out of the Port of Bordeaux in the early summer months of 1779.