piratessofnassau

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Pirates of Nassau: The Rise and Fall

The rise and fall of piracy in Nassau is marked by the capture of infamous pirates like Charles Vane and the eventual control of Nassau by Woodes Rogers, signaling the end of an era that once thrived on the island.

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Arrival to the Pirate Haven : Nassau

After a perilous journey through the Caribbean, I’ve arrived at Nassau, the infamous pirate haven on New Providence Island. The water is an amazing blue, so clear that you can see the fish darting beneath the surface. As the ship glides closer to the harbor, I take in the scene of many vessels anchored in the bay. Sloops, with their single masts, fast and light. A pirate's favorite. There are also brigantines, sturdy and dependable. And frigates ready for their next mission. 

Making my way through the busy harbor, I take note of those around me. Pirates of all races move through the streets, each with their own story of how they came to be here. Some likely once sailed in the navy but grew tired of the strict rules and decided to leave. Others may have been attacked by pirates on merchant ships and joined them. And then there are those who once were privateers, granted the right to raid enemy ships during the war, but turned to full pirates after these permissions were revoked. 

Nassau wasn’t always like this. In 1703, the Spanish and French destroyed and plundered the town of New Providence and many of the people fled the island. It wasn’t until around 1713 that the island became the pirate having that is today. The British had left Nassau unprotected and without any real governance, the island became a safe harbor for pirates. Its location, close to key trade routes, made it perfect for raiding and plundering. 

Notorious pirates like Benjamin Hornigold and Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard took the opportunity. Hornigold was a former privateer and was one of the first to establish the island as a pirate stronghold.  Somewhere where they could come and trade goods, repair ships and regroup. Soon, it became a haven for pirates of all kinds including Calico Jack and Charles Vane each one leaving their mark on this island.

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Blackbeard's Charlestown Blockade.

I arrived in Charleston a day ago expecting to conduct business as usual, but instead I found myself in the middle of a nightmare. A fleet of dark sailed ships lingered just beyond the harbor, their cannons ready for action. The city whispers of the man leading them, Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard.

Blackbeards fleet of around four to five ships, including his flagship Queen Anne's Revenge, had sealed off the harbor. No ship could enter or leave without being raided. He had already taken three prizes each containing valuable goods. But the most shocking news was that he had also taken several hostages including a member from the governor's council and his son.

Blackbeard's fleet sat in the Charleston harbor. His demands were simple, not gold or jewels but medicine. Illness spread quickly aboard ships and it was likely that his men were suffering from ailments common on long voyages. He sent word to the city that if his demands were not met he would send the heads of his hostages and would burn the city down.

Days passed slowly as we waited for word from the Governor. For nearly a week Blackbeard's fleet sat in the harbor, stopping anyone from coming or going. Would he refuse Blackbeards demands and risk the lives of his people or would he give in? He chose the latter. Governor Johnson sent a chest of medicine worth 300-400 pounds. Blackbeard released the hostages upon receiving the items he demanded, and his fleet left the harbor just as quickly as they had come.

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Arrival of Woodes Rogers

The sun hung low over Nassau it was hot and the air thick with the smell of seaweed and fish. We had heard rumors for weeks, but hearing with my own ears made it feel real. Woodes Rogers was finally here. The British had sent their man to take control of the island and bring order to the chaos we called out home. Nassau, the place where we had once called our haven was no more. The British had come to take it back.

Rogers wasn't just some random British man, he had a well known reputation. He was a former privateer that sailed under the British flag in the war against the Spanish. He had a history of raiding ships and taking valuable goods. But in 1718, he was appointed as the governor of the Bahamas and was tasked with cleaning up the islands. Offering pardons to pirates who wished to surrender.

A few of the older pirates had already taken the pardon offered by Rogers. It didn't sit right with me. Those men were no longer the pirates I had once knew and respected. They had accepted safety and rewards in exchange for abandoning pirate life. Others chose to flee.

As Rogers' ship anchored in the harbor, it became clear that the golden age of piracy was drawing to a close. Nassau was no longer a safe haven for pirates.

I could feel the weight of the decision ahead. With every passing moment Nassau became less of a haven and more of a trap. I knew that any pirate here soon would have to make the very decision I face. Take the pardon and surrender or take to the seas. I was going to take my chances with the sea. The sea as unpredictable, but it was freedom compared to the British control.

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Capture of Charles Vane

The day was calm, and the ship glided through the water without a breeze. It had been a while since we had come across another ship. Many pirates had already taken pardons from Woodes Rogers, seeking safety on land instead the open waters.  

I was lost in thought, watching the water, when the lookout suddenly called out. My eyes shifted across the horizon and soon the shape of a ship appeared. We readied ourselves thinking it was an enemy but as we came closer the flag was familiar. They pulled alongside and we passed news to each other from across the seas. 

The news was shocking though not surprising. Charles Vane, once a fierce and feared captain, had been captured. He wasn't dead yet but the fact he was captured was enough. His sloop was wrecked, and he was stranded on an Island. A ship captained by his former friend, Holfold found him, but he wouldn't let Vane on his ship. Not unless he took him as a prisoner. Vane waited it out and with a disguise made his way onboard another ship. He was soon found out and he was taken prisoner and delivered to Jamaica. The British finally had him. 

As I stood there and listened, it felt like something bigger than just Vane himself. Nassau had already fallen under Rogers's control but hearing that even Vane had been captured made it more real.

 I looked out towards the horizon. I had made the decision not to take the pardon, but with the way things are looking, I might have to reconsider. The golden age of piracy was at its end.

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Capture and Trial of John "Calico Jack" Rackham.

Today, a merchant ship from Jamaica brought news that Calico Jack had been captured. The British had closed in on him and his crew near Negril, Jamaica. Captain Barnet found him after hearing a gun fire from the sloop. He approached the sloop and the two exchanged gunfire before Calico Jack and his crew surrendered. The streets of Nassau always carried a few rumors but this one had a little weight to it.

A few of us secured a ship to take us to Port Royal, bribing a merchant captain who was on his way back. The journey was a long one. The sea was rough, the food was terrible and the days were long. I didn't think that we would make it to the trial but this was our chance to see it with our own eyes, witness the end of an era.

By the time I made it to Port Royal, Jack had already been sentenced to hang. As I walked through the streets I could hear people recounting the trial. They say it was a quick one with the testimonies from the witnesses undeniable. He was charged with piracy, robbery and felony and when asked how he pled, he said not guilty. Rumor has it that when Calico Jack saw Anne for the last time she told him something along the lines of "if you had fought like a man, you need not have been hanged like a dog." Fierce to the end that one.

Anne Bonny and Mary Read were tried as well. Both sentenced to piracy, robbery and felony like Jack and were sentenced to hang. They claimed they were pregnant which means the law can't hang them until after they have given birth. We'll have to wait and see what happens to them. As for Jack, he'll be hung today.

These times are really coming to an end. One by one the pirates that once dwelled in Nassau were meeting their fates.

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Works Cited.

Woodard, Colin. The Republic of Pirates : Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down. Harper Collins, 2008.

Cordingly, David. Under the Black Flag : The Romance and Reality of Life Among the Pirates. Random House, 1996.

Johnson, Charles. A General History of the Pyrates. London, 1734

The Tryals of Captain John Rackham and Other Pirates. Jamaica, 1721

William, Dampier . A New Voyage Round the World. London, 1699

Grey, Charles. Pirates of the Eastern Seas. S.Low, Marston & Company, 1933

Rankin, Hugh. The Golden Age of Piracy. Colonial Williamsburg, 1969

Roberts, Nancy. Blackbeard and other Pirates of the Atlantic Coast. J.F. Blair 1993