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

by Colin Woodard

  [>] Blackbeard's captures, activities off Midatlantic coast: ADM 1/1472, f11: Ellis Brand to the Admiralty, Lyme, Elizabeth River, VA: 4 December 1717; "Philadelphia Dispatch, October 24," Boston News-Letter, 11 November 1717, p. 2; "New York Dispatch, October 28," Boston News-Letter, 11 November 1717, p. 2; "Philadelphia Dispatch, October 31," Boston News-Letter, 11 November 1717, p. 2; "New York Dispatch, November 4," Boston News-Letter, 11 November 1717, p. 2; Indictment of William Howard, p. 102.

  [>] What Blackbeard's men told captives: "Philadelphia Dispatch, October 24," Boston News-Letter, 11 November 1717, p. 2; "Philadelphia Dispatch, October 31," Boston News-Letter, 11 November 1717, p. 2.

  [>] What Blackbeard learned from captives: On the vessels at Madera, "Philadelphia Dispatch, October 24," Boston News-Letter, 11 November 1717, p. 2.

  [>] King's decision to suppress pirates: "Whitehall Dispatch, September 15," London Gazette, 17 September 1717, p. 1.

  [>] Dispositions of Royal Navy vessels in Americas: "A List of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels employed and to be employed, at the British Governments and Plantations in the West Indies," London Gazette, 17 September 1717, p. 1.

  [>] Blackbeard spotted off Long Island: "New York Dispatch, October 28," Boston News-Letter, 11 November 1717, p. 2.

  [>] Hornigold's probable activities in October and November 1717: "Philadelphia Dispatch, December 10," Boston News-Letter, 6 January 1718, p. 2; "Philadelphia Dispatch, November 14," Boston News-Letter, 25 November 1717, p. 2.

  [>] Blackbeards' vessels, armament, crew size: David D. Moore and Mike Daniel, "Blackbeard's Capture of the Nantaise Slave Ship La Concorde," Tributaries, October 2001, pp. 24–25. Moore and Daniel cite and quote from French documents at the Centre des Archives d'Outre Mer in Aix-en-Provence, France.

  [>] Date of Blackbeard's encounter with La Concorde: Depositions of Pierre Dosset and Francoise Ernaud as related in Moore and Daniel (2001), p. 24. Dosset and Ernaud note that they were attacked on 28 November 1717 as per the Gregorian calendar used in France. This date corresponds to 17 November under the Julian calendar, which remained in use by Britain and her colonies until 1752.

  211–212 Description of La Concorde and capture by Blackbeard: Moore and Daniel (2001), pp. 18–19, 24; Richard W. Lawrence and Mark Wilde-Ramsing, "In Search of Blackbeard: Historical and Archeological Research at Shipwreck Site 0003BUI," Southeastern Geology, Vol. 40, No. 1 (February 2001), p. 2; Bulter, p. 34; Author's Interview, David Moore, North Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort, NC: 17 April 2005.

  [>] Bequia and Garifuna described: "Minutes of the Assembly ... with a view to determining the measures needed to destroy the Caribs of St. Vincent and Dominica," Cul-de-sac du Marin, Martinque: 27 August 1679; Susie Post Rust, "The Garifuna," National Geographic, September 2001.

  [>] Pirates at Bequia: Moore and Daniel, p. 25, "Muster roll of Concorde's crew, March 1717," Ibid., pp. 22–23.

  [>] Armament, crew of Blackbeard's vessels (c. 25 November): CO152/12, No. 67Ü: Deposition of Thomas Knight, Antigua: 30 November 1717.

  [>] Running aground, abandoning slaves at Grenada: Moore and Daniel, pp. 21, 27.

  [>] Existence of brigantine, capture of the Great Allen: "New York Dispatch, February 24," Boston News-Letter, 10 March 1718; CO152/12, No. 67iii: Deposition of Henry Bostock, St. Christopher: 19 December 1717.

  [>] Capture of Montserrat Merchant, events in Nevis: Deposition of Thomas Knight.

  [>] Capture, release of the New Division: Deposition of Thomas Knight;C0152/12, No. 67i: Deposition of Richard Joy, Antigua: 30 November 1717.

  [>] Condition of St. Christopher: Extract of Letter of Lt. General Mathew to Governor Walter Hamilton, St. Christopher: 29 September 1720 in CSPCS 1720–21, No. 251i, pp. 166–167.

  [>] Raid on St. Christopher: Walter Hamilton to the Council of Trade and Plantations, Antigua: 6 January 1718 in CSPCS 1717–1718, No. 298, p. 149; Deposition of Henry Bostock.

  [>] Guns added to Queen Anne's Revenge: ADM1/2378 f12: Captain Jonathan Rose to the Admiralty, HMS Seaford at Antigua: 23 December 1717; size of guns based on archealogical evidence from Author Interview, Mark Wilde-Ramsing, Queen Anne's Revenge Project, Moorehead City, NC: 17 April 2005.

  [>] Seaford's size, location, encounter with La Buse: Jonathan Rose to the Admiralty, 23 December 1717; Walter Hamilton to the Council of Trade, 6 January 1718; Lyon, p. 28.

  [>] Seaford's close encounter with Blackbeard: Walter Hamilton to the Council of Trade, 6 January 1718, p. 149.

  [>] St. Christopher residents reinforce Seaford: Jonathan Rose to the Admiralty, 23 December 1717; Walter Hamilton to the Council of Trade, 6 January 1718, pp. 149–150.

  [>] Scarborough and Seaford's pursuit of Blackbeard: ADM 1/1879 folio 5: Francis Hume to the Admiralty, Scarborough, Barbados: 16 February 1718; ADM1/2378 f12: Jonathan Rose to the Admiralty, Seaford at Barbados: 18 February 1718; ADM51/865: entries of 1 November 1717 to 31 March 1717; ADM51/877: entries of 1 November 1717 to 31 March 1717.

  [>] Blackbeard at St. Croix: Deposition of Henry Bostock; Francis Hume to the Admiralty, 16 February 1718; Jonathan Rose to the Admiralty, 18 February 1718.

  [>] Capture of the Margaret: Deposition of Henry Bostock.

  [>] Captain Pinkentham: "New York Dispatch, May 28," Boston News-Letter, 4 June 1711, p. 2; "Philadelphia Dispatch, July 24," Boston News-Letter, ii August 1718, p. 2.

  225 Blackbeard's subsequent movements: Francis Hume to the Admiralty, 16 February 1718; Jonathan Rose to the Admiralty, 18 February 1718.

  CHAPTER NINE: BEGGING PARDON

  [>] The Royal Proclamation: George I, "A Proclamation for Suppressing of Pirates," Hampton Court: 5 September 1717 in London Gazette, 17 September 1717, p. 1.

  [>] Pardon reaches Boston first: Some historians have suggested that news of the pardon arrived prior to the execution of the Bellamy pirates on November 15, but this allegation is not supported by evidence. The following documents demonstrate that news reached Boston between December 1 and 9, Bermuda on or prior to December 19, HMS Phoenix in New York on December 25, and HMS Pearl in Virginia on January 3. Word was slow to get across the Atlantic, in part because no Royal Navy vessels made the trip between the time the king issued the proclamation and the arrival of Woodes Rogers in the Bahamas in July 1718. Sources: ADM 1/1472 fii: Ellis Brand to the Admiralty, Pearl at Virginia: 10 March 1718; ADM 1/2282 £13: Vincent Pearse to the Admiralty, Phoenix at New York; 4 February 1718; "A Proclamation for Supressing of Pirates," Boston News-Letter, 9 December 1717, p. 1; Benjamin Bennett to the Council of Trade and Plantations, Bermuda: 3 February 1718 in CSPCS 1717–1718, No. 345, p. 170.

  [>] Trial of the Bellamy pirates: TEP.

  [>] Location of courtroom, Boston Prison: The courtroom occupied the western or uphill end of the new brick Town House, its windows looking out toward the prison. Sinclair and Catherine F. Hitchings, Theatre of Liberty: Boston's Old State House, Boston: Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Company, 1975, pp. 1–6; "Old Boston Prison," Commemorative Plaque, 26 Court Street, Boston, MA.

  [>]–228 Cotton Mather's involvement, quotes: Cotton Mather, "The Diary of Cotton Mather 1681–1724" in Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Series 7, Vol. 7, Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 1911, pp. 448, 483, 490; Cotton Mather, Instructions to the Living from the Condition of the Dead: A Brief Relation of Remarkables in the Shipwreck of above One Hundred Pirates, Boston: John Allen, 1717, pp. 17–18, 37–38.

  [>] Bennett forwards pardons to Nassau: Bennett to the Council of Trade, 3 February 1718; "Bermuda Dispatch, February 16," London Gazette, 12 April 1718, p. 1.

  [>] Pirates react to proclamation: "Extract of a Letter from South Carolina," 2 February 1718 in London Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, 3 May 1718, p. 1,033.

  [>] Antipardon pirates' proposal to James III; Cammocke's letter: George Cammocke to Queen Mary of Modina, St. Germaine, France: 28 March 1718 in Stuart Papers 29/49.

  [>] Jacobite letter to Cammocke: Craton, p. 100.

/>   [>] Prizes brought into Nassau December 1717–January 1718: Extract of a Letter from South Carolina, 2 February 1718; "Jamaica Dispatch, March 28," The [London] Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, 7 June 1718, p. 1; Lord Carteret to Governor Burnet, Whitehall, London: 22 August 1722, CSPCS 1722–1723, item 267, p. 128; ADM 1/2282 f13: Vincent Pearse to the Admiralty, Phoenix at New York: 3 June 1718; HCA 1/54: Deposition of Benjamin Sims, London: 28 September 1721.

  [>] General council of the pirates: GHP, p. 41.

  [>] Pirates scatter (Winter and Brown): Clinton V. Black, Pirates of the West Indies, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1989, p. 120; Black incorrectly states that Winter, Brown, and Blackbeard accepted the pardon at Nassau; Peter Earle, The Pirate Wars, New York: St. Martin's Press, p. 162.

  232 Pirates scatter (Condent): ADM 1/2282 f13: Vincent Pearse to the Admiralty, Phoenix at New Providence, Bahamas: 4 March 1718; Pearse to the Admiralty, 3 June 1718; GHP, pp. 581–582.

  [>] Vincent Pearse obtains pardon: ADM 1/2282 £13: Pearse to the Admiralty, Phoenix at New York; 4 February 1718. Pearse says he received word of the proclamation "the 25th of last month," but I am assuming he meant the month of December, as it seems impossible that the proclamation, printed by the Boston News-Letter on 9 December, would take nearly two months to reach New York.

  [>] Storm of 24–25 December 1717: News item, Boston News-Letter, 6 January 1718, p. 2. Winter storms also delayed the departure of the weekly postal rider on the week of 9 December.

  [>] Pearse background: Hardy, p. 34.

  [>] Pearse refits the Phoenix: ADM 51/690: entries of December 1717–February 1718. Pearse notes in the log that he departed New York "having partially re-rigged."

  [>] Phoenix specifications, history: Lyon, pp. 37–38; ADM 33/298: HMS Phoenix Pay Book, 1716–1718.

  [>] Phoenix departs New York: Pearse to the Admiralty, Phoenix at New York: 4 February 1718; ADM 51/690: entry of February 6,1718.

  [>] Phoenix arrival at Nassau: ADM 51/690: entries of 22–24 February 1718; Pearse to the Admiralty, 3 June 1718.

  [>] Lt. Symonds's identity, trip ashore: Abstract of a Letter of Robert Maynard to Lt. Symonds, North Carolina: 17 December 1718 in [London] Weekly Journal or British Gazette, 25 April 1719, p. 1,339.

  [>] Phoenix confronts Vane, takes Lark: ADM 51/690: entry of 24 February 1718.

  [>] Vane and the Lark: ADM 51/690: entry of 24 February 1717.

  [>]–236 Pearse meets with pirate leaders, releases Vane: ADM 51/690: entry of 24 February 1718.

  [>] Pardoning of pirates, list thereof: ADM 51/690: entries of 24–28 February 1718; ADM 1/2282 f13: A List of the Names of such Pirates as Surrendered themselves at Providence to Capt. Vincent Pearse, Nassau, Bahamas: 26 February to 11 March 1718.

  [>] Pearse estimates 500 pirates, optimistic comments: Pearse to the Admiralty, 3 June 1718; Pearse to the Admiralty, 4 March 1718.

  [>] Edward England described: GHP, p. 114.

  [>] Several sloops come and go from Nassau: ADM 51/690: entries of 1–7 March 1718.

  [>] Events of March 1: Ibid., entry of 1 March 1718.

  [>] Pirates scatter (Jennings): Bennett to the Council of Trade, 3 February 1718; "Bermuda Dispatch, February 16," London Gazette, 12 April 1718, p. 1.

  [>] Pirates scatter (on merchant vessels): "Philadelphia Dispatch, March 5," Boston News-Letter, 17 March 1718, p. 2; Francis Leslie to Bennett, Nassau: 10 January 1718 in CSPCS 1717–1718, No. 345iii, p. 171.

  [>] Jack Rackham described: GHP, pp. 148, 620.

  [>] Vane captures Jamaica sloop: Ibid., p. 141; ADM 51/690: entry of 21 March 1718.

  [>] Orientation of Nassau harbor: Nassau Harbor, map, in Little, p. 183; Pearse to the Admiralty, 3 June 1718.

  [>] Vane plunders sloop in harbor, Pearse counterattacks: GHP, p. 141; ADM 51/690: entry of 22 March 1718; Pearse to the Admiralty, 3 June 1718.

  238 Quotes on change of mood in Nassau: ADM 51/690: entry of 22 March 1718; Pearse to the Admiralty, 3 June 1718.

  [>] Pirates burn ships at Nassau: ADM 51/690: entry of 29 March 1718.

  [>] Hornigold's men, request for man-of-war: "Rhode Island Dispatch, March 28," Boston News-Letter, 31 March 1718, p. 2; "New York Dispatch, March 10," Boston News-Letter, 18 March 1718, p. 2; Vincent Pearse to the Admiralty, 4 March 1718.

  [>] Vane slips out of Nassau, joined by 24 others: Ibid., entries of 18–19 March 1718; GHP, p. 141.

  [>] Vane returns with Lark, threatens Phoenix, rows ashore: Ibid.: entries of 31 March and 1 April 1718; GHP, p. 141; Pearse to the Admiralty, 3 June 1718.

  [>] Growth of Vane's crew: GHP, p. 141; Pearse to the Admiralty, 3 June 1718.

  [>] Vane captures two sloops in Nassau Harbor: ADM 51/690: entry of 2 April 1718.

  [>] Bennett on Pearse's deteriorating situation: Bennett to the Council of Trade, 31 May 1718, p. 260.

  [>] Phoenix catches fire, runs aground: ADM 51/690: entries of 7–10 April 1718.

  [>] Defection of PPhoenix's men: Pearse to the Admiralty, 3 June 1718; ADM 1/2282 f13: Pearse to the Admiralty, Phoenix at Plymouth, England: 21 January 1722.

  [>] "Great Devil" in Gulf of Mexico: "Jamaica Dispatch, March 28," London Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, 7 June 1718, p. 1.

  [>] Blackbeard, Bonnet near Vera Cruz, threaten Adventure: "From a letter of Crown Galley of Jamaica," London Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, 27 September 1718, p. 1,161.

  [>] Adventure specifications, largest frigate: Lyon, p. 25; "A List of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels employed and to be employed at the British Governments and Plantations in the West Indies," London Gazette, 17 September 1717, p. 1.

  [>] Bonnet engages Protestant Caesar: "Report on William Wyer, May 31," Boston News-Letter, 16 June 1718, p. 2.

  [>] Blackbeard deposes Bonnet: GHP, p. 22; "The Trials of Major Stede Bonnet and Thirty-three Others," in Francis Hargrave, A Complete Collection of State Trials and Proceedings for High Treason, 4th Ed., Vol. VI, London: T. Wright, 1777, p. 183.

  [>] Capture of A dventure, Land of Promise: "Report of Thomas Newton," Boston News-Letter, 16 June 1718, p. 2; TSB, pp. 44–45.

  [>] Capture of Protestant Caesar: Report of William Wyer; GHP, p. 72; TSB, pp. 44–45.

  [>] Vane captures twelve vessels: CO 37/10, No. 10viii: Deposition of John Tibby, Bermuda: 24 May 1718. The seven Bermuda sloops were, in order of capture: two unnamed sloops commanded by Daniel Styles and James Borden; the William & Mary (Edward North); Diamond (John Tibby); Penzance (William Hall); Samuel (Joseph Besea); and an unnamed sloop under Captain John Penniston. The others were the Betty of Jamaica (Benjamin Lee);a Jamaica sloop under John Gainsby; the twenty-six-foot sloop Fortune of Jamaica (George Guy);a sloop from New York (Samuel Vincent); and a Boston ship under Captain Richards.

  [>] Bermuda vessels in Bahamas: Bennett to the Council of Trade, 31 May 1718.

  [>] Thomas Brown motivates abuse by Vane: CO 37/10, No. 10i: Deposition of Samuel Cooper, Bermuda: 24 May 1718; CO 37/10, No. 10v: Deposition of Nathaniel Catling, Bermuda: 17 May 1718; CO 37/10, No. 10vi: Deposition of Joseph Besea, Bermuda: 28 May 1718.

  [>] Tortures aboard William & Mary: CO 37/10, No. 10Ü: Deposition of Edward North, Bermuda: 22 May 1718; CO 37/10, No. vii: Deposition of Nathaniel North, Bermuda: 22 May 1718.

  245 Tortures aboard Diamond: Deposition of Nathaniel Catling; Depostion of Samuel Cooper.

  [>] Threaten to attack Bermuda: Bennett to the Council of Trade, 31 May 1718; Deposition of Samuel Cooper.

  [>] Damnation to King George: Deposition of Edward North; Deposition of Samuel Cooper.

  [>] Other captures, growth in crew: TJR, pp. 38, 40; CO 37/ro, No. 10iv: Deposition of James Mack-Cuelle, Bermuda: 16 May 1718; Deposition of Edward North.

  [>] Blackbeard, Bonnet arrive in Nassau: Hargrave (VI), p. 164.

  [>] Composition, contents of Rogers's fleet: CO 23/i, No. 31: Memorial from the Copartners for carrying on a trade and settling the Bahamas Islands, London: 19 May 1721.

  [>] S.P
.C.K. documents: Little, p. 180.

  [>] Overall investment, six partners, Rogers portion: Memorial from the Copartners..., 19 May 1721; Little, p. 180; CO 23/12/2: Woodes Rogers's Appeal to the King, 1726.

  [>]–248 William Fairfax bio, quotes: Donald Jackson, ed., The Diaries of George Washington, Vol. i, Charlottesville, VA: University Press of Virginia, 1976, p. 3n; William Fairfax to Anna Harrison Fairfax, Delicia at the Nore, England: 19 April 1718 in Edward D Neill, The Fairfaxes of England and America in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries, Albany, NY: Joel Munsell, 1868, pp. 70–7!

  [>] Specifications of HMS Rose, Milford, Shark: Lyon, pp. 26, 37.

  [>] Date of departure (from the Nore): ADM 51/892 pt. 2: entry of 22 April 1718; ADM 51/801: entry of 22 April 1718.

  [>] Stopped at Florida Wrecks: TSB, p. 45.

  [>] Captures en route to Charleston: GHP, p. 74; Hargrave (VI) p. 164.

  [>]–250 Movements of Burgess, Ashworth: CO 5/508: South Carolina Imports for the 25th March to the 24th June 1718, pp. 51, 54; CO 5/508: South Carolina Exports for the 25th March to the 24th June 1718, pp. 59–61.

  [>] Arrival at Charleston, seize pilot boat: Governor Johnson to the Lords Proprietor of Carolina, Charlestown, SC: 18 June 1718 cited in Edward McGrady, The History of South Carolina Under the Proprietary Government, 1670–1719, New York: Macmillan Company, 1897.

  [>] Vessel captures at Charleston bar: CO5/508: South Carolina Imports..., p. 54; CO 5/508: South Carolina Exports..., p. 60; "South Carolina Dispatch, June 6," Boston News-Letter, 7 July 1718, p. 2; "Philadelphia Dispatch, June 26," Boston News-Letter, 7 July 1718, p. 2; CO 5/1265: Letter to the Lord Proprietors of Carolina, Charlestown, SC: 13 June 1718; Testimony of Ignatius Pell, p. 164; GHP, p. 74.

  [>] Interrogation of Wragg, pirates' council and demands: GHP, pp. 88–89.

  [>] Prisoners number eighty: GHP, p. 91.

  [>] Events at Charleston: GHP, pp. 89–91; Letter to the Lord Proprietors of Carolina, 13 June 1718.