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.

JOHN BESSAC ON THE MOVE (Again)

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American ships, Bay of Biscay, Bordeaux, Burgos, Cantabrian Mountains, French ships, Madrid, Philadelphia, San Juan, Santandar, St. Andero, Valladolid

John Bessac’s commitment of one year in the service of the Spanish Royal Guard had been completed. He accepted his mustering-out pay and purchased a few new clothes.

Since the episode of the knife fight John had received two letters from his old friend Barte and one from his brother Baptiste. Barte’s letters were letters of friendship, as were Baptiste’s. However, Baptiste’s letters were also about business. He informed John that he had made contacts in Philadelphia and would be travelling there that summer. John’s hopes of joining him were high.

Without looking back, except for his lost love, he departed Madrid without so much as one regret.

A clumsy and tumble-down coach took him to Valladolid.

He had two other passengers to contend with. One was so silent that John kept checking to see if he had passed on from this earth. The other was quite opposite. Before the trip was completed John knew about the talkative passenger’s family, his business acumen, his inheritance and a few of his mistresses. It finally dawned on John why the other passenger was so silent; he had heard it all before.

The ninety mile coach trip from Madrid to Valladolid was not without constant chatter. The silent and almost dead passenger came to life. It was from him that John heard about a treaty between the United States and France which was signed in Paris. The Bay of Biscay, where he was headed for in order to meet his brother Baptiste, was overrun with British vessels. The British were taking prizes; the contents of all American and French ships that they fell their way.

John knew that he would have to take the shortest route from Valladolid to the Bay of Biscay. There was no carriage road on that route. John decided take carts from Valladolid to Burgos and finally to San Juan. After that it was over the mountains to St. Andero; also called Santander.

The Cantabrian Mountains were scenic but only offered transportation by mule. John was offered a mule and an armed guide. Feeling confident John declined the service and departed on foot.

With his leather sack, the one that originally held a bible and a few silver coins from his mother, he departed San Juan. The path was used by mules and pedestrians. John was able to ford several small streams but eventually came to a very deep one with a bridge crossing. He was about half way across when he met a burly man on a mule coming from the other direction. John was about to pass when the man turned his mule sideways so as not to let John pass. After a few impertinent remarks by the man John had quite enough. John grabbed the mule by the reins in order to make enough room to get by. The mule lost his footing and both the beast and the man ended up in the stream. John watched for a few seconds to ensure that both were uninjured and then went on his way toward St. Andero.

John was fatigued when he reached St. Andero. All he had eaten since leaving San Juan were a few figs. He found a place to eat and rest.

His next task was to find a ship on which he could take passage to Bordeaux.

JOHN BESSAC IN CADIZ, SPAIN

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Alain Rene Le Sage, Barte, Bordeaux, Cadiz, Cadiz Hospital, Dr. Sangrado, Gil Blas, Lab fire, Oporto

John was directed, by who we do not know, to accompany his older brother Rufus to Spain. Rufus was to study medicine in the largest hospital in Europe which was located in Cadiz.

The Old Cadiz Hospital; Circa 1700's

Young John Bessac’s job was to observe the general techniques of surgery and learn the basic treatment of diseases.

While Rufus was studying surgery and medicine John was involving himself with the high society found in Cadiz. He also found time to study chemistry and read dissertations on medicine. The brothers of his religious organization in France had suggested that he obtain and read a copy of Don Quixotte, which he did.

Apparently John Bessac had been reading Alain Rene Le Sage’s “Gil Blas and Dr. Sangrado.”  Whenever he spoke of reading the dissertations on medicine he would laugh. He said he would prefer the benefits of Dr. Sangrado’s invariable “bleeding and potations of warm water” over some of the cures found in those dissertations.

Alain Rene Le Sage courtesy of Wikipedia

An Explanation of Dr. Sangrado

John Bessac had been in Cadiz less than a year when his brother Rufus suddenly died. He had contracted a contagious disease while caring for patients in the hospital. John, at about the same time period, had severely burned his hands and face in a laboratory experiment. A young lad had accidentally broken a large bulbous glass vessel full of spirits which caught fire from a nearby alcohol lamp. John Bessac had saved the young man’s life.

John, with bandaged hands wrote a letter to his mother explaining Rufus’ death and his own misfortune in the lab. With that done he buried himself in the study of surgery. This seemed to give him some relief from the loss of his brother.

He continued with his studies for some time before receiving a response from his mother. She begged him to leave the hospital before he, too, would come down with a contagious malady. The hospital was always over crowded with patients having all sorts of strange illnesses. John, after some thought, decided to pack his belongings and head home. He bid his friends in Cadiz goodbye and arrived in Bordeaux two weeks later.

Cadiz Waterfront

 John would have arrived sooner but had, by chance, met his old friend Barte in Oporto. They spent a week there before heading for Bordeaux. Upon arriving at Bordeaux they sent their luggage on to Cahors and walked the remainder of the way home.

John was relieved to finally be at home with his mother, father and brothers.