Pirates, Buccaneers and Privateers frequented the Islands during the 16th to 18th centuries and thrived due to the lack of law and order. Privateering was the wide-spread lawful practice of robbing ships and settlements belonging to the enemy. The practice was meant to operate in war time only but continued through peace time. Privateering was utilized by all the nations involved in the bid to break Spain's trade monopoly and in the race to colonise the new world.

Drake, Hawkins, Morgan and Raleigh were all English privateers operating with Royal blessing and investments from within the Royal court. Buccoo Bay, Pirates Bay and Man o' War Bay were old pirate haunts which they used as hideaways and supply depots.

In 1718 Thomas Aristis, one of the last British pirates escaped pursuit by the Royal Navy, eventually landing at Pirates Bay then fleeing into the surrounding jungle. Later, Aristis was murdered in his hammock by one of his crew. The British finally hunted them down and the rest of the pirates were captured and hanged.

For more interesting facts on Tobago see - 'Amazing Tobago Souvenir Map' by Phil Dobson. Available In Gift Shops & Penny Savers Liquor Dept.

The British West Indies had become a dumping ground for thousands of so-called malefactors and petty criminals; those politically sentenced or those found guilty of vagrancy were banished by the Courts to work out their sentences on Plantations.

Word got around that a good living was to be had by pirating in the Caribbean and more armed brigands joined forces with the existing buccaneers to create havoc upon the high seas.

By the dawning of the 18th Century, the Bahamas had become a new haven for pirating as buccaneers preyed on merchant ships travelling to and from Virginia. In 1717 English pirate captains Thomas Barrow and Ben Horne declared New Providence (Nassau) a Pirate Republic with themselves as Governors and were soon joined by other notorious rogues like Charles Vane, Calico Jack and the infamous Black Beard.

Opportunist entrepreneurs opened bars, gambling houses and brothels to cater for all their needs and the caricature figure of the pirate came into being, as flush with captured loot, they aped the English dandies with their flamboyant dress adorning themselves with plumed hats, silver buckled shoes, long hooped earrings, massive rings and heavy gold chains encrusted with rubies and emeralds taken from Spanish galleons.

The image of knives clenched between teeth and pistols cocked, arose from the French buccaneers preferred method of boarding ships as they favoured the use of small arms while swinging on ropes over the sides. In the words of that most lawless Captain, Black Beard the Pirate – “What ever hand Fate may have dealt us, one thing you must remember……we will not be forgotten”.

PIRATES IN THE CARIBBEAN

Pirates in Petticoats

Read assumed the appearance of a man to enlist on a war ship from which she later deserted, before enrolling on the vessel that was captured by 'Calico Jack' and Anne Bonny.
Anne detected that Mary was a female despite wearing men's clothing and being an adept sword fighter. They became firm friends causing the Captain to become jealous thereby forcing Anne to expose the truth in order to save them both.
Eventually they were all captured and put on trial in Spanish Town, Jamaica. The women pleaded pregnancy but were sentenced to death; Mary Read died in childbirth in prison.
Anne Bonny's father paid bribes for the return of his daughter and she disappeared from public life after leaving a chilling reminder for her former lover 'Calico Jack'.
'If you had chosen to stand and fight like a man, you wouldn't have to be hanged like a dog'.

For a bit more on pirates in Tobago, see Amazing Tobago Souvenir Map - Avl. from PennySavers Liquor Dept. & Gift Shops Island wide

PIRATES IN THE CARIBBEAN

Life as a Pirate - Rules to Live by (or die for)……….

It is believed that pirate ships were generally run along democratic lines especially when important decisions were to be made. This majority rule policy deterred mutiny, but when at battle or on the rampage, the Captain held absolute power and to disobey his commands was to invite retribution.

Rule 1 - Everyone must obey the commands of the Captain.
Rule 2 - Everyone shall have a share of any treasure, but for every piece of gold a member of the crew is given, the Captain shall be given one and a half.
Rule 3 - If anyone steals of gambles they will be marooned with only a bottle of water and a pistol.
Rule 4 - Anyone who encourages a new pirate to join the crew without everyone else's agreement will suffer what ever punishment the Captain and crew think fit.
Rule 5 - Anyone striking another crew member shall receive 30 lashes with the whip.
Rule 6 - Anyone that raises their weapon when not in battle or leaves a lighted candle unguarded shall receive same punishment as in Rule 5.
Rule 7 - Anyone losing a finger or toe in a battle shall be given 400 pieces of eight, and if they lose an arm or a leg, shall have 800 pieces.

Visit Pirates' Bay at Charlotteville where pirates had a thriving encampment.