CHAPTER 14 - THE MEN OF POSQUOSON
The men had lined up early that morning on the docks to sign aboard the Essex. Each man was personally interviewed the Master of the Ship, Kathleen O'Donnell Lewis. As the day wore on one thing became abundantly clear to her, too many farmers and not enough sailors. Not only were there not enough sailors there were even fewer men who had ever been in a real fight of any kind let alone a battle at Sea. All told 60 men had signed aboard the Essex that day bringing her total crew to 110 men, some 40 shy of what she had hoped for. As the line gave way and no more recruits appeared on the docks Kate went on board the Essex in search of Aaron, her husband and Captain of the Essex.
"Aaron, I need a word, about the crew."
"Certainly, Kate, what troubles you so?"
"We are forty men shy of a full crew, and those that we have . . . few are sailors and even fewer have ever fired a shot in anger. What is worse, of all the men, only a handful have ever fired a cannon."
Aaron smiled.
"I thought as much, I will handle the training of the crew. As to the numbers, Mr. O'Malley told me earlier of a fishing village down river where apparently his cousin settled some years back. The entire village is of men from the West of Ireland, who know the ways of the Sea. Even more, being O'Malleys and their ilk, they should be the sort of men well suited for our endeavors. Even now, he and some of our crew from the Concord are on a long boat headed down river. And our good Mr. Hagney, left for town about an hour ago, saying he would bring us some additional recruits. No worries my dear Kate, the Essex will have her crew."
The longboat made its way down the James River, with Mr. O'Malley at the helm and the Wright brothers manning the oars. At a turn in the bend, about three miles south of Norfolk, on the edge of the tidal marshes lay the fishing village of Poquoson. A hardscrabble place, where the inhabitants minded their own business, a mix of folk who had been cast upon Americas shores. A village where Thomas O'Malley's cousin and settled after his seven years of indentured servitude. The longboat landed on a small spit of sand, that was the only safe landing along the marshes. A small crowd of men gathered, about the longboat while children ran back towards the village to announce the arrival of strangers. Thomas instructed the Wright brothers to remain with the longboat, ready to leave, in case the reception was less than hospitable, which by the look upon the faces of some of the men was a distinct possibility.
Thomas strolled passed the men who had gathered about the longboat, not even bothering to look upon them. He made his way straight towards the edge of the village, then halted and waited for the villagers to gather. The men of Poquoson began to assemble about him and O'Malley could tell by the look upon their faces there was no intent for a hospitable welcome. Still he stood his ground, not saying a word, then in the distance he saw the man he was looking for, his own kinsman Michael O'Malley flanked by three young men, all the spitting image of their father. Finally, Thomas broke the silence and flung out his arms, shouting:
"Michael, me dear cousin!"
Michael O'Malley beamed from ear to ear, it had been ten years since he had laid eyes on Thomas. He quickened his pace and embraced his cousin. At the sight of these two cousins embracing, the mood of the men of the village instantly changed from hostile to hospitable.
"Thomas, what mischief is this that brings you here to the end of the Earth?"
Knowing his opportunity to gather men for the crew of the Essex, Thomas chose his words carefully and spoke loudly enough for all the men to hear.
"Mischief? Nay dear cousin, not mischief, but a grand opportunity for silver and glory! A chance of a lifetime that no O'Malley nor any real man of should ever let pass. Don't ya be knowing, that your own dear cousin has been sent to find men, men tired of starving half to death on salted fish, and ready to fill their pockets with silver and gold. For me own Captain did say to me just this morning, that he needed men for the Essex, a ship that Queen Anne herself has issued Letters of Marque. And I says to me self, who but my ain cousin, and his fine sons should join me on the Essex. For if I can not trust an O'Malley for such an adventure than there is no man this side of Heaven that I could ever trust."
Thomas O'Malley, who could know a man's thoughts by simply looking upon his face, glanced at the faces of all the men of Poquoson. Many had already turned away, and yet several drew nigh at the mention of silver. The women of Poquoson were less than pleased by the intrusion and glared with a hard eye at Thomas, and yet he could sense that the mention of silver would soften their countenance.
"Silver, gentlemen, French silver and Spanish gold await any who are bold enough to join the Essex, the finest ship in all of Virginia, twenty-two guns and a Captain who I have known and sailed with for seven years. No finer man ever manned the helm than me own Captain Lewis. At the mere sight of the Essex, with her guns primed and at the ready, the French and Spanish shall empty their pockets. I tell ya all we shall all return, wealthy as landlords in our old Ireland."
Michael O'Malley, knew his cousins ways and knew that his wife, Claire would just as soon butcher him just as she would let him set foot upon another ship bound for the Sea. He also knew that he could barely feed his growing family and that his eldest sons were of an age when they would need to make their way in the world. He briefly glanced at his three sons, whose eyes were wide with excitement at the thought of the adventure and even more excited with every mention of the word silver.
"Thomas, me wife Claire, would never ever let me out of her sight, for she loves me so much!"
The men of Posquoson laughed, for it was true that Claire O'Malley would never let her husband out of her sight, but most knew it was not for love, but rather she would not be left alone with their growing brood of eight children. When the laughter died down, Michael continued:
"Thomas, I fear that I shall not be able to join you upon this grand adventure, but if I know me sons, and I believe I know them well, each of them is ready to join you now. Not to be rude, dear Thomas, but it would best if you not tarry, less me dear Claire should catch wind of the meaning of your arrival."
Again, the men of Posquoson laughed at the thought of Claire O'Malley charging Thomas with stick in hand and running him out of the village.
"Well, enough dear cousin, and with four O'Malleys aboard the Essex, the French most certainly will surrender their silver at first sight. Now if their are any other men of Posquoson brave enough to join the greatest adventure of a lifetime, for fame, fortune and glory, let them quickly come away to the longboat before the wrath of their woman are upon them."
The men of Posquoson laughed agian, while the demeanor of the women was not so jovial.
Michael turned to his sons, Evan his eldest a lad of seventeen, Ethan who was fifteen and Sean who was all but twelve years of age and said:
"You best be parting, if you are to go, I will say your goodbyes to your mother."
And with those words the three O'Malley boys hugged their father and raced towards the longboat. Joining them were five other men of the village of Posquoson, all eager to fill thier pockets with silver and leave the starvation of salted fish behind them. Thomas quickly signaled the Wright brothers to launch the longboat, while he said a brief good-bye to his cousin.
The longboat quickly slipped into the river and began to make its way towards Norfolk and the Essex. The longboat had made her way at least a hundred yards from the shore when a mournful wale pierced the air. Claire O'Malley stood at the waters edge and cried out:
"Sean!"