John Macferson

He is best known for a single incident involving a Portuguese ship, and for being one of the last pirates of the Golden Age.

In 1731 Macferson and four other English sailors booked passage aboard the Portuguese pink John which had sailed from Bristol.

[1] That October in Philadelphia, Macferson and his four co-conspirators were put on trial, convicted, and sentenced to hang.

[3] In fact their sentence was never carried out: as they had only committed thievery and not murder, Pennsylvania Lt.

In April of 1732 the Duke wrote back confirming that the five had been granted clemency by the King: "His Majesty approved your having respited the execution of the said criminals, and has been graciously pleased, upon some favourable circumstances that have been represented in their behalf, to extend His mercy to them.