one of the crew, James Paterson, and beat him to death. On the captain
coming up on deck to find out what all the noise was about, Heaman beat
him to death with a musket, being assisted by the cook, Francis Gautier,
also a Frenchman. The two conspirators then proceeded to imprison the rest
of the crew in the forecastle, and threw the dead bodies of the captain
and the sailor overboard. For two days the murderers tried to suffocate
the crew by burning pitch and blowing the smoke into the forecastle.
Failing to accomplish this they let the crew out after each had sworn on
the Bible not to inform on them. The course was now altered, and they
sailed towards Scotland. The barrels of dollars were broken open and the
coins placed in bags. In June they reached the Island of Barra, where
Gautier went ashore, wearing the late captain's green coat, and bought a
large boat. Next, they sailed to Stornoway, where they arrived in July,
and here they sank their schooner. The crew rowed ashore in the long-boat,
sharing out the dollars as they went, using an old tin as a measure, each
man getting 6,300 dollars as his share. Their boat was smashed on the
rocks when landing, but they got their plunder safely ashore and hid it
amongst the stones on the beach. Early next morning the mutineers were
visited by the Customs officer. After he had left, the cabin boy, a
Maltese, ran after him and told him the true story of the murders and
robbery. A party of islanders was got together, the mutineers arrested and
taken to Edinburgh, where Heaman and Gautier were tried for piracy and
murder, and on November 27th found guilty and condemned to death. They
were both hanged on January 9th, 1822, on the sands of Leith, within the
flood mark, and afterwards their bodies were delivered to Dr. Alexander
Munro, Professor of Anatomy in the University of Edinburgh, to be publicly
dissected by him.
HEATH, PELEG.
One of William Coward's crew. Condemned to be hanged at Boston in 1690,
but afterwards reprieved.
HEIDON, CAPTAIN.
Arrested for piracy in 1564 for having captured a Flemish ship. This
vessel he manned with thirteen Scotchmen in addition to his own crew, and
sailed off the coast of Spain. Here he took a prize containing a cargo of
wine, which he carried to the Island of Bere in Bantry Bay. The wine was
sold to Lord O'Sullivan. Heidon now fitted up another ship, the _John of
Sandwich_. Was wrecked in her on the Island of Alderney and Heidon was
arrested, but managed to escape in a small boat with some others of the
pirates.
HENLEY, CAPTAIN.
In 1683 sailed from Boston "bound for the Rack," afterwards going to the
Red Sea, where he plundered Arab and Malabar ships.
HERDUE, CAPTAIN. Buccaneer.
Commanded a frigate of four guns, crew of forty men, at Tortuga Island, in
1663.
HERNANDEZ, AUGUSTUS.
Hanged at Kingston, Jamaica, in 1823.
HERNANDEZ, JUAN.
Captured with nine other pirates by H.M. sloop-of-war _Tyne_ and taken to
Jamaica. Hanged on February 7th, 1823, at Kingston.
HERRIOTT, DAVID.
Master of the _Adventure_, from Jamaica, taken by Teach in 1718. He joined
the pirates, and later, when Major Stede Bonnet separated from Teach, he
took Herriott to be his sailing-master. Taken prisoner with Bonnet and his
crew of the _Royal James_ by Colonel Rhet, at Cape Fear, North Carolina,
September 27th, 1718. Herriott and the boatswain, Ignatius Pell, turned
King's evidence at the trial of the pirates held at Charleston. On October
25th, Bonnet and Herriott escaped from prison, in spite of the fact that
the latter had turned King's evidence. Herriott was shot on Sullivan
Island a few days later.
HEWETT, WILLIAM, or HEWET, or HEWIT.
Of Jamaica.
One of Major Stede Bonnet's crew. Tried for piracy at Charleston in 1718,
and hanged at White Point on November 8th, and buried in the marsh below
low-water mark.
HIDE, DANIEL.
Of Virginia.
One of the crew of Captain Charles Harris, who, with Captain Low, played
havoc on the shipping off the American coast from New York to Charleston.
Hanged at Newport, Rhode Island, in July, 1723, at the age of 23.
HILL, CORPORAL JOHN.
In charge of the guard at Fort Royal, Falmouth, Maine, which all deserted
one night, and went to sea with the pirate Captain Pound. Killed at
Tarpaulin Cove in 1689.
HILLIARD, JOHN.
Was "chief man" of the company of Captain Bartholomew Sharp on his
"dangerous voyage" to the South Seas. Died on January 2nd, 1681, of
dropsy; buried at sea with the usual buccaneers' honours.
HINCHER, DR. JOHN.
Of Edinburgh University.
Tried for piracy in July, 1723, at Newport, Rhode Island, but acquitted.
This young doctor, his age was only 22, was taken off a prize by Captain
Low against his will, to act as ship's surgeon with the pirates.
HIND, ISRAEL, or HYNDE.
Of Bristol.
One of Captain Roberts's crew. Hanged at Cape Coast Castle in 1722, at the
age of 30.
HINGSON, JOHN.
One of Wafer's party left behind and lost in the forest when Dampier
crossed the Isthmus of Darien on foot in 1681.
HITCHENS, ROBERT.
A Devonshire man, born in the year 1515.
Took to piracy early in life. Sailed with the pirate Captain Heidon, and
was wrecked on Alderney in the year 1564. Arrested and tried for piracy,
and was hanged in chains at low-water mark at St. Martin's Point,
Guernsey, in 1564, at the age of 50.
HOLDING, ANTHONY.
One of John Quelch's crew of the brigantine _Charles_. Tried for piracy at
Boston in 1704.
HOLFORD, CAPTAIN. Buccaneer.
Of Jamaica.
An old friend of the notorious pirate Vane. In 1718 he happened to arrive
in his ship at a small uninhabited island in the Bay of Honduras to find
Vane on shore and destitute. Vane thought he would be saved by Holford,
but the latter was quite frank in refusing, saying: "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-pyrating." It was owing to Holford that Vane was eventually taken a
prisoner to Jamaica and there hanged.
HOLLAND, CAPTAIN RICHARD.
An Irishman.
Commanded a Spanish pirate vessel in the West Indies in 1724. The crew
consisted of sixty Spaniards, eighteen French, and eighteen English
sailors. Holland had originally belonged to the Royal Navy, but deserted
from the _Suffolk_ at Naples, and took shelter in a convent in that city.
In August, 1724, Holland's ship took as prizes the _John and Mary_, the
_Prudent Hannah of Boston_, and the _Dolphin_, of Topsham, all on their
way to Virginia. From out of the _John and Mary_ he took thirty-six men
slaves, some gold dust, the captain's clothes, four great guns and small
arms, and 400 gallons of rum.
HOPKINS, MR. Buccaneer and apothecary.
First lieutenant to Captain Dover (a doctor of physic) on board the
_Duchess_ privateer, of Bristol. Mr. Hopkins was an apothecary by
profession, not a sailor, but being a kinsman to the captain, no doubt was
given promotion. He sailed from Bristol on August 2nd, 1708.
HORE, CAPTAIN.
About 1650 Hore turned from a privateer into a pirate, and was very active
and successful in taking prizes between New York and Newport, occasionally
sailing to Madagascar to waylay ships of the East India Company.
HORNIGOLD, CAPTAIN BENJAMIN.
Commanded a sloop in 1716 and cruised off the Guinea coast with Teach,
taking a big French Guinea ship. He then sailed to the Bahama Islands,
where, in 1718, Woodes Rogers had just arrived with the offer of a pardon
to all pirates who surrendered themselves. Teach went off again "on the
account," but Hornigold surrendered. Shortly afterwards Hornigold was
wrecked on a reef and drowned.
HOW, THOMAS.
A native of Barnstaple in Devon.
One of Captain Bartholomew Roberts's crew. Condemned to death for piracy,
but reprieved and sold to the Royal African Company to work on their
plantations for seven years.
HOWARD, THOMAS.
Born in London, the son of a Thames lighterman. Sailing to Jamaica, he
deserted his ship and, with some companions of a like mind, stole a canoe
and set off to the Grand Cayman Islands, and there met with some 200
buccaneers and pirates. Joining with these, they took several vessels,
lastly a well-armed Spanish ship. In her they cruised off the coast of
Virginia, taking a large New England brigantine, of which Howard was
appointed quartermaster. Their next prize was a fine Virginian galley,
twenty-four guns, crowded with convicts being transplanted to America.
These passengers were only too willing to join the pirates.
Next, they sailed away to Guinea, where they took numerous prizes. Here
they were attacked by a big Portuguese ship of thirty-six guns, which they
defeated. Having by now got together a well appointed pirate fleet, they
sailed round the Cape of Good Hope to Madagascar, the happy home of the
South Sea pirates. Their ship, the _Alexander_, was wrecked and lost on a
reef, and Howard, together with the English and Dutch members of the crew,
seized the treasure, and drove off the Portuguese and Spanish sailors and
also the captain, and got to shore in a boat. They then broke up their
ship, and lived for a while by fishing and hunting. On one of these
hunting parties, the men ran away and left Howard behind.
Howard was found by the King of Anquala, who took care of him until he was
picked up by a ship. Later on, Howard became captain of a fine vessel, the
_Prosperous_, thirty-six guns, which he and some other pirates had seized
at Madagascar. In her, Howard went cruising, eventually in company with
Captain Bowen, attacking a Moorish fleet off St. John's Island. Howard
followed the Moorish ships up a river, and, after a fierce fight, seized
the largest and richest prize, a ship containing upward of a million
dollars worth of goods. Howard, having now made a considerable fortune,
retired from the piratical life and went to India, and there married a
native woman and settled down. Howard, who was a morose, sour kind of man,
ill-treated his wife, and he was at length murdered by some of her
relations.
HUGGIT, THOMAS.
Of London.
Hanged at Newport, Rhode Island, in July, 1723. Age 30.
HULL, CAPTAIN EDWARD.
Commanded the _Swallow_ "frigott" in which he sailed from Boston in 1653,
and captured several French and Dutch ships. He afterwards sold his
vessels and went with his share of the plunder to England, where he
settled down.
HUNTER, ANDREW.
One of Captain Lowther's crew. Hanged at St. Kitts on March 11th, 1722.
HUSK, JOHN.
One of Blackbeard's crew in the _Queen Ann's Revenge_. Killed off North
Carolina in 1718.
HUTNOT, JOSEPH.
One of the crew of the notorious brigantine _Charles_, commanded by
Captain Quelch. Tried for piracy at the Star Tavern, Boston, in 1704.
HUTT, CAPTAIN GEORGE, or HOUT. Buccaneer.
An Englishman who succeeded Captain Townley when the latter was killed
during a gallant fight with three Spanish galleons in 1686 near Panama.
INGRAM, GUNNER WILLIAM.
Was one of Captain Anstis's crew in the _Good Fortune_ when that pirate
took the _Morning Star_. After the prize had been converted to the
pirates' use, Ingram was appointed gunner. Later, when Ingram came to be
tried for piracy, evidence was produced to prove that he had joined the
pirates of his own free will, and, in fact, had on all occasions been one
of the forwardest in any action, and altogether "a very resolute hardened
Fellow." He was hanged.
IRELAND, JOHN. Pirate.
"A wicked and ill-disposed person," according to the royal warrant of King
William III. granted to "our truly and dearly beloved Captain William
Kidd" to go in the year 1695 to seize this and other pirates who were
doing great mischief to the ships trading off the coast of North America.
IRVINE, CAPTAIN.
One of the last pirates in the Atlantic. Very active in the early part of
the nineteenth century.
JACKMAN, CAPTAIN. Buccaneer.
In 1665 took part with Morris and Morgan in a very successful raid on
Central America, ascending the river Tabasco in the province of Campeachy
with only 107 men. Led by Indians by a detour of 300 miles, they surprised
and sacked the town of Villa de Mosa. Dampier describes this small town as
"standing on the starboard side of the river, inhabited chiefly by
Indians, with some Spaniards." On their return to the mouth of the river,
Jackman's party found the Spaniards had seized their ship, and some three
hundred of them attacked the pirates, but the Spaniards were easily beaten
off.
The freebooters next attacked Rio Garta, and took it with only thirty men,
crossed the Gulf of Honduras to rest on the Island of Roatan, and then
proceeded to the Port of Truxillo, which they plundered. They next sailed
down the Mosquito coast, burning and pillaging as they went.
Anchoring in Monkey Bay, they ascended the San Juan River in canoes one
hundred miles to Lake Nicaragua. The pirates described the Lake of
Nicaragua as being a veritable paradise, which, indeed, it must have been
prior to their visit. Hiding by day amongst the many islands and rowing by
night, on the fifth night they landed near the city of Granada, just one
year after Mansfield's visit. The buccaneers marched right into the
central square of the city without being observed by the Spaniards, who
were taken completely by surprise, so that the English were soon masters
of the city, and for sixteen hours they plundered it. Some 1,000 Indians,
driven to rebellion by the cruelty and oppression of the Spaniards,
accompanied the marauders and wanted to massacre the prisoners,
particularly "the religious," but when they understood that the buccaneers
were not remaining in Granada, they thought better of it, having, no
doubt, a shrewd inkling of what to expect in the future when their
rescuers had left.
JACKSON, CAPTAIN WILLIAM. Buccaneer.
In 1642 he gathered together a crew of more than a thousand buccaneers in
the Islands of St. Kitts and Barbadoes, and sailed with these in three
ships to the Spanish Main, plundering Maracaibo and Truxillo.
On March 25th, 1643, Jackson's little fleet dropped anchor in the harbour,
what was afterwards to be known as Kingston, in the Island of Jamaica,
which was then still in the possession of Spain. Landing 500 of his men,
he attacked the town of St. Jago de la Vega, which he took after a hard
fight and with the loss of some forty of his men. For sparing the town
from fire he received ransom from the Spaniards of 200 beeves, 10,000
pounds of cassava bread, and 7,000 pieces of eight. The English sailors
were so delighted by the beauty of the island that in one night
twenty-three of them deserted to the Spaniards.
JACKSON, NATHANIEL.
One of Captain Edward Teach's crew. Killed at North Carolina in 1718.
JAMES, CAPTAIN. Buccaneer.
Belonged to Jamaica and Tortuga. In 1663 was in command of a frigate, the
_American_ (six guns, crew of seventy men).
JAMES, CAPTAIN.
A buccaneer captain who was in 1640 temporarily appointed "President" of
Tortuga Island by the Providence Company, while their regular Governor,
Captain Flood, was in London, clearing himself of charges preferred
against him by the planters.
JAMES, CAPTAIN.
About 1709 commanded a pirate brigantine off Madagascar. Sailed for some
time in company with a New York pirate called Ort Van Tyle.
JAMES, CHARLES.
One of Captain John Quelch's crew taken in the _Larimore_ galley at Salem.
Tried for piracy at Boston in 1704.
JAMISON, _alias_ MONACRE NICKOLA.
Born at Greenock in Scotland, the son of a rich cloth merchant, he
received a polite education, spoke several languages, and was described as
being of gentlemanly deportment.
He served as sailing-master to Captain Jonnia when he took the schooner
_Exertion_. The captain and crew were eventually saved by Nickola. Years
afterwards Nickola went to Boston, and lived with Captain Lincoln of the
_Exertion_, and made a living by fishing for mackerel in the warm season,
and during the winter by teaching navigation to young gentlemen.
JANQUAIS, CAPTAIN.
A French filibuster of San Domingo.
His ship, _La Dauphine_, carried thirty guns and a crew of 180 men.
JEFFERYS, BENJAMIN.
Of Bristol.
Taken by Roberts in the _Norman_ galley in April, 1721. Roberts allowed
those of the crew who did not wish to join the pirates to return to the
_Norman_, but Jefferys had made such friends on the pirate ship that he
was too drunk to go, and also was abusive in his cups, telling his hosts
there was not one man amongst them. For this he received six lashes with
the cat-o'-nine-tails from every member of the crew, "which disordered him
for some weeks." But Jefferys eventually proved himself a brisk and
willing lad, and was made bos'on's mate. He was hanged a year later at the
age of 21.
JENNINGS.
A Welshman who in 1613 was settled on the Barbary coast with some thirty
other British pirates.
JENNINGS, CAPTAIN.
This Welsh pirate had been a man of good position, education, and property
before he took to piracy, which he did for the love of the life and not
from necessity. He was held in high esteem by his fellow-pirates at their
stronghold in the Bahamas. When notice was brought of King George's pardon
in 1717, a meeting was held of all the pirates at which Jennings presided.
After much discussion, Jennings boldly gave out that he himself meant to
surrender, whereupon some hundred and fifty other pirates declared their
intention of doing likewise. On the new Governor's arrival from England
they received their certificates, though the greater part of them soon
went back to piracy, or, to quote the expressive Captain Johnson,
"returned again like the Dog to the Vomit."
JOBSON, RICHARD, or COBSON or GOPSON.
His original calling was that of a druggist's assistant in London. He
combined piracy with the study of divinity. He was one of Dampier's party
which crossed the Isthmus of Darien in 1681, and was left behind with
Wafer, who tells us in his book that Gopson "was an ingenious man and a
good scholar, and had with him a Greek testament which he frequently read
and would translate extempore into English to such of the company as were
disposed to hear him."
After great sufferings in the tropical jungle in the wet season, Jobson
and his friends reached the "North Sea" to find an English buccaneer
vessel lying at anchor off the shore. On rowing out to the ship the canoe
upset, and Jobson and his gun were thrown overboard, but the former was
rescued, though he died a few days later on board the vessel owing to the
exposure he had been subjected to. He was buried in the sand at Le Sounds
Cay with full honours--that is, a volley of guns and colours flown at
half-mast.
JOCARD, LE CAPITAINE.
A French filibuster who in 1684 had his headquarters in San Domingo.
He commanded the _Irondelle_, a ship armed with eighteen guns and a crew
of 120 men.
JOHNSON, CAPTAIN. A successful and very bloody pirate.
Of Jamaica.
Immediately after the publication of peace by Sir Thomas Lynch, Governor
of Jamaica in 1670, which included a general pardon to all privateers,
Johnson fled from Port Royal with some ten followers, and shortly after,
meeting with a Spanish ship of eighteen guns, managed to take her and kill
the captain and fourteen of the crew. Gradually collecting together a
party of a hundred or more English and French desperadoes he plundered
many ships round the Cuban coast. Tiring of his quarrelsome French
companions he sailed to Jamaica to make terms with the Governor, and
anchored in Morant Bay, but his ship was blown ashore by a hurricane.
Johnson was immediately arrested by Governor Lynch, who ordered Colonel
Modyford to assemble the justices and to proceed to trial and immediate
execution. Lynch had had bitter experiences of trying pirates, and knew
that the sooner they were hanged the better. But Modyford, like many other
Jamaicans, felt a strong sympathy for the pirates, and he managed to get
Johnson acquitted in spite of the fact that Johnson "confessed enough to
hang a hundred honester persons." It is interesting to read that half an
hour after the dismissal of the court Johnson "came to drink with his
judges." Governor Lynch, now thoroughly roused, took the matter into his
own hands. He again placed Johnson under arrest, called a meeting of the
council, from which he dismissed Colonel Modyford, and managed to have the
former judgment reversed. The pirate was again tried, and in order that no
mistake might happen, Lynch himself presided over the court. Johnson, as
before, made a full confession, but was condemned and immediately
executed, and was, writes Lynch, "as much regretted as if he had been as
pious and as innocent as one of the primitive martyrs." This second trial
was absolutely illegal, and Lynch was reproved by the King for his rash
and high-handed conduct.
JOHNSON, CAPTAIN BEN.
When a lad he had served as a midshipman in an East Indiaman, the _Asia_,
but having been caught red-handed robbing the purser of brandy and wine,
he was flogged and sent to serve as a sailor before the mast. In 1750,
while in the Red Sea, he deserted his ship and entered the service of the
Sultan of Ormus. Finding Johnson to be a clever sailor, the Sultan
appointed him admiral of his pirate fleet of fourteen vessels. The young
admiral became a convert to Brahminism, and was ceremoniously blessed by
the arch-priests of the Temple. Amongst his crew Johnson had some two
hundred other Englishmen, who also became followers of Brahmin, each of
whom was allowed, when in port, a dancing girl from the Temple.
Johnson proved a most capable and bloodthirsty pirate, playing havoc with
the shipping of the Red Sea, taking also several towns on the coast, and
putting to death his prisoners, often after cruel tortures. His boldest
exploit was to attack the fortified town of Busrah. This he did, putting
the Sheik and most of the inhabitants to death, and taking back to his
master, the Sultan, vast plunder of diamonds, pearls, and gold.
On another occasion Johnson landed his crews on the Island of Omalee, at
the entrance to the Persian Gulf, a favourite place of pilgrimage, and
raided the temples of the Indian God Buddha. Putting to death all the two
thousand priests, he cut off the noses and slit the upper lips of seven
hundred dancing girls, only sparing a few of the best looking ones, whom
he carried away with him along with plunder worth half a million rupees.
On their way back to the Red Sea the pirates met with an English East
Indiaman, which they took and plundered, and Johnson, remembering his
previous sufferings in the same service, murdered the whole crew.
Shortly afterwards Johnson and ten of his English officers contrived to
run away from their master, the Sultan, in his best and fastest lateen
vessel, with an enormous booty. Sailing up to the head of the Persian
Gulf, Johnson managed to reach Constantinople with his share of the
plunder, worth £800,000. With this as an introduction, he was hospitably
received, and was made a bashaw, and at the end of a long life of
splendour died a natural death.
JOHNSON, CAPTAIN HENRY, _alias_ "HENRIQUES THE ENGLISHMAN."
A West Indian pirate, born in the North of Ireland.
Commanded the _Two Brothers_, a Rhode Island-built sloop, eighteen guns,
crew of ninety, mostly Spaniards. On March 20th, 1730, he took the _John
and Jane_ (Edward Burt, master), from Jamaica, off Swan Island. The _John
and Jane_ was armed with eight carriage and ten swivel guns, and a crew of
only twenty-five men. After a gallant resistance for five hours the
pirates boarded and took the English ship. The few survivors were stripped
naked, and preparations made to hang them in pairs. This was prevented by
Captain Johnson and an English pirate called Echlin. There was a Mrs.
Groves, a passenger, in the _John and Jane_, whose husband and the English
surgeon had both been killed at the first onslaught of the pirates. This
poor lady was hidden in the hold of the ship during the action, and was
only informed afterwards of the death of her husband. The pirates now
dragged her on deck, "stript her in a manner naked," and carried her as a
prize to the Spanish captain, Pedro Poleas, who immediately took her to
the "great cabin and there with horrible oaths and curses insolently
assaulted her Chastity." Her loud cries of distress brought Captain
Johnson into the cabin, who, seeing what was on hand, drew his pistol and
threatened to blow out the brains of any man who attempted the least
violence upon her. He next commanded everything belonging to Mrs. Groves
to be returned to her, which was done--including her clothing. The gallant
conduct of Johnson is the more surprising and pleasing since he had the
reputation of being as bloody and ruthless a pirate as ever took a ship or
cut an innocent throat. He only had one hand, and used to fire his piece
with great skill, laying the barrel on his stump, and drawing the trigger
with his right hand.
In all the American "plantations" there were rewards offered for him alive
or dead.
The end of this "penny-dreadful" pirate is unrecorded, but was probably a
violent one, as this type of pirate seldom, if ever, died in his bed.
JOHNSON, ISAAC.
One of Captain Quelch's crew. Tried for piracy at the Star Tavern at
Boston in 1704.
JOHNSON, JACOB.
Taken prisoner by Captain Roberts out of the _King Solomon_, he joined the
pirates.
JOHNSON, JOHN, or JAYNSON.
Born "nigh Lancaster."
Taken out of the _King Solomon_. One of Roberts's crew. Hanged in 1722 at
the age of 22.
JOHNSON, MARCUS.
One of Captain Roberts's crew. Hanged in 1722. Stated in his death warrant
to be a native of Smyrna. Died at the age of 21.
JOHNSON, ROBERT.
From Whydah in West Africa.