The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down

by Colin Woodard

  [>]–145 Bellamy and La Buse's captures in June–July 1716: Examination of Richard Caverley, New York: 15 June 1717, Records of the Vice-Admiralty Court of the Province of New York 1685–1838 as appears in Kinkor (2003), p. 150; Examination of Jeremiah Higgins, New York; 22 June 1717, Records of the Vice-Admiralty Court of the Province of New York 1685–1838 as appears in Kinkor (2003), p. 154.

  [>] Hornigold deposed as commodore: TEP, p. 23; Examination of Jeremiah Higgins, p. 154.

  [>]–146 Bellamy and La Buse's minor captures c. August 1716: Examination of Jeremiah Higgins, pp. 154–155.

  [>] Battle with French ship: Ibid., p. 154; Examination of Richard Caverley, p. 151.

  [>] Captures in the Virgin Islands: TEP, p. 23.

  [>] Forced unmarried, let married free: Ibid., p. 25.

  147 Bonetta capture, Bellamy's intentions to capture ship: Deposition of Abijah Savage; "death's head" flag described: testimony of Thomas Baker in TEP, p. 24.

  [>] Wickham an Antigua planter: Will of John McLester, Antigua: 9 December 1730, in ROE Book, Box 187,1676–1739 Item No. 1, LDS Film 1855671.

  [>] St. Croix: careening, escapees, Hoff whipped: TEP, pp. 24–25; Deposition of Abijah Savage.

  [>] Robin Hood's men: TEP, p. 11.

  [>] Indian boy, Negro, John King taken by pirates: Deposition of Abijah Savage; Michael Levinson, "Remains are Identified as a boy pirate," Boston Globe, 2 June 2006; Thomas H. Maugh II, "A Pirate's Life for Him—at Age 9," Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2006. (Kenneth Kinkor of the Expedition Whydah Museum attributed a bone found on the Whydah wreck—a fibula clad in an expensive shoe and stocking—to John King; archeologists say it belonged to a child between eight and eleven years of age.)

  [>] Capture of the Sultana: Examination of Jeremiah Higgins, p. 155; Examination of Richard Caverley, p. 151.

  [>] "Cries of grief" of captured men: TEP, p. 25.

  [>] Walter Hamilton's letter to Barbados: Walter Hamilton to the Council of Trade and Plantations, Antigua: 14 December 1717, CSPCS 1716–1717, No. 425, p. 230. Savage got to Antigua by 30 November.

  [>] French sloops captured: Walter Hamilton to Council of Trade, 14 December 1717, p. 230.

  [>] Events at La Blanquilla: Ibid., p. 18–19.

  [>] Marianne's armament increased to 14 guns: Walter Hamilton to the Council of Trade, 14 December 1717, p. 230.

  [>] Ultimate plan to capture larger vessel: TEP, p, 24.

  [>] Treasure location and practices: Ibid., p. 24.

  [>] Day-to-day weather in Windward Islands (Dec. 1716–Jan. 1717): Reconstructed based on the log entries of HMS Scarborough, which was at Barbados and the Virgin Islands during this period. ADM 51/865: Logbooks of HMS Scarborough, entries of 1 December 1716–31 January 1717.

  [>] Storm, anchoring at St. Croix: TEP, p. 25.

  [>] Details of battle, pirate wrecks at St. Croix: ADM 1/1689 f5: An Inventory of Several Goods Taken from the Pirates at St. Cruze by His Majesty's Shipp Scarborough, c. Summer 1717; ADM 51/865: entries of 16–22 January 1717; Lyon, p. 36; Walter Hamilton to the Council of Trade and Plantations, Antigua: 1 March 1717 in CSPCS 1716–1717, item No. 484; GHP, pp. 65–69.

  [>] Sources re. blacks on slave and pirate vessels: Kenneth J. Kinkor, "Black Men Under the Black Flag" in C. R. Pennell, Bandits at Sea: A Pirates Reader, New York; New York University Press, 2001, pp. 200–203.

  [>] Spanish Town description, population: List of dutiable inhabitants of Spanish Town, Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda: c. 15 November 1716 in CSPCS 1716–1717, No. 425iv, p. 231; Deputy Governor Hornby to Walter Hamilton, Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda: 15 November 1716 in CSPCS 1716–1717, No. 425v, p. 231; Captain Candler (HMS Winchlsea) to Secretary Burchett, 12 May 1717 in CSPCS 1716–1717, No. 639i, pp. 339–340.

  [>] Bellamy at Spanish Town: Captain Candler to Burchett, p. 340; TEP, pp. 11, 25.

  [>]–157 Lawrence Prince and Whydah: CO142/14: Jamaica Shipping Returns, "An account of goods exported from the Island of Jamaica since the 29th day of September 1713 and the 25th day of March 1715 and the goods and Negroes Imported, Kingston," No. 58; Examination of Jeremiah Higgins, p. 155; Examination of Richard Caverley, p. 151; T70/19, No. 63, Letter of David Welsh to the Royal Africa Company, Williams Fort, Whydah, Ghana: 22 February 1717 as printed in Kinkor (2003), p. 89; Donovan Webster, "Pirates of the Whydah," National Geographic, May 1999;"Proclamation of Gov. Samuel Shute," Boston News-Letter, 13 May 1717, p. 1.

  158 Stern guns fired at Marianne: TEP, p. 23.

  [>] Pirates' weapons: "Manifest of Recovered Artifacts from the pirate ship Whydah," in Barry Clifford, The Pirate Prince, New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993, pp. 207–208 (on armament); Author Interview, Kenneth J. Kinkor, Provincetown, MA: 15 June 2005.

  [>] Captured Spanish vessel used as guardship: Matthew Musson to the Council of Trade and Plantations, London: 5 July 1717 in CSPCS 1716–1717, No. 635, p. 338; Peter Heywood to the Council of Trade and Plantations, Jamaica: 3 December 1716 in CSPCS 1716–1717, No. 411, p. 213.

  [>] Capture of one of the ships sent to "dislodge" pirates: CO23/1, No. 31: Memorial from the Copartners for Carrying on a Trade & Settling the Bahamas Islands, London: 19 May 1721. This was the Sarah, Captain William Taylor, which sailed with the Samuel, Captain Edward Hampton. Samuel Buck was the primary owner of both ships.

  [>] Bahamas as sanctuary for multattos and escaped slaves: Hugo Prosper Leaming, Hidden Americans: Maroons of Virginia and the Carolinas, New York: Garland Publishing, 1995, pp. 128–129.

  [>] Bermuda governor on slaves and pirates: Bennett to the Council of Trade, 31 May 1718, p. 261.

  [>]–160 Henry Jennings (March 1717): Matthew Musson to the Council of Trade, 5 July 1717, p. 338.

  [>] Jennings and Hamilton Galley incident: "New York Dispatch, October 29," Boston News-Letter, 29 October 1716, p. 2.

  [>] Abaco, Harbour Island (March 1717): Ibid.; Council of Trade and Plantations to Secretary Joseph Addison, Whitehall, London: 31 May 1717 in CSPCS 1716–1717, No. 596, p. 321.

  [>] Thatch's first command: "New York Dispatch," Boston News-Letter, 29 October 1716, p. 2; GHP, p. 71.

  [>] Thatch's appearance (c. 1717): GHP, pp. 84–85.

  [>] Thatch as a mulatto: Leaming, p. 125.

  [>] Up-and-coming rivals to Hornigold: Musson to the Council of Trade, 5 July 1717, p. 338. Vane's role is surmised from his subsequent behavior and the knowledge that he spent much of 1717 spending the fruits of past piracies as noted in GHP.

  [>] Sick mulatto and taking of John Howell: CO23/1, No. 42iii: Bahamas Council Minutes (Trial of John Howell), Nassau: 22 December 1721.

  [>]–163 Capture of the Bonnet, Revenge: Testimony of Robert Brown in CO23/1, No. 42iii; Bennett to the Council of Trade and Plantations, Bermuda: 30 July 1717 in CSPCS 1716–1717, No. 677, p. 360.

  [>] Hans Sloane biography: Arthur MacGregor, "Sir Hans Sloane (1660–1753)," in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2004.

  [>] Rogers's letter to Hans Sloane: British Museum, Sloane Collection, MS No. 4044, folio 155 as printed in Manwaring (1935), p. 125.

  [>]–165 Contact with the S.P.C.K.: Little, p. 173.

  [>] Madagascar scheme squelched by East India Company: An entirely believable theory put forth in Little, p. 174.

  165 Swift fears capture by pirates: General Peter Heywood to the Council of Trade and Plantations, Jamaica: 3 December 1716 in CSPCS 1716–1717, No. 411, p. 212.

  [>] Seaford fears capture by Bellamy: Walter Hamilton to the Council of Trade and Plantations, Antigua: 15 May 1717 in CSPCS 1716–1717, No. 568, p. 300.

  [>] Swift, Seaford specifications (in notes): Lyon, pp. 28, 32.

  [>]–166 Diplomats' letter to Addison: Council of Trade and Plantations to Secretary Joseph Addison, Whitehall, London: 31 May 1717 in CSPCS 1716–1717, No. 596, p. 321.

  [>] Copartners and Samuel Buck: CO23/i, No. 31: Memorial from the Copartners for Carrying on a Trade & Settling the Bahamas Islands, London: 19 May 1721; Little, p
. 180.

  [>] Petitions to the King: CO5/1265, No. 76iii: Woodes Rogers Petition & Proposal to the King to Govern the Bahamas Islands, London: c. July 1717; CO5/1265, No. 76iv: Petition to the King from Merchants, 1717; CO5/1265, No. 76v: Memorial to Joseph Addison from Sundry Merchants, 1717; CO5/1265, No. 76vii: Petition of Merchants of Bristol to the King, Bristol: 1717.

  [>]–167 Petition to the King and his decision: "Letter of Secretary Joseph Addison to the Council of Trade and Plantations," Whitehall, London: 3 September 1717 in CSPCS 1717–1718, No. 64, p. 25.

  [>] Arguments to Lords Proprietor: CO5/1265, No. 76ii: Woodes Rogers's proposal to the Lords Proprietor of the Bahamas, 1717; Little, pp. 179–180; Letter of Richard Shelton to Mr. Popple, London: 6 November 1717 in CSPCS 1717–1718, No. 183, p. 97; Copy of the Surrender from the Lords Proprietor of the Bahama Islands to the King of their right of civil and military government, London: 28 October 1717 in CSPCS 1717–1718, No. 176, pp. 85–87.

  [>] Purchases for the expedition: "Memorial from the Copartners..."

  [>] Lords' Proprietor document completed: "Copy of the Surrender...,"pp. 85–87.

  [>] St. James's Palace described: John Roque, London, Westminster and Southwark, Map, ist edition, 1746, Sheet B2, section 8; Thomas Bowles, A View of St. James Palace, Pall Mall & etc., Engraving, 1763.

  [>] King's instructions to Rogers: His Majesty's Commission to Woodes Rogers to be Governor of the Bahama Islands, Court of St. James, London: 16 January 1718 in CSPCS 1717–1718, No. 220i, pp. 110–112; His Majesty's Instructions to Governor Woodes Rogers, London: 16 January 1718, in CSPCS 1717–1718, No. 220Ü, pp. 112–113.

  CHAPTER SEVEN: BELLAMY

  [>] Plundering of Whydah, treatment of Prince: TEP, pp. 23–24.

  [>] Peter Hoff's remarks: Ibid., p. 25.

  [>] Cargoes for Prince loaded: Ibid., p. 25.

  [>] Capture of the Tanner frigate: Ibid., pp. ii, 23, 25.

  [>] Condition, description of Marianne (c. April 1717): CO5/1318, No. 16iii: Deposition of John Lucas before John Hart, Annapolis, MD: 13 April 1717; CO5/1318, No. 16iv: Deposition of Joseph Jacob before John Hart, Annapolis, MD: 13 April 1717.

  [>] Capture of Beer's sloop: "Rhode Island Dispatch, May 3," Boston News-Letter, 6 May 1717, p. 2.

  [>] Bellamy's speech to Beer: GHP, p. 587.

  [>] Marianne, Whydah separated in fog: TEP, p. 23; Examination of Richard Caverley, p. 151.

  175 Capture of Agnes, Endeavor, Anne Galley: TEP, pp. 16, 23–24; CO5/1318 No. 16ii: Deposition of Andrew Turbett, Williamsburg, VA: 17 April 1717.

  [>] William's appearance: Deposition of John Lucas.

  [>] Capture of Tryal: Deposition of John Lucas; Deposition of Joseph Jacob.

  [>] HMS Shoreham: ADM51/4341 pt 6: Logbook of Shoreham; Lyon, p. 26.

  [>] Pirates on lookout for Shoreham; attempted captures on 13 April: CO5/1318 No. 4: Anonymous letter to Council of Trade and Plantations, Rappahannock, VA: 15 April 1717.

  [>] Sails to Block Island: Examination of Richard Caverley, p. 151; Examination of Jeremiah Higgins, p. 155.

  [>] Rhode Island described: Bridenbaugh, pp. 149, 153–154; J. A. Doyle, English Colonies in America, Volume V: The Colonies Under the House of Hanover, New York: Henry Holt & Co., 1907, p. 18.

  [>] Gardiner's Island: Zacks, pp. 235–237, 241–242; Robert F. Worth, "Robert D. L. Gardiner, 93, Lord of His Own Island, Dies," New York Times, 24 August 2004; Guy Trebay, "The Last Lord of Gardiners Island," New York Times, 29 August 2004; "New York Dispatch, 19 April," Boston News-Letter, 5 May 1717, p. 2.

  [>] Capture of Mary Anne: Deposition of Thomas Fitzgerald and Alexander Mackonochie, Boston: 6 May 1717 in Jameson, pp. 296–297; TEP, p. 9.

  [>] Course set for Cape Cod: Ibid.

  [>] Capture of Fisher: Deposition of Ralph Merry and Samuel Roberts, Boston: 16 May 1717 in Jameson, pp. 301–302.

  [>] Lights placed astern, proceed northwards: Ibid.; Deposition of Thomas Fitzgerald and Alexander Mackonochie; TEP p. 9.

  [>] Events on Mary Anne: TEP, pp. 9–11; Deposition of Thomas Fitzgerald and Alexander Mackonochie, pp. 301–302.

  [>] Events on Ann Galley and Fisher: Deposition of Ralph Merry and Samuel Roberts, pp. 301–302.

  [>] Events on Whydah: TEP, p. 24; Cyprian Southack to Governor Shute, Eastham, MA: 8 May 1717, Massachusetts Archives item 51: 289, 289a as printed in Kinkor (2003), pp. 121–122; Cyprian Southack to Governor Shute, Provincetown, MA: 5 May 1717, Massachusetts Archives item 51: 287, 287a, as printed in Kinkor (2003), pp. 108–110; Colonel Buffett to Governor Shute in Boston News-Letter, 29 April 1717, p. 2; Author's Interview, Kenneth J. Kinkor. The shoulder blade, still embedded on the teapot handle, is on display at the Whydah Museum.

  [>] Fate of the Mary Anne pirates: TEP, p. 9; Deposition of Thomas Fitzgerald and Alexander Mackonochie.

  [>] Fate of the Ann Galley and Fisher pirates: Deposition of Ralph Merry and Samuel Roberts, pp. 301–302.

  [>] Thomas Davis and the Eastham beachcombers: Cyprian Southack to Governor Shute, 8 May 1717; Cyprian Southack to Governor Shute, 5 May 1717.

  [>] Capture of Connecticut sloop: This was the Elizabeth of Weathersfield, Captain Gersham, on their way home from the Salt Tortugas. Deposition of Edward Sargeant, New York: 3 June 1717, Records of the Vice-Admiralty Court of the Province of New York 1685–1838, no. 36–3 as printed in Kinkor (2003), pp. 147–148; Examination of Richard Caverley, p. 151.

  [>] Captures off Martha's Vinyard: "New London Dispatch, May 10," Boston News-Letter, 13 May 1717, p. 2; Deposition of Zachariah Hill, Boston: 11 May 1717, Suffolk Court Files of the Massachusetts Archives, folio no. 11945 as printed in Kinkor (2003), p. 127.

  190 Capture of Elizabeth: Deposition of Paul Mansfield, Salem, MA: 25 May 1717 in Suffolk Court Files of the Massachusetts Archives, folio no. 11945 as printed in Kinkor (2003), p. 136.

  [>] Dominicus Jordan and Cape Elizabeth: John Lane to Governor Shute, Winter Harbor [Falmouth], ME: 19 May 1717 in James Phinney Baxter ed., Documentary History of the State of Maine, Vol. IX, Portland, ME: Lafavor-Tower Co., 1907, p. 357; Tristram Frost Jordan, The Jordan Memorial, Somersworth, MA: New England History Press, 1982, pp. 131–155; Deposition of Paul Mansfield;"Piscataqua Dispatch, May 24," Boston News-Letter, 27 May 1717, p. 2.

  [>] Williams at Damariscove: Deposition of Paul Mansfield;"Piscataqua Dispatch, May 24," Boston News-Letter, 27 May 1717, p. 2.

  [>] Williams learns of Whydah disaster: Deposition of Samuel Skinner, Salem, MA: 26 May 1717, Suffolk Court Files of the Massachusetts Archives, folio no. 11945 as printed in Kinkor (2003), p. 138.

  [>]–193 Shute's actions: "Boston Notice, May 27,"Boston News-Letter, 27 May 1717, p. 1; Warrant by Governor Shute to the Sheriff of Barnstable County, Boston: 29 April 1717, Massachusetts Historical Society, Belknap Collection, item 161.A.22 as printed in Kinkor (2003), p. 102.

  [>] Movements of Rose and pressing of Bostonians: ADM 51/801: Logbook of the Rose; Action of the Massachusetts General Court, Boston: 11 June 1717, Massachusetts Court Records 21 June 1706 to 11 November 1720, p. 144 as printed in Kinkor (2003), p. 150.

  CHAPTER EIGHT: BLACKBEARD

  [>] La Buse's ship and plans: "Piscataqua Dispatch, July 19," Boston News-Letter, 22 July 1717, p. 2.

  [>] Blackbeard and Hornigold's spring 1717 cruise: "New York Dispatch, July 29," Boston News-Letter, 5 August 1717, p. 2; this appears to have been the source for an inferior account in GHP, p. 71.

  [>] Williams and Noland's raids down the coast: "Philadelphia Dispatch, June 20," Boston News-Letter, 1 July 1717, p. 2; "New York Dispatch, June 17," Boston News-Letter, 24 June 1717, p. 2; "New York Dispatch, June 3," Boston News-Letter, 9 June 1717, p. 2.

  [>] Stede Bonnet's family background: St. Michael's Parish: v. 1A-2A baptisms, burials 1648–1739, Barbados Parochial Registers, Series A, 1637–1680, Microfilm, Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1978, Batch M513951, Source H57923; Joanne McRee Sanders, Barbados Records: Wills and Administrations,
Volume I: 1639–1680, Marceline, WI: Sanders Historical Publications, 1979, pp. 37–38; Lindley S. Butler, Pirates, Privateers & Rebel Raiders of the Carolina Coast, Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Press, 2000, pp. 54–55.

  [>] Bonnet's plantation: Richard Ford, A New Map of the Island of Barbados, Map, 1674 as detailed in Dunn, p. 94.

  [>] Bonnet's early life, social standing, mental illness: GHP, p. 95; John Camden Hotten, ed. The Original Lists of Persons of Quality, New York: G. A. Baker & Co, 1931, p. 451.

  [>] Bonnet's crew, library, presence of Scots: GHP, p. 104.

  [>] Charlestown and Barbados connections: Bridenbaugh, p. 150n.

  [>] Charlestown and South Carolina described: John Lawson, A New Voyage to Carolina, originally published 1709, Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina, 1967, pp. 13–14; Bridenbaugh, pp. 143, 150–151; Doyle, pp. 46–48.

  200 North Carolina described: Doyle, pp. 46, 48.

  [>] Captures off Charlestown bar: "By letters from South Carolina, 22 September," Boston News-Letter, 28 October 1717, p. 2; GHP, p. 96.

  [>] Dissension within crew departing North Carolina: GHP, p. 96.

  [>] Encounter with Spanish Man-of-War: "Philadelphia Dispatch, October 24," Boston News-Letter, 11 November 1717, p. 2.

  [>] Hornigolds's preparations to cruise: CO23/1: Trial of William Howell, Bahamas Council Minutes, Nassau: 22 December 1721.

  [>] Bondavais's first name: GHP, p. 637.

  [>] Bonnet's dressing gown and books: "Philadelphia Dispatch, October 24," Boston News-Letter, 11 November 1717, p. 2.

  [>] Blackbeard's appearance in battle: GHP, pp. 84–85.

  [>] Capture, sinking of the Betty: Indictment of William Howard, Williamsburg, VA: 29 October 1718 in Lee, p. 102; CO5/1442: Wines imported and exported from Madera, March 1716 to March 1717. (The latter contains numerous references to the Betty, which regularly made the wine run; coincidently, she was usually captained by John Perrin, the man who bought Hornigold's sloop.)

  [>] Conditions aboard immigrant ships: Gottleib Mittelberger quoted on his voyage from Europe to Philadelphia in 1750 in John Duffy, "The Passage to the Colonies," Mississippi Historical Review, Vol. 38, No. 1 (June 1951), p. 23.