The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down
Page 42
[>] Benjamin Franklin's ditty: Lee, pp. 228–229.
[>] Trial, execution of Blackbeard pirates: The trial records have sadly been lost, apparently in the fire that engulfed Virginia's Capitol in 1747. Fragmentary accounts of the trial survive in GHP, p. 86, and Saunders (1886), pp. 341–341. See also Lee, pp. 136–142.
[>]–298 Trial of Tobias Knight: The full trial record is found in: Minutes of North Carolina Governing Council, Chowan, NC: 27 May 1719 in Saunders (1886), pp. 341–341.
[>] Eden versus Brand, Spotswood: Spotswood to Secretary Craggs, 26 May 1719 in Brock (1882), pp. 316–319.
[>] Moore and Moseley's troubles: Lee, pp. 161–167.
[>] Maynard's lawsuit: George Gordon to the Admiralty, 14 September 1721; Lee, p. 139.
[>] Bonnet's escape, Richard Tookerman: HCA i/55: Information of William Rhett, Jr., London: 28 September 1721; GHP, p. 102; Hargrave (VI), pp. 162–163; Shirley Carter Hughson, The Carolina Pirates and Colonial Commerce, 1670–1740, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press, 1894, pp. 99–101.
[>] Disturbances to free pirates: Hargrave (VI), p. 164.
[>] Trial, execution of Bonnet's men: Ibid., p. 183.
[>] Rhett recaptures Bonnet: Information of William Rhett, Jr.; GHP, pp. 102–103; GHP, pp. 102–103; CO 23/1, No. 12i: Mr Gale to Thomas Pitt, Charlestown, SC: 4 November 1718; "Rhode Island Dispatch, December 9," Boston News-Letter, 29 December 1718, p. 2.
[>] Trott's sentence: Hargrave (VI), p. 188.
[>] Interventions to save Bonnet's life: GHP, p. iii.
[>] Bonnet reprieved seven times; merchants angered: "By Letters from Carolina of December 8," Applebee's Original Weekly Journal, London: 28 February 1719, p. 1,363.
[>] Bonnet's letter to Johnson: Stede Bonnet to Governor Johnson, Charlestown, SC (November or December): 1719 in GHP, pp. 112–113.
[>] Charleston events influence Rogers: Private consultation minutes, Nassau: 28 November 1718.
[>] Independent Company surgeon dies: James Buett was dead by early January 1719, when he was replaced by John Howell, the surgeon previously coveted by Hornigold and Bondavais. CO 23/13, No. 47: Bahamas Council Minutes, Nassau: 12 January 1719.
[>] Loss of Willing Mind, Departure of Samuel: The Samuel departed for England on November ii, while the Willing Mind was lost while carrying salvaged cargo back from Green Turtle Cay. CO 23/13, No. 20: Woodes Rogers to Secretary Craggs, Nassau: 24 December 1718; Protest of Captain King, in GHP, p. 147.
302 Trial of the Nassau pirates: CO 23/1: Trial and Condemnation of Ten Persons for Piracy at New Providence, Nassau: 10 December 1718 (hereafter: Trial at New Providence).
[>] Pirates on the ramparts of Fort Nassau, gallows: Ibid.: GHP, p. 43.
[>] Rogers reprieves Rounsivell: Rogers to Secretary Craggs, p. 24 December 1718.
[>] Morris's final words, execution: Trial at New Providence.
[>] Coup attempt against Rogers: CO23/13, No. 28, Rogers to Secretary Craggs, Nassau: 24 January 1719.
[>] Strength of Eleuthera, Vane's attack: Rogers to the Council of Trade, 31 October 1718, p. 375; GHP, p. 620.
[>] Capture of Endeavor: CO 142/14: A List of all the ships and vessels that have called at Kingston in His Majesty's Land of Jamaica from the 29th day of September to the 25th day of December 1718; TJR, p. 24.
[>] Vane's men live "riotously": GHP, p. 620.
[>] Cruising in Windward Passage: TJR, p. 24; GHP, p. 138.
[>]–307 Encounter with French man-of-war: TJR, p. 24; GHP, pp. 138–139.
[>] Vane deposed, replaced by Rackham: TJR, p. 24; GHP, p. 139.
[>] Vane's final captures: TJR, pp. 24–25; CO 142/14: A List of all the ships and vessels that have called at Kingston in His Majesty's Land of Jamaica from the 29th day of September to the 25th day of December 1718; GHP, p. 139.
[>] Vane at Guanaja (Bonaca): TJR, p. 25; GHP, p. 139, Chris Humphrey, Moon Handbooks: Honduras, 3rd edition, Emeryville, CA: 2000, p. 154.
[>] Vane shipwrecked: GHP, pp. 139–140.
[>] Vane's capture: GHP, pp. 140–141.
[>] Vane's trial, execution: TJR, pp. 36–40; "New York Dispatch, May 1," Philadelphia American Weekly Mercury, 4 May 1721, p. 2.
EPILOGUE: PIRACY'S END
[>] Rogers learns of war, commissions privateers: CO 23/i, No. 14Ü: Bahamas Council Minutes, Nassau: 31 March 1719.
[>] "Most forgotten conflict," Spain's war aims: Little, p. 191.
[>] Rogers pays colony's debts: CO23/12/2: Rogers Appeal to the King, 1726.
[>] Spanish invasion fleet diverted to Pensacola: Little, p. 191; Rogers to Secretary Craggs, Nassau: 27 May 1719 in CSPCS 1719–1720, No. 205, p. 97.
[>] Rogers's comments on work at Nassau: Rogers [to Secretary Craggs?], Nassau: 24 January 1719 in CSPCS 1719–1720, No. 28, pp. 8–9.
[>] Rogers's credit problems, lack of contact with London: Rogers to the Council of Trade and Plantations, Nassau: 20 April 1720 in CSPCS 1720–1721, No. 47, p. 30; Governor and Council of the Bahamas to Secretary Craggs, Nassau: 26 November 1720 in CSPCS 1720–1721, No. 302, p. 201.
[>] Naval visits; Whitney's comments: ADM 1/2649 fin: Thomas Whitney to the Admiralty, Rose at Port Royal, Jamaica: 26 October 1719; Rogers to Craggs, 27 May 1719, p. 97.
[>] Rogers's defenses, 1720 invasion: Rogers to Council of Trade, 20 April 1720, p. 29; Nicholas Laws to the Council of Trade and Plantations, Jamaica: 31 March 1720 in CSPCS 1720–1721, No. 35, p. 21; Little, p. 193; Lyons, p. 36.
313 Rogers to Charleston, fights a duel: John Lloyd to Secretary Craggs, Charleston, SC: 2 February 1721 in CSPCS 1720–1721, No. 372, p. 252.
[>] Rogers quits, sails home: Rogers Appeal to the King; Little, p. 198.
[>] Rogers deposed, goes to debtor's prison: Little, pp. 198–201.
[>] Hornigold's fate: ADM 1/2649 fii: Thomas Whitney to the Admiralty, Rose off Cape Canaveral, Florida: 3 June 1719.
[>] Burgess's fate: GHP, pp. 640–641.
[>] Jennings's fate: "Shipping News, New York, Oct. 10," Boston Gazette, 17 October 1720, p. 4; "New York Dispatch, August 15,"American Weekly Mercury, 18 August 1720, p. 2;"New York Dispatch, October 23," American Weekly Mercury, 19 October 1721, p. 2; Report via Captain Styles of Bermuda, Pennsylvania Gazette, Philadelphia: 4 July 1745.
[>] Ashworth's piracies: CO 23/13, No. 53: Deposition of William South, Nassau: 27 May 1719.
[>] Rackham captures Kingston: Nicholas Lawes to Council of Trade and Plantations, Jamaica: 31 January 1719 in CSPCS 1719–1720, No. 34, p. 18; GHP, p. 622.
[>] Kingston recaptured, Rackham to Nassau: "Port Royal Dispatch, February 10," Weekly Jamaica Courant, Kingston, 11 February 1719, p. 3; GHP, pp. 622–623; Nicholas Lawes to Council of Trade and Plantations, Jamaica: 24 March 1719 in CSPCS 1719–1720, No. 132, p. 64.
[>] Rackham at Nassau, romance with Bonny: GHP, pp. 623–624.
[>] How Read and Bonny were said to have met: GHP, pp. 153–158.
[>] Bonny and Rackham steal Ham's sloop: "Woodes Rogers' Proclamation," Nassau: 5 September 1720 in Boston Gazette, 17 October 1720, p. 3; Lt. Lawes to Captain Vernon, 20 October 1720 in CSPCS 1720–1721, No. 527xxxiv (e), p. 344; "New Providence Dispatch, September 4," Boston Gazette, 17 October 1720, p. 2; GHP, pp. 624–625.
[>] Rackham terrorizes Turnley, attacks fishing vessels: TJR, pp. 8–10; GHP, pp. 625–626.
[>] Eyewitness descriptions of Read and Bonny: TJR, pp. 18–19.
[>] Bondavais and Barnet encounter Rackham: Ibid., pp. 10–11.
[>] Pirates flee to hold, Bonny and Read stay: Ibid., p. 32–33; GHP, p. 156.
[>] Bonny's words to Rackham: GHP, p. 165.
[>] Rackham's execution: "St. Jago de la Vega Dispatch, November 22," Boston News-Letter, 27 February 1721, p. 2; Black, p. 115.
[>] Bonny and Read's pregnancies: TJR, p. 19; "New York Dispatch, January 31," American Weekly Mercury, Philadelphia: 7 February 1721, p. 2; GHP, p. 165.
[>] Read's death, burial: Black, p. 116; GHP, p. 159.
[>] Bonny not executed: GHP, p. 165; Black, p. 116.
[>] 90 percent collapse in pirate population: Rediker (2004), pp. 29–30.
[>] La Buse and the Scarborough: ADM 1/1879 f5: Deposition of Thomas Heath, St. Christopher: 5 July 1718; ADM 1/1879 f5: Francis Hume to the Admiralty, Scarborough at St. Christopher: 6 July 1718.
[>] La Buse in Africa, Indian Ocean: Letter from Captain Mackra, Bombay: 16 November 1720, in GHP, pp. 118–120; Adrien D'Epinay, Renseignements pour servier a L'Histoire de L'Ile de France, Ile Maurice (Mauritus): Nouvelle Imprimerie Dupuy, 1890, p. 88; Madeleine Philippe & Jan Dodd, Mauritius Reunion & Seychelles, Victoria, Australia: 2004, pp. 194–195.
321 Williams at Sierra Leone: William Snelgrave, A New Account of Some Parts of Guinea and the Slave Trade, London: James, John & Paul Knapton, 1734, pp. 216–217, 257–259.
[>] Williams's son a peruke maker: Genealogies of Rhode Island Families, Vol. II, Baltimore: Clearfield, 2000, pp. 405–406.
[>] Howell Davis and Buck: "New York Dispatch, November 17," Boston News-Letter, 24 November 1718, p. 2; "Piscataqua Dispatch, April 17," Boston News-Letter, 13 April 1719, p. 2; GHP, pp. 167–176, 191–193.
[>] Roberts's 400 vessels, capture: Rediker (2005), pp. 53, 169–170.
[>] Kennedy's fate: Hayward, pp. 34–38.
[>] Anstis' fate: GHP, pp. 288–296.
[>] England's career: GHP, pp. 114–134; "London Dispatch, April 9," American Weekly Mercury, Philadelphia: 30 June 1720, p. 4; CO 142/14: A List of all the ships and vessels that have called at Kingston in His Majesty's Land of Jamaica from the 29th day of September to the 25th day of December 1718.
[>] Chamberlaine's fate: "New York Dispatch, July 25,"Boston Gazette, 1 August 1720, p. 3; John Hardy, A Chronological List of the Captains of His Majesty's Royal Navy, London: T. Cadell, 1794, p. 25.
[>] Hume's fate: Hardy, p. 33; John Charnock, Biographia Navalis, Vol. IV, London: R. Faulder, 1796, p. 46.
[>] Pearse's fate: Charnock, p. 58; Lewis Morris to Mary Morris Pearse, Trenton, NJ: 22 May 1742, in Eugene Sheridan (ed.), The Papers of Lewis Morris, Vol. III, Newark, NJ: New Jersey Historical Society, 1993, pp. 192–194; Lewis Morris to Vincent Pearse, 1 May 1742 in Ibid., pp. 186–189; Lewis Morris to Euphemia Morris Norris, Trenton, NJ: 14 May 1742 in Ibid., pp. 189–192; Eupehmia Morris Norris to Lewis Morris, Bois, Buckinghamshire, England: 15 June 1742 in Ibid., pp. 196–204.
[>] Maynard's fate: Syrett, p. 614; Hardy, p. 44; Lyons, p. 50.
[>] Eden's fate: Lee, pp. 63–65.
[>] Spotswood's fate: James Grant Wilson and James Fiske, Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, Vol. V, New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1888, pp. 635–636; Brock (1882), pp. xii–xvi.
[>] Hamilton's fate: "London News Item," London Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, 31 August 1717, p. 321; Minutes of the Commissioners for the Trade and Plantations, London: 6 June 1721 as appears in Kinkor (2003), p. 266; Sir James Balfour, ed., The Scots Peerage, Vol. IV, Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1907, p. 7.
[>] Woodes Rogers in London: Woodes Rogers Appeal to the King.
[>] Mist as author of A General History: Arne Bialuschewski, "Daniel Defoe, Nathaniel Mist, and the General History of the Pyrates," Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America, Vol. 98 (2004), pp. 21–38; Advertisement for the General History, American Weekly Mercury, 29 December 1724, p. 2.
[>] Rogers's petition, redress: "Rogers Appeal to the King," 1726; Little, pp. 202, 208.
[>] Hogarth portrait of Rogers: Hogarth, Woodes Rogers and his Family, 1729.
[>] Rogers's final term: Little, pp. 210–222.
[>] Motto of the Bahamas: Little, p. 210n.
Index
Footnotes
* Buccaneer is an imprecise term referring to the pirates and privateers who operated out of the West Indies in the seventeenth century, particularly in the 1670s and 1680s. The word originally referred to bands of lawless men, most of them French, who roamed the island of Hispaniola, hunting wild cattle and drying the meat on a boucan, an Indian-style meat-smoker; in addition to cattle, they occasionally hunted small vessels. The English later adopted the term buccaneer to refer to maritime raiders in the Caribbean in general, though this was not how the word was used at the time.
[back]
***
* As later discussed, this author was not Daniel Defoe, as asserted by generations of well-intentioned scholars and librarians.
[back]
***
† Most Catholic nations adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1582, when the two systems were ten days apart. By 1700, the discrepancy had widened to eleven days, where it remained until 1752, when Britain finally adopted the new calendar.
[back]
***
* Also spelled "Every" or "Evarie" in documents from the period.
[back]
***
* In 1962, the Bahamian legislature renamed it Paradise Island at the request of American supermarket tycoon Huntington Hartford. It is now taken up by luxury resort hotels.
[back]
***
* An island now split between the nations of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
[back]
***
* Renamed Robinson Crusoe Island in 1966 by the Chilean government.
[back]
***
* The Town House (1713) still stands today, surrounded by skyscrapers, and is known as the Old State House. King Street is now known as State Street. The tidal flats that Long Wharf once traversed have been filled in to make the Boston waterfront.
[back]
***
† Andrew Faneuil, for whom Boston's famed Faneuil Hall is named.
[back]
***
* Young Sarah Walker (c. 1700–1731) would eventually marry William Fairfax, for whom Fairfax County, Virginia is named. Her daughter, Anne, was George Washington's mistress, a particularly awkward situation as she was married to his brother, Lawrence Washington. Anne's own brother, George Fairfax, apparently had some African features; he suffered humiliation during a childhood visit to England when his paternal relatives began speculating aloud as to whether his skin would turn black at puberty.
[back]
***
* For consistency, all dates in this book correspond to the Julian calendar that was then in use in Great Britain. Spain (and France) were already using the modern Gregorian calendar that, during this time period, was eleven days ahead of the Julian, meaning that Spanish documents record the 1715 treasure fleet departing on July 24.
[back]
***
* El Grifon arrived in Brest, France, on September 2 (of the Gregorian calendar), her passengers unaware of the fate that had befallen the fleet.
[back]
***
* This fort was completed in 1695 and survives today, entirely intact, the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States.
[back]
***
* Now adjacent to the city of Miami, but then next to an uninhabited marsh. At this time, there were no Spanish settlements between Cuba and St. Augustine.
[back]
***
* Today part of Indonesia.
[back]
***
* The "Island of Pines" later served as the model for Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. The second largest island in Cuba, it was renamed Isla de Juventud after the 1959 revolution.
[back]
***
* In reality, James Stuart had stayed for several weeks.
[back]
***
* No relation to Lord Archibald Hamilton.
[back]
***
* Captain Francis Hume of the Scarborough was actually looking for Bellamy and Williams, having responded to Governor Walter Hamilton's call to purge them from the Leeward Islands.
[back]
***
* Author of the play Cato, a drama, a source of many Libertarian ideas.
[back]
***
† For which the Kit Kat candy bar is said to be named.
[back]
***
‡ After his death, Sloane's collection would form the core of the British Museum.
[back]
***
* HMS Swift was capable of carrying eighty men and up to eighteen guns, most of them three-pounders, but only had six guns and forty men at Jamaica. She was a 128-ton sloop built in 1704.HMS Seaford was a large, 293- ton sixth-rate frigate with thirty-two six-pound guns.
[back]
***
* That is, not a Jacobite like Governor Archibald Hamilton had turned out to be.
[back]
***
* Then the principal port of French Hispaniola and now part of the nation of Haiti.
[back]
***
* Some writers have questioned whether this conversation, which was eventually published in A General History of the Pyrates, actually took place, asking who would have transcribed the conversation. The answer is Beer himself. After his audience with Bellamy, the captain was placed aboard the Marianne, where he had plenty of idle hours to record the historic conversation. He was released on Block Island a week or two later and, on April 29, showed up in Newport and reported what had happened to him to a correspondent of the Boston News-Letter. Details of the conversation were almost certainly recorded by Rhode Island authorities and forwarded to London, where they were made available to the author of the General History.
[back]
***
* Williams needn't have worried. While cruising the Carolina coast in May 1716, the Shoreham ran aground on a reef, causing extensive damage to her keel and hull sheathing. She limped into Charleston on May 29, and wasn't able to return to sea for nearly a year. While Williams and Bellamy were prowling the Capes of Virginia, the Shoreham was still loading supplies in Charleston; she wouldn't arrive at Kinquotan (Hampton Roads) until May 1,1717.
[back]
***
* Mary's first husband, Edward Sands, friend of Captain Kidd, had died in 1708. Paulsgrave's half-sister Catherine (1690–1769) married his nephew John Sands (1683–1763), while Mary remarried one Robert Westcott.
[back]
***
* The island, located off East Hampton, NY, has remained in the same family for four hundred years. Robert David Lion Gardiner, the last to hold the family name, called himself the "16th Lord of the Manor" until his death in 2004.