GAOP ???

[pyrat]

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Edited April 13, 2009 by pyrat

[Joe Pyrat]

Rediker estimates 1,800-2,400 active pirates at the peak of the 1719-22 era. In 1609 William Bishop was reported off Ireland with a pirate fleet of 11 ships and 1,000 men, with another 10 ships expected. In 1611 another pirate fleet was reported off Ireland consisting of 9 ships and 500 men.

I am somewhat skeptical regarding the numbers attributed to Ward and Bishop and believe Rediker's estimate may be on the low side.

[EDIT] Might also add that in 1695 Henry Every's squadron alone consisted of about 400 men [/EDIT]

Following Queen Ann's war you have a number of recorded instances of pirates ships operating together which should approximate the number of men attributed to Avery's squadron, just off the top, Jennings Teach and Roberts.

Thinking about it, based on Radiker's estimate this would mean that Jennings, Teach and Roberts commanded something like 30 to 50 percent of all the active pirates at the time, which doesn't seem likely to, me anyway.