Most wanted -2

Famous Pirates, that were active during the time frame 1720.
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Kennedy, Walter
1718-1721 - English

Walter Kennedy, was a pickpocket and burglar before sailing from New Providence Island (now known as Nassau) in the Bahamas in 1718 with Howell Davis. He then joined Bartholomew Roberts as one of ' lieutenants.

Leaving Roberts, he set off to find his own fortune only to be "something of a disaster on his own". Walter Kennedy first sailed in 1718 with Captain Howell Davis on "The Rover". When Davis was killed in June 1719, Kennedy was given second-in-command by Bartholomew Roberts who had been elected to replace Davis. While Roberts was on "The Fortune", the first sloop they captured after Davis's death, Kennedy sailed off on The Rover heading for Ireland. Unlike Roberts, Kennedy wasn't much of a navigator and ended up wrecking the ship on the coast of Scotland.

Though the majority of the crew was captured and hanged, Kennedy managed to escape to Dublin and eventually to England where he set up a house of prostitution, supplementing his income by way of burglary. One of his prostitutes turned him in to authorities for robbery. He was recognized in prison and hanged in London for piracy in 1721.

Levasseur, Olivier
Active: 1716-1730



Nicknamed La Buse, LaBuze, La Bouche (The Buzzard) in his early days, called thus because of the speed with which he threw himself on his enemies. His name first appears in 1716, when he joined the Benjamin Hornigold pirate company. Oliver was a good climber, and had a scar across one eye, limiting his view. After a year of successful looting, the Hornigold party split, with Oliver deciding to try his luck at the West African coast. In 1719 he operated together with Howell Davis and Thomas Cocklyn for a period. In 1720, he was shipwrecked in the Red Sea and stranded at the island Mayotte, one of the Comores. His eye was completely mutilated by now, and he decided to wear an eyepatch. From 1721 onwards he committed his raids from his base at the island Saint Mary's, at the Madagascar coast. His biggest success was the conquering of the Portuguese vessel Nossa Senhora do Cabo (The Virgin of the Cape), which was full of gold. This was in cooperation with the English pirate John Taylor. He was eventually captured and hanged at the island Bourbon (today Réunion), on 7 July 1730, for his crimes of piracy.



Levasseur's Treasure-Legend
Legend tells that when he stood on the scaffold he had a necklace around his neck, containing a cryptogram of 17 lines, and would have thrown this in the crowd while exclaiming: "Find my treasure, ye who may understand it!" What became of this necklace is unknown to this day. Many treasure hunters have since searched for his fabulous treasure.

In 1923 the widow of a certain Charles Savoy found some carvings in the rocks at Bel Ombre beach near Beau Vallon on the island of Mahé, due to the low water level that year. A public notary in Victoria heard of this news, and understood those symbols must had been made by pirates. He searched in his archives, and found two possible connections. The first was a map of the Bel Ombre beach, published in Lissabon in 1735. It stated: "Owner of the land... la Buse" (Levasseur).

The second discovery was the last will from the pirate Bernardin Nageon de L'Estang, nicknamed le Butin (the poet), who died 70 years after Levasseur, and somehow got into possession of Levasseur's treasure. It contained 3 cryptograms and 2 letters, one to his nephew:

"I've lost a lot of documents during shipwreck.. I've already collected several treasures; but there are still four left. You will find them with the key to the combinations and the other papers."

and one to his brother:

"[..] Our captain got injured. He made sure I was a Freemason and then entrusted me with his papers and secrets before he died. Promise your oldest son will look for the treasure and fulfill my dream of rebuilding our house. [..] The commander will hand over the documents, there are three."

The notary contacted Mrs. Savoy, and after some excavations at the 'staring eye' they discovered two coffins containing the remains of two people, identified as pirates by the gold rings in their left ears, as well as a third body without a coffin, but no treasure was found at this location. In 1947 Englishman Reginald Cruise-Wilkins, a neighbour of Mrs. Savoy, studied the documents, but the cryptogram was much more difficult to solve than first believed. Deciphering it could be carried out only by starting from the two letters and the three cryptograms compiled in mysterious alphabet, a rebus, or at least in initiatory writing which could be put in relation to masonic symbolism. Cruise-Wilkins then discovered a connection with the Zodiac, the Clavicles of Solomon, and the Twelve Labours of Hercules. Various tasks, representing the Labours of Hercules, had to be undertaken in strict order. The treasure chamber is somewhere underground and must be approached carefully, to avoid being flooded. It is protected by the tides, which requires damming to hold them back, and is to be approached from the north. Access is through a stairwell cut into the rocks, and tunnels leading under the beach.

Until his death Cruise-Wilkins sought and dug in the island of Mahé. In a cave, except for old guns, some coins, and pirate sarcophagi, he did not find anything. He died on 3 May 1977 before he broke the last piece of code.

Lowe, Edward
Active: 1690-1724 - English

Ned Low, a former Boston ship rigger, was born in Westminster, England near the end of the 17th century. He traveled at sea with his brother, and eventually wound up in alone in Boston. From there, he took to sea again. It was then that his piracy began. He operated mainly along the New England coast and in the West Indies, though he was well-known of many other places too for his ravages. Of the ships that he captured, he would often give command to one of his crew. His crews were constantly increased by sailors who were forced to join when their ships were captured. He is known to have often tortured his prisoners before killing them. His crew eventually got fed up with him in 1724, and sent him adrift in a small boat with no provisions. He was rescued by a French ship which took him to the island of Martinique where Low was recognized and executed. Initially he used the same 'pirate' flag as Teach, with a red flag run up if a fight ensued. Late in his career, in July 1723, he flew a black flag with a red skeleton. Mention is made of a flag in his early career called the Green Trumpeter, which is a green silk flag with a yellow figure of a man blowing a trumpet on it, used to signal his other ships that the captains of the pirate fleet were to meet on his ship. It was hoisted on the mizzen peak. It is guessed he was hanged by the French in Spring 1724, after he was deposed by his crew.

A copy of his articles printed on 8th Aug 1723 listed:
 * No married man be forced to join their company
 * Prisoners were not to be killed in cold blood
 * No one to talk in secret with prisoners
 * Ships of England were not to be taken (unless fate decreed otherwise, and they captured one in innocence)
 * No boats were to be sent between ships after 8PM until morning light
 * That if any of the Company shall advise, or speak any thing tending to the separating or breaking of the Company, or shall by any Means offer or endeavour to desert or quit the Company, that person shall be shot to Death by the Quarter Master's Order, without the sentence of a Court Martial
 * The captain is to have two full shares, the master is to have one share and a half, the doctor, mate, gunner and botswaine, one share and a quarter
 * He that shall be found guilty of taking up any unlawful weapon on board the privateer or any other prize by us taken, so as to strike or abuse one another in any regard, shall suffer what punishment the captain and majority of the company shall see fit
 * He that shall eb found guilty of cowardice in the time of engagements, shall suffer what punishment the captain and majority of the company shall think fit
 * If any gold, jewels, silver etc be found on board any prize or prizes to the valu eof a piece of eight, and the finder does not deliver it unto the quarter master in the space of 24 hours, she shall suffer what punishment the captain and majority of the company shall think fit
 * He that is found guilty of gaming, or defrauding one anotehr to the value of a royal plate, shall suffer what punishment the captain and majority of the company shall think fit
 * He that shall have the misfortune to loose a limb in time of engagement shall have the sum of 600 pieces of eight, and remain aboard as long as he sees fit
 * Good quarters to be given when craved
 * He that sees a sail first shall have the best pistol or small arm aboard her
 * He that shall be guilty of drunkenness in time of engagement shall suffer what punishment the captain and company shall think fit
 * No snapping of guns in the hold
 * Every sailor captured be given ample chance and encouragement to join the company and so grow their number.

Lowther, George
Active:16??-1728 - English

Although little is known of his life, he was active in the Caribbean and Atlantic. One of his lieutenants was Edward Low. Not much is known about him until he became the 2nd Mate on the slave ship, Gambia Castle, he was under the command of Captain Charles Russell.

Lowther had been more liked by the crew than Russell, who cared more about the shipment of slaves than the diseased crew. Russell distrusted Lowther and when he went to flog (beat) him many crew members took Lowther’s side and defended him, this caused a split between the captain and the crew.

Also onboard, after retreating from their fort, was Captain Massey with a large group of soldiers under his command. Massey and Lowther decided one night while Captain Russell was off the ship to set sail without him. Massey intended to go back to England but George, the crew, and his own soldiers disagreed. Lowther was made Captain and renamed the Gambia Castle the Delivery. They attacked many ships but when Massey wanted to pillage a village, he lost the vote because the risk was too large. Captain Lowther was able to obtain a smaller ship, named the Happy Delivery, and parted ways with Massey and his men. He left to the Carolinas where Lowther’s strategy was to careen his ship into another while his men boarded the ship and looted it. Around 1721 he left for the Grand Caymans where he ran into the Greyhound captained by Benjamin Edwards. Lowther gave a cannon shot for a signal. Greyhound responded with a Broadside, (simultaneous discharge of all cannons on a side of a ship.) The Pirates boarded the Greyhound and may have killed the entire crew (it is unsure) and burnt the ship. Lowther had many ships under his command now, but when he went to Guatemala his men were attacked by natives and some ships and men were left behind. His men and supplies were all transferred to the Revenge.

By 1722 he became better off and went to a secluded island called Blanquilla. Before he landed he was spotted by Walter Moore the commander of the Eagle. George was able to flee to the island by sneaking through the cabin window with about a dozen men, only four made it. After a long time Captain George Lowther was found with a gun in his hand after shooting himself in the head.

Phillips, John
Active: 1721-1724 - English - Ship: Revenge

Phillips comes to light on the 19th of April 1721. It was on this day that the ship he traveled on to Newfoundland was taken by the pirate Anstis in the brigantine, Good Fortune. Phillips seems to have joined with the pirates and was appointed ship's carpenter.

He stayed with Anstis until the crew broke up at Tobago, and sailed to England. He remained in England until he caught word of some of his past compatriots imprisoned in the Bristol Goal. Fearing that he might be found out, he shipped himself on a ship bound for Newfoundland. Biding his time he and others seized a ship from the harbor and made their way to sea. They chose officers and set down articles to curb any disputes. This was when Phillips was made captain of their ship, the Revenge. Before leaving the area they took several fishing vessels and added to their crew from these.

The ship arrived off Barbados where they took a couple of prizes, one by bluff alone, and further added to their crew. The next stop was Tobago where they careened the ship and just finished and snuck away prior to the arrival of a Man of War. Then followed a bit of dissension; the pirates took a snow and some of the crew attempted to make off with the prize. Phillips gave chase and recaptured the ship.

Going north from Tobago, the pirates took a Portugueze ship and two or three sloops; Fern again tried to quit the crew in one of these ships and was killed by Captain Phillips in accordance with the articles. Taking several more ships, including a sloop and schooner in early April, they made their way to Newfoundland, where they planned to take on more crew. Along the way they replaced their ship with sloop out of Cape Ann.

It was at this time that several of the crew, anxious to be done with pirating, mutinied and tossed several of the officers over the side. Taking control of the ship they changed course for Boston, where they arrived the 3rd of May. As there is no mention of John Phillips being tried with several others of the pirate crew, it can only be assumed that he died during the mutiny on April 18th, 1724.

Rackham, John (Jack) a.k.a. Calico Jack
– 1718-1720 - English

Jack Rackham was also know as "Calico Jack" for the bright clothing he often wore. He was the quartermaster on the Neptune, a warship lead by Hywell Vane. Once Vane refused to engage in battle with a French vessel. The crew was so disappointed that they conspired to overthrow Vane.

Rackham was elected as the captain's replacement, and talked the crew into turning to piracy.When in the Bahamas, he met and fell in love with a married woman, Anne Bonny. Rackham attempted to buy her from her husband, James Bonny, who complained to the Governor of New Providence, Woodes Rogers. The Governor ordered Anne to be flogged, and returned to her husband. She instead eloped with Rackham. Rackham had accepted a King's Pardon, swearing off piracy.

He and Anne Bonny had a child which they eventually left with some pirate families in Cuba. Rackham, who had eventually ran out of money, returned to piracy and convinced Bonny to come with him. Rackham had assembled a crew, stole the sloop "Curlew", and set assail with Bonny onboard. When Governor Woodes Rogers learned of Rackham's return to piracy, he sent out a sloop which caught up with him near Jamaica.

Anne Bonny and Mary Read, another female pirate onboard, attempted to fight off the attackers, while the rest of the crew slept. Without an effort. The entire crew surrendered without much resistance. All Pirates were arrested and taken to Jamaica, where they were tried on November 16, 1720 for piracy. The female-pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read, saved their lives and were tried seperately and jailed, after claiming to be pregnant. The rest of the crew was hanged and their bodies placed in chains and hung at various locations on as a deterrent on Deadman's Cay near Port Royal, Jamaica. Deadman's Cay was later renamed "Rackham's Cay."

Roberts, Bartholomew, a.k.a. Black Bart, The Great Pirate Roberts
Active: 1682-1728 - Welsh – Ship: Royal Fortune, Great Fortune, Great Ranger

Roberts was born in Wales in 1682. He became a merchant. His pirate career began when the ship he was on was ambushed by pirates. He and the crew were taken prisoners. When the captain of the pirates as well as several of the crew were killed in an ambush Roberts led the pirates to safety. The crew elected to replace their dead captain with Roberts. Within a few weeks they came upon a fleet of forty-two Portuguese treasure galleons & two warships anchored off the coast of Brazil. Sailing alongside the heaviest laden ship Roberts fired a full broadside.

The treasure ship was bordered, captured and back to the open sea before the pursuing warships could catch them. Their booty consisted of furs, hogsheads of sugar & tobacco, jewels & 40,000 gold pieces ($130,000) and the diamond studded gold cross, which he wore from then on, it was to be a gift for the king of Portugal. He was a very fancy dresser, wearing a rich waistcoat & breeches, a hat with a red feather & his diamond cross which hung on a heavy gold chain around his neck. He would wear fine clothes while in battle. During battle, he carried two pairs of pistols at the end of a silk sling across his shoulder. His fellow pirates thought he was a bit of a dandy when it came to his choice of attire, though his valor was never questioned. Roberts seem to be the most successful pirate.

Between 1719 and 1722, he captured more than 400 ships off the coast of West Africa and Canada and the Caribbean. Roberts was a religious man and banned his crew from gambling. He was cruel to his prisoners. Bartholomew Roberts, referred to as the " Great Pirate Roberts", roamed the seas in the early eighteenth century. He traveled the coasts of North and South America. His reputation had grown so immense that guard ships stationed in the West Indies were reluctant to get involved with him, and even seemed to sail out of their way to avoid confrontation. His boldness was reflected in his reliance on the unusual, relying on the both surprising and awesome. For example he was recalled to have sailed into Trepassey in Newfoundland, in a sloop of ten guns manned by sixty men, with "black colors flying, drums beating and trumpets sounding."

The crews of the twenty-two ships in anchor in the harbor, immediately withdrew from the site and fled off shore.

Bartholomew's Articles
 * 1. All important decisions to be put to a vote.
 * 2. Any man caught stealing shall be marooned.
 * 3. All pistols and cutlasses will be kept clean.
 * 4. No women allowed on board.
 * 5. Any man who deserts ship in battle shall be put to death.
 * 6. All crews quarrels will be settled on shore.
 * 7. The captain and quartermaster to receive two shares of the booty; the master gunner, and boatswain, one and a half shares; other officers one and a quarter shares; all others, one shares each.
 * 8. Injuries to be compensated. Any man who loses a limb in battle shall receive extra booty.

Roberts held so much hatred for the people of the islands of Martinique and Barbados, that he created his black flag to illustrate it. On it was an image of himself holding a flaming sword in one hand, and dagger in the other. His feet resting on two human skulls. Under one the initials A.M.H., for A Marinican’s Head, and beneath the other, A.B.H., for A Barbadian Head. Roberts career came to an end, when he was killed at sea in a conflict off the coast of Africa.

Rogers, Woodes
Active: 1705-1732 - English - Ship: Duke, Duchess, Marquis, Batchelor

Woodes Rogers started his career as a privateer for the English Crown. After a highly profitable raid on South America's Pacific coast, Rogers suppressed the Pirate haven in the Bahama Islands. His father, a prosperous sea captain, moved from Poole to Bristol in about 1697.

In 1705, Rogers married the daughter of a Naval Commander in the West Indies. He took over his father's business interest and sent out privateers to raid French shipping during the War of the Spanish Succession. To encourage private looting of enemy commerce, the English government in 1708 gave up its 20% share in their booty. Rogers proposed an expedition to plunder South America and to capture the Manila Galleon.

Basil Ringrose and William Dampier had recounted Buccaneer attacks along the same coast. Rogers avoided the failures they described by careful planning and tight discipline. Wealthy merchants in Bristol generously provisioned two three hundred ton frigates, and the three hundred and thirty-three English and Dutch crewmen received wages as well as shares in the booty. Rogers commanded the Duke, with Thomas Dover as second captain. Steven Courtney and Edward Cook took charges of the slightly smaller Duchess. William Dampier was pilot and navigator and a council of Officers decided major issues. Despite his relative inexperience Rogers proved and superb commander. Both brave and physically tough, he won the support of his Officers through honesty and diplomacy.

The crew got decent food, medical care, and daily prayers. They also received a generous alcohol ration since Rogers knew that "Good liquor to sailors is preferable to clothing." But discipline was strict and maintained with a cat-o-nine tails. A mutiny early in the voyage - Rogers refused to raid a neutral vessel - was firmly suppressed and gambling was forbidden. The two ships left Ireland in September 1708, took a Spanish prize in the Canaries, and entered the Pacific around Cape Horn. In February 1709, they rendezvoused at the Juan Fernandez Islands and rescued Alexander Selkirk, the real life Robinson Crusoe. To maintain secrecy, Rogers avoided ports in Chile and Peru. He captured several Spanish and French prizes, keeping the largest as the Marquis. Guayaquil, Equador, was taken by surprise in May. Atrocities were avoided as Rogers' men pillaged the town and collected about 27,000 pesos in ransom.



Rogers learned that Panama was prepared for invasion. With stops at the Galapagos and Gorgona Islands he made for Lower California to await the Manila Galleon. His three ships and a captured bark rendezvoused in October and spent 7 weeks cruising off St. Lucas. Rather than run out of food he reluctantly decided to leave for Asia. The next day, the lookout sighted Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación Disengaño, the smaller of two ships sent from manila that year. On the 1st of January 1710 the Duke captured the Disengaño in a running gun fight. During the battle, a Musket ball pierced Rogers left cheek and smashed out much of his upper jaw and many teeth. The Disengaño carried valuable Chinese goods and news that the even richer Nuestra Señora de Begoña was not far behind.

The Duchess and the Marquis sighted the Begoña on January 4th and the battle continued for three days. Despite his wound Rogers and the Duke joined the fight on January 6th. But the 900 ton Begoña carried guns throwing twelve pound shot, twice the size of the largest English shells. Rogers estimates that at least 500 shots struck her strong hull without piercing it. The Begoña's passengers and 450 crewmen resisted fiercely. Rogers writes that "150 of the men on board this great ship were Europeans, several of whom had been formerly Pirates, and having now got all their wealth on board, were resolved to defend it to the last." The Begoña's defenders dropped firebombs onto the lower English vessels. One exploded some ammunition on the Duke. A splinter entered Rogers' left foot "part of my heel bone being cut out and all under my ankle cut above half thro'." Rogers broke off the attack on the Begoña before his ships were destroyed.

The Disengaño, renamed The Bachelor, was added to his squadron. Sailing in January 1710, Rogers returned to England in October 1711 via Guam, Java, and the Cape of Good Hope. The ships and booty, were sold in 1713 for nearly £150,000. Of the owners two thirds half went on expenses (bribes), but the net profit was nearly 100%. Ordinary seamen got their wages, whatever plunder they had picked up, and about £200 each in booty. As captain Rogers received more than £1,600 but went bankrupt before the money was distributed. Rogers published "A Cruising Voyage Round the World" in 1712. It was widely successful and served as a guidebook for later expeditions. From late 1713 to mid 1715 Rogers commanded a ship carrying slaves from Africa to Sumatra on his return he unsuccessfully recommended the creation of a law abiding colony at Madagascar. He had more success with a similar plan for a pirate base in the Bahamas. Late in 1717 the Lords-Proprietors of the Bahamas leased their property rights to Rogers for 21 years. Rogers was named the first Royal Governor and empowered to pardon Pirates surrendering before September 1718. However he did not receive a salary, and he and other private investors paid for the troops and settlers sent to the Islands.



Rogers arrived at New Providence Island in July 1718 accompanied by a Royal frigate and two sloops. Under the warship's guns only Charles Vane put up any resistance. Some pirates left for other ports. Several hundred accepted the Royal pardon and were given jobs building a fort and clearing roads. However, as Daniel Defoe put it "It did not much suit the inclination of pirates to be set to work." Many sneaked away and resumed their former trade. When John Augur was sent for provisions he instead pillaged two vessels and marooned their crews.

Since the three Royal warships had left two other ex-pirates, Benjamin Hornigold and a Captain Cockram, were sent in pursuit. Although he had no authority to do so, Rogers convicted Augur and eight others on December 16th and hanged them the next day. Early in 1719 Rogers flogged three islanders who were plotting to murder him. After this rigorous and speedy justice pirates avoided New Providence, but Rogers faced other threats. England went to war with Spain in December 1718, and a strong Spanish force attacked in 1720. The presence of English ships prevented a frontal attack, and the Musket volleys of the former pirates repelled a landing east of Nassau. English officials ignored the Bahamas and Rogers returned in 1721 and asked for aid. In October 1728 he was granted a salary. He died at Nassau in 1732.



Read, Mary (Reade)
Active:1718-1721 - English Female – Ship: The William

Mary Read is remembered today as one of the two most well-known women pirates active during the pirates' heyday during the early 18th century. Her pirate career was very short and pretty uneventful to other pirates. She was however, able to hide her true identity by disguising herself as a man since the clothes of the day was often loose and baggy. She also carried her own weight in sailing and in combat just as well as any of the male crewmen, and in some cases, much better!

Mary Read was born around London to a mother who had an affair after her husband disappeared at sea. In order to get money, the mother made Mary dress a boy to pretend that she was her son who had died. At 13, Read was sent to be a footboy to a French woman but she ran off and joined a man-of-war crew still disguised as a man. Tired of this as well, she enlisted in the army and there met her soon to be husband. The two were discharged and they took up a residence near the Castle of Breda, but her husband died shortly after and she decided once again to disguise herself as man and eventually boarded a ship to the West Indies. While there, a vessel she was on was captured by the pirate Calico Jack and she became one of the pirate crew. While there, she attracted the attention of another crewman who revealed to Read that she was really a woman named Anne Bonney.

Bonney, thinking Read was a man, was surprised to find out that her interest was another woman disguised as a man. They decided to tell Calico Jack about Read's secret and apparently he did not mind the second woman crewman. Both Bonney and Read became good friends and when Calico Jack's pirate ship was boarded in October 1720, only the two women tried to fight off the invaders and rally their fellow pirates, but the male crewmen easily surrendered. Their fight was in vain as they were too far outnumbered and were taken prisoner.

The two women had a separate trial from the men twelve days later on November 28. The men's trial ended with a conviction and sentence of death to 12 men including Calico Jack. The men were hung the two following days, and soon after the two women would begin their trial. The verdict was the same for them - they would be hanged until dead. The two women then revealed that they were both pregnant and a following examination proved they were so they were both were spared the hangman's noose. While in prison, Read contracted a high fever and soon died after the trial.

Along with Anne Bonny, Mary Read is one of the rare instances in history where a woman's pirate's life is known. The fact that they both were able to hide their sexuality to the crew is amazing; and in the end, the women's brave battle against the boarders while the rest of the crew cowered deserves respect in itself.

Skyrme, James
Active: 1720-1722 - English

Among the captured ships was the Greyhound, whose chief mate, James Skyrme, joined the pirates. He would later become captain of Bart Roberts' consort, the Ranger.

Spriggs, Francis
1721-1725 - English

Associated with George Lowther and Edward Low, was active in the Caribbean and the Bay of Hounduras during the early 1720s. Although much of his early life is unknown, Francis Spriggs was first recorded serving as a quartermaster for Captain Edward Low (possibly as part of the original crew members who left the service of Captain George Lowther).

However, after being given command of the recently captured the 12-gun British man of war the Squirel (renamed the Delight shortly thereafter), he and Low apparently had a falling out over the disciplining of one of the crew around Christmas 1724 resulting in Spriggs deserting with the Delight during the night. After leaving Low, Spriggs and the crew began flying a black flag similar to Captain Low's and set sail for the West Indies. Capturing a Portuguese bark en route, they looted the ship's stores while the crew were put through "the sweats" or a "sweat", a mild form of torture in which a ring of candles is lit in a circle around the mainmast and each crewman was made to enter the circle and run around the mast while the pirates poked and jabbed at them with pen knives, forks and other weapons in a sort of gauntlet. After they had finished with the bark, the crew were put back on their ship which the pirates set fire to.

Upon their arrival in the West Indies, Spriggs and his crew captured a sloop near St. Lucia, a Martinique merchantman and a vessel with a cargo of logwood which they tossed into the sea after carrying away as much as they could take. In early 1724, while in New England waters, Spriggs and the Delight received word of the death of King George I and discussed the possibility of gaining a royal pardon within the year after sailing from Rhode Island on March 27, 1724. By early-April, Spriggs anchored off Rattan near the Bay of Honduras where he ordered many of the prisoners captured during the voyages to be put ashore. Many of these prisoners displayed wounds received by the pirates during their captivity and were subject to forms of torture such as being forced to eat plates of candle wax. Refitting their ship on a nearby island west of Rattan, Spriggs and the Delight sailed for Saint Kitts with the intentions of encountering a Captain Moor of the Eagle, a sloop which had earlier attacked George Lowther near Blanco. However, they were soon met by a French man of war and forced to flee. After their escape, they captured a schooner near Bermuda and then, as they neared Saint Kitts, they captured a sloop on July 4, 1724. During this latest capture, the crew were tortured by the Spriggs and his crew hoisting prisoners as high as the main or top sails and dropping them against the deck. Shortly after this, a ship out of Rhode Island was captured with the pirates riding several of the horses it had been carrying out on the deck (after several accidents however, the captives were blamed for not bringing along boot and spurs). After the capture of a sloop off Port Royal, Spriggs was forced to retreat from two British men of war, the HMS Diamond and HMS Spence. After their most recent escape, Spriggs captured another sloop and, on his return to the Bay of Honduras, took another ten or twelve English vessels before being chased off by a British man of war.

Briefly staying in South Carolina, Spriggs again sailed to the Bay of Honduras where he captured sixteen more vessels before fleeing from the same British man of war he had previously encountered. He again managed to avoid capture although he became separated by a ship in his fleet commanded by a Captain Shipton. Little is known of his later career, according to newspaper accounts, he was still active in the region and, as of April 1725, had captured several more ships.

Taylor, John
Active: 1719-1721 - English - Ship: Victory

Taylor was with Edward England when England captured a 30 gun sloop off Africa in 1719. Taylor was given command of the ship which he named "Victory". Together they captured the ship "Cassandra, an East Indiaman ship. England showed mercy toward the captain of the captured ship and was deposed as captain and put ashore. Taylor was now in charge of England's crew.

Taylor hunted in the Indian Ocean where he took several small European and Indian ships. He also chased away a British naval squadron (Taylor thought the fleet was Conajee Angria's pirate fleet). Taylor next went to Cochin, a Dutch port, where he sought to reprovision his ships. Taylor was forced to pay heavy bribes at the port. Taylor careened his ships at Mauritius and Saint Mary's Island.

It was during this time that he was joined by Olivier La Bouche who assumed command of the "Victory". They went to Réunion Island in April, 1721 where they captured the Portuguese carrack "Nostra Senhora de Cabo". On board the prize was the ex-viceroy of Goa whom had in his possession diamonds valued at £500,000 as well as £375,000 worth of Oriental rareties. The men then went to Madagascar where they divvied up their loot. Here the "Victory" was burned and replaced with the "Nostra Senhora de Cabo" which was renamed the "Victory".

Taylor and La Bouche parted company in December, 1722. Taylor took the "Cassandra" and sailed to Panama, arriving in May of 1723. At Panama, the governor of Portobello pardoned Taylor and his crew in exchange for the "Cassandra". Taylor may have gone on to become a captain in the Panamanian coast guard.

Vane, Charles
Active:1680-1720 - English - Ship: The Ranger Charles Vane's pirating career is said to have begun when he joined other pirates in 1716. During this time, the pirates were raiding Spanish salvage crew and ships that were recovering silver from galleons that sunk in 1715 off the Florida coast. In May 1718, two captains of plundered vessels reported Vane and his crew to Governor Bennett in Bermuda for his piracy. Vane's crew tortured and killed several men on the two Bermuda sloops (Diamond and William and Martha) with only a few hours of one another. When the new Governor Woodes Rogers arrived on board Delicia with two accompaning man-of-wars (HMS Milford and HMS Rose) in New Providence (known as Nassau now) offering pardons to pirates in late July 1718, Vane set fire to one of his recent French prize sloops and set sail and took a few shots at the entering man-of-wars as he slipped by them.

Vane and his crew were reported to be the only pirates in New Providence that did not accept the pardon at Woodes' arrival. Soon after, Woodes sent the former pirate Captain Benjamin Hornigold to track down Vane, but Vane was able to loose his pursuer. A couple of days after his flight, Vane captured a sloop which he kept as a consort and sent Yeats aboard to command. In late August/early September, Vane and his consort were operating off the Carolina coast, and somewhat similar to what Blackbeard did a few months earlier, he attacked shipping entering and leaving Charleston. One of the several ships plundered was a large brigantine from Africa carrying 90 blacks.

Outraged by the recent string of pirate attacks outside Charleston, the Governor and Council of South Carolina planned to rid the menacing pirates, in particular Vane, and commissioned two armed sloops led by Colonel William Rhett to find him. By this time, Vane was successful in plundering many vessels, and Captain Yeats commanding Vane's sloop consort also felt he was becoming a successful pirate. Vane considered his consort and its captain as a subordinate and tender to him and his larger brigantine and made that point clear to the consort.

A few days after the capture of the African vessel, Yeats, wanting to finally captain by himself, set sail with "his" sloop while the two ships were at anchor at night. With him were an accompanying crew of about 15 and some of Vane's plunder, including the recently captured blacks. While off Ocracoke Island, North Carolina in September 1718, Vane met up with the fellow pirate Blackbeard and the pirate ships saluted one another and the two pirate crews proceeded to spend a week together in a typical pirate party. After departing company, Vane continued his plundering successes and hoped to meet with Yeats again, but instead plundered a few more vessels from Charleston. Colonel Rhett soon afterwards met up with the plundered vessels and was informed by some of the crew that were captured while in company with the pirates that they overheard their guardians say they were planning to sail south. This was just a deception on Vane's part, for he gave orders to his crew to give contrary statements for the other crew to overhear in case such a predicament as this came up. His plan worked, for Rhett sailed south while Vane actually sailed north. In doing so, Rhett was unsuccessful in locating Vane, but unexpectedly discovered and captured another pirate, Major Stede Bonnet instead. On November 23, Vane encountered a vessel in the Windward Passage and expected little resistance when they rose their pirate flag. But instead, the vessel retaliated with a broadside and it was discovered to be a French man-of-war.

At this knowledge, Vane decided to flee the scene and not pursue the fight any longer. Most of the crew felt differently on this matter, but at the time of battle the captain had extreme command. However, the next day after their escape, the crew confronted Vane and stated he was a coward. The crew elected the quarter master, Calico Jack as the new captain of the brigantine and Vane and his fellow supporters were set off on a small sloop. In the following months, Vane and his new crew started from scratch again quite successfully by plundering several vessels. In February, Vane's sloop was wrecked on an uninhabited island in the Bay of Honduras during a fierce storm where most of the crew drowned, but Vane managed to survive but found himself marooned. Local turtle fishermen who came on canoes helped him survive a day at a time. Finally, a ship arrived but unfortunately for Vane it was commanded by an old acquaintance and former buccaneer Captain Holford. Holford would not rescue Vane from the island stating, "Charles, I shan't trust you aboard my ship, unless I carry you a prisoner; for I shall have you caballing with my men, knock me on the head and run away with my ship a pirating." And with that, Holford sailed away leaving Vane alone again. Luckily another ship soon arrived and this time no one knew Vane so he was allowed on board. Unluckily, Captain Holford's ship met with this ship and he was invited aboard to dine by the captain.

While there, Holford accidentally saw Vane working onboard and quickly informed the captain who Vane truly was. On knowing this, the captain definitely did not want Vane on board, so Holford moved him to his ship but now as a prisoner rather than a free man. Holford turned him over to the authorities in Jamaica where he was soon tried for piracy on March 22, 1720. Subsequently convicted, Vane was hanged at Gallows Point and his body hung in chains at the small islet Gun Cay. Charles Vane's career was somewhat vibrant - from his open defiance to the new Governor to the unlucky circumstances that led to his capture. Vane was able to escape pursuers several times by out sailing or outwitting them, but in the end his capture was almost too easy due to events following the shipwreck.

Walden, John
Active: 1720-1723 - English - Ship: Royal Fortune

Walden was among the crew of a fishing vessel plundered by Bartholomew Roberts during the summer of 1720. An expert seaman, a reckless fighter and a good looking man, he became Robert's confidant and bedfellow. Behind his back the crew called him "Miss Nanny", which was 18th century slang for a passive homosexual. After they were arrested, many pirates blamed Walden for burning alive 80 black slaves.

In January 1722, Roberts captured 11 ships loading slaves at Whydah (Oidah) in Western Africa. A Portuguese captain refused to ransom his vessel, and Roberts sent boats to carry the slaves to his own ships. Deciding that unshackling was taking too long, Walden and others burned the Poortuguese ship whilst many were still in chains. Walden's leg was struck off as the pirates battled the British Warship Swallow in February 1723. He was tried and hanged at Cape Coast, Ghana.

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Credits
All texts and pictures are open source material, without copyright-restrictions, publically available without limitations. If I should have used copyrighted material, this is unintended. A great inspiration was the webpage http://www.thewayofthepirates.com/, where you can find few pictures but tons of information about british pirates.

Seth Seaborn, SGS