On this day in history...

[William Brand]

January 12 -

On this day in 1702, in North America, ships from Fort Maurepas arrive at Twenty-Seven Mile Bluff to build Fort Louis de la Mobile (future Mobile, Alabama) to become the capital of French Louisiana.

[William Brand]

January 13 -

On this day in 1690, English Pirate Thomas Pound was initially found guilty for acts of piracy. However, he was later reprieved. He was sent to England, where he was later released and eventually gained command of his own ship, before his death in 1703.

Also on this day in 1722, the Weekly Journal reported: "That several pirate ships infested the coast [off Martinique] where one carrying 30 guns and 400 men some days before had engaged two French men-of-war. She caried a black flag at her topmasthead. The action took place off Monserrat but she got away from them and bore away from Antegoa. That 5 men were newly come in there that did belong to Inwen, captain Ross, from Cork, Ireland, having on board 600 barrels of beef besides other provisions which ship was taken off Martinique by a pirate sloop well mounted with guns and 140 men. That colonel Doyly of Montserrat with his family was on board the said vessel and was very much cut and wounded by the pirates. That 21 of these brutes had forced a woman passenger successively, afterwards broke her back and flung her into the sea."

[William Brand]

January 14 -

On this day in 1639...

In Hartford, Connecticut, the first constitution in the American colonies, the "Fundamental Orders," is adopted by representatives of Wethersfield, Windsor, and Hartford.

The Dutch discovered the Connecticut River in 1614, but English Puritans from Massachusetts largely accomplished European settlement of the region. During the 1630s, they flocked to the Connecticut valley from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and in 1638 representatives from the three major Puritan settlements in Connecticut met to set up a unified government for the new colony.

Roger Ludlow, a lawyer, wrote much of the Fundamental Orders, and presented a binding and compact frame of government that put the welfare of the community above that of individuals. It was also the first written constitution in the world to declare the modern idea that "the foundation of authority is in the free consent of the people." In 1662, the Charter of Connecticut superseded the Fundamental Orders; though the majority of the original document's laws and statutes remained in force until 1818.

[William Brand]

January 15 -

On this day in 1690, M. de Denonville sent a letter to M, de Seignelay regarding commerce during a state of war with the Iroquois. While not pirate related, it demonstrates the fragile nature of commerce during the Golden Age in the colonies.

"Our affairs at Hudson's Bay will prosper, if the Northern Company continue to cooperate with, and second the designs of D'Iberville, one of the sons of the late Le Moyne, whom I left resolved to go and seize Port Nelson, the only remaining post in the possession of the English. For that purpose it is absolutely necessary, I believe, that my Lord the Marquis de Seignelay inform Monsieur de Lagiiy that the King intends that the Northern Company undertake the capture of that post, and furnish said Iberville with everything he requires to render his design successful. He will want two ships. He has already, at Quebec, one that he took this winter from the English. In truth, my Lord, it would be very advantageous to the King's service had said Iberville some honourable rank in the navy, in order to excite emulation among the Canadians who will follow the sea. A commission of lieutenant Avould work marvels. He is a very fine fellow, and very capable of rendering himself expert, and doing good service.

The Iroquois war continuing, as there is every appearance it will, both against us and the Indians, in the direction of the Outawas who traffic with us, the greatest part of the trade will be diverted towards Port Nelson, on the River Bourbon. What I have learned of 'the facilities possessed by the Indians beyond Lake Superior to reach the sea in that direction, very strongly convinces me of the necessity we are under to bethink ourselves of driving the Englisli from that commerce. But it must be efifected without fail, for they will get up this year some expeditions against us."

[GregF]

January 10 -

And on this day in 1722, One of Ned Low's forced men, named Christopher Atwell, was taken out of the ship Greyhound.

Great posts, William. Related to above -- also taken from the Greyhound by Edward Low on that day was Charles Harris, who was likely not forced and soon after joined Low's crew. Harris went on to become a quartermaster under Low and was in command of the pirate ship Ranger in June 1723, when it was captured by a British warship (ironically, also called the Greyhound) after a brutal twelve-hour battle at sea. Charles Harris was one of twenty-six convicted pirates who were hanged in July 1723 along the shoreline of Newport, Rhode Island.

www.gregflemming.com

[William Brand]

January 16 -

On this day in 1704, approximately one hundred lives were lost when the 4th rate HMS Colchester was wrecked in Whitesand Bay.

January 17 -

Benjamin Franklin was born on this day in 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts. Later in his life in In 1778, while ambassador to France, Franklin hired privateers to capture British sailors and use them to exchange for the Americans held by the British in insufferable conditions.

[William Brand]

January 18 -

On this day in 1704, the Irish Parliament made a proclamation for apprehending straggling seamen.

And on this day in 1708, Laureano José de Torres Ayala a Duadros Castellanos was appointed Governor General of Cuba, mainly working at Fort Havana.

[William Brand]

January 19 -

On this day in 1527, the carrack named St Anthony or Santo António (and also reported as Saint Andrew) of Portugal) foundered in Gunwalloe Bay, Cornwall while en–route from Lisbon to Antwerp. She had a mixed cargo including copper and silver ingots, and was said to be worth an estimated £100 million in today's values. One half of the crew was lost. The wreck was located in 1981 and a selection of her cargo can be seen in the Charlestown Shipwreck, Rescue and Heritage Centre, Charlestown. The site is designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973.

And on this day in 1676, the Barbary corsair, Canary, left Algiers with two ships laden with goods and "presents" (tax money and the like) for the sultan at Istanbul. He anchored in view of the port to have all passengers and crew embark during the night and departed in the early morning, flying flags from the mastheads, firing all guns and muskets.

Also on this day in 1704, the English government declared a day of fasting in the days weeks that followed the 'Great Storm of 1703, saying it "loudly calls for the deepest and most solemn humiliation of our people". "The storm, unprecedented in ferocity and duration, was generally reckoned by witnesses to represent the anger of God—in recognition of the "crying sins of this nation." It remained a frequent topic of moralizing in sermons well into the nineteenth century.

[William Brand]

January 20 -

On this day in 1605, Andreas Franson of Holland took the ship Jonas. Franson had previously captained the ship Leeuwin (Lioness) and chased a Spanish ship from Dunkirk that had taken refuge in Portsmouth. Franson made a pact with master John Muckill of the 50-ton Mary Catherine of Southampton to capture a nearby anchored ship called Jonas, with a cargo of cotton, lawns, says and cambrics worth a 10.000 pounds on the night of January 20th. Muckill with 16 men rowed to the Jonas and took her. The two captains split up the goods between them, Muckill keeping the ship. Franson then sailed Westward and anchored at Cawsand Bay where he opened up his prizegoods for trade. People flocked from nearby Plymouth to barter with him, without any action being taken by the authorities. Thereafter he sailed to Morocco to dispose of the remnants of Jonas’s cargo.

[William Brand]

January 24 -

Hugo Clerck, from the Republic of the United Netherlands, captained a 19-gun ship active in the English Channel. He approached three vessels, thinking them to be merchantmen. He "Caught a Tartar", as the seamen say, for these vessels formed a well-armed Dutch escort under command of famous pirate hunter Moy Lambert. Clerck's ship was damaged after a running fight of several hours. Clerck tried to escape by brisk sailing but was out-sailed. Quarter was eventually granted, "Soo heeft den roover sijn lyeseil ingenomen ende sijn marseylen wat gestreecken ende hebbent opgegeven." (So the sea rover took in his sails and gave up.) With his 61 men brought to Holland, their belongings and the ship were ransacked by the Dutch who took the ship’s contents (iron and steel, and 19 iron guns) to Holland. Clerck confessed his misdeeds on this day in 1615.

Also on this day in 1686, men under Captain Swan voted him out of office and marooned him with 36 men. Then with John Read as captain, Cygnet sailed haphazardly to Cambodia, China and Formosa, even hit Australia. Dampier traveled with them, but became “weary of this mad Crew” and gradually became disenchanted with his profession as a searover.

And on this day in 1821, a mutiny took place aboard the British vessel, Kate. The crew of eight along with Captain Purdy, landed in the island of Guadaloupe, on the 24th of January, 1821. They slept on the beach that night, and next morning a planter in the neighborhood came to them, and brought them to the house. Their story was uniform, all said they belonged to the American ship Retrieve, Capt. Jacob Hawes, belonging to Messrs. Suydam & Wyckofl merchants, of New-York ; that after 6 weeks boisterous weather, not being able to keep the ship free, sh'e being very leaky, the Captain had given orders to get the boat in readiness, and that they were doing it, and getting into the boat about 10 o'clock at night, when the Captain's son, about 10 years old, fell overboard in trying to get into the boat, and that the Captain threw himself into the sea to save him, but both perished, and the ship went down ; that after one night and two days in the boat, they reached the beach near the Mole, with great hazard of their lives.

They were afterwards escorted to Point Petre, where they were examined by the Judge, and persisted in the same story ; except one French lad, who privately disclosed the truth to the attorney general.

January 25 -

On this day in 1721, George Shelvocke and his men sailing aboard the Jesus Maria, and unable to find a Pacific passage against unfavorable winds, dropped anchor at Coiba Island. The place was uninhabited, so they made their base there through early February when they met up with John Clipperton's crew.

Also on this day in 1723, Low's fleet captured a Portuguese ship called the Nostra Signiora de Victoria. The Victoria's Portuguese captain allowed a bag containing approximately 11,000 gold moidores (worth at the time around £15,000) to fall into the sea rather than see it captured. One of Low's most noted episodes of cruelty followed: in his rage, he slashed off the Portuguese captain's lips with a cutlass, broiled them, and forced the victim to eat them while still hot. He then murdered the remaining crew. Low's own men described him as "a maniac and a brute".

[William Brand]

February 4 -

A deposition given by Henry Bolton on this day in 1700 about his interactions with William Kidd.

"Being required by the Right hono'ble the Commission'rs for Executing the office of High Admiral of England, Ireland etc. to informe their Lord'ps of the place of my nativity, manner of Living for some time in the West Indies, and particularly of my meeting and Transactions with Capt. Kidd, I presume to make the following Answer, being the best and fullest I can make at present having neither my Books or papers in this Kingdome.

That I was born in Worcestershire about the yeare 1672 and in the year 1697 was Deputed by the Commissioners of his Maj'ties Customes for the Leeward Islands to be Collector for the Island of Antigua.

That in the year 1698 following I quitted that Imployment and followed Merchandizing about the said Leeward Islands.

That in February 1698/9 I sailed from Antigua in the Sloop St. Antonie, Samuel Wood Master, on a Trading Voyage amongst the Dutch and Spaniards. The Markett at Curacoa (a Dutch Island) not answering my Ends I went to Rio De la Hacha, and there sold my Cargoe, and Loaded my Sloope with Stock Fish [and] Wood on Freight for Curacoa aforesaid, which I there Landed and departed for the Island of Porto Rico with intention to Trade with the Inhabitants of that Island, having a Cargo on Board for that purpose.

That in that Voyage in the Moneth of Aprill 1699 being becalmed to the N.N.E. of the Island Mona the Men belonging to the Sloop discovered a Sail E. and B.S. from Mona which the Pilote of the Sloope supposed to be a Guarda Costa, a small vessell fitted out by the Spanish Governors to clear the Coast of Foreign Traders. A few houres after Wee discovered a Cannoa, which drawing near the Sloope, Wee hailed the said Cannoa. They answered from Whitehall. Wee demanded who Commanded their Shipp. They Replyed Capt. Kidd. Then he that stired the Cannoa was desired to come on Board. After he came he told me his name was John Ware, and that he was Master of Capt. Kidd's Ship, requesting that I would goe on Board in the Cannoa to see Capt. Kidd which accordingly I did. When I came there Captain Kidd askt me to sell him my Sloope in regard his Ship was disabled and could not well proceed the voyage he intended for New Yorke, and finding me unwilling he then askt if I could not procure him a Vessell. I answered possibly I might at Curacao, upon which he desired me to use my Endeavors there to get him a Sloope, and procure him some Buyers or Chapmen for his Calicos and Muslings, And that he would consider me for my paynes.

That thereupon I departed from Capt. Kidd and went for Curacao where I applyed my selfe to Mr John Stonehouse and Mr Walter Gribble (Acquaintance of Captain Kidd) who promised to send A Sloope to him. I also Endeavored to procure him some Buyers for the Muslings and Callicos.

That after doing my Errand and business at Curacao I ordered the Master of the Sloope to shape his Course for the West End of Porto Rico, But the Wind proving Northerly Wee fell in with the East end of Savona and plyed to Winward for Mona in order to meet Captain Kidd, which I there did according to Appointm't and with him a Dutch Sloope, Jean Vander Bist Master, and a French Turtler, the Master's name I have forgot; Captain Kidd waited at Mona for the Curacao vessells But the Wind being about No. and from thence to NNE they could not possibly Fetch Mona, So Captain Kidd's patience being tyred gott his ship under Saile and intended to Weather point Esperdo, the Eastermost part of Hispaniola, but the Deficiencies of his Ship being so great he bore away for the West end of Savona, and there Anchored. a Day or two afterwards came into Our Company the Brigandin Mary Gold, George Lorriston Master, and the Elenora, John Duncan Master. Then Cap't Kidd weighed Anchor with the sloop Spey, John Vander Bist Master, and Brigandine Mary Gold, sailed for the River Higuey in the Island Hispaniola where Arriving he moored his ship across the River to the Stumps of Trees or Rocks on shoar.

That there Capt. Kidd disposed of wine, part of his Cargoe, to severall that came on Board to him And that at the same time I sold him the Sloope St. Antonio.

That Capt. Kidd tooke severall Goods out of his ship, and put them on Board the Sloope I sould him and left his owne ship in the River Higuey and desired me to doe him all the service I could in selling and disposeing of the Goods left on Board of the said ship for Account of the Owners of the Adventure Galley.

That Captain Kidd told me that my Lord Bellomont and my Lord of Orford and himselfe were some of the Adventure Galleys owners and to the best of my Remembrance Sir John Somers.

That Capt. Kidd shewed me a Commission under the Great Seale signed at the Topp William Rex and another Commission signed by the Lords of the Admiralty, the purport of neither of which I can remember, onely Capt. Kidd sayd his Commissions impowred him to take pirates and the subjects of the French King.

That Capt. Kidd at his going to New Yorke promised to return himselfe or send some other persons in two Moneths time to bring Necessaryes for refitting his said ship the Adventure Prize and also a Condemnation for the said ship and Goods and to indempnifye all persons that should purchase any of the said Goods, alledging that the said ship was a lawfull prize being taken with a French passe which Captain Kidd shewed me, and actually in the time of War with France.

That after the Departure of Capt. Kidd the Seamen shiped by him in the said ship did plunder and convert to their owne uses the best and most choicest of the goods of the said ships Cargoe, which did not come to my Knowledge till they had been near Five Weeks on board the said ship, and indeed it was out of my power to prevent them had I discovered it sooner being only myselfe and Negro Boy, And they were Eighteen in numbers.

That the said Seamen belonging to the said ship as afores'd when they found I was not ignorant of their villanies openly declared they would not stay longer on board the said ship, but being terrified with the thoughts of Capt Kidds returning, they Joyned all (saving the Boatswaine) and came on the Quarter Deck and said I might remain in the ship and be damned for they would stay no longer. The Man that thus affronted me I shoved on the main Deck and ordered the rest to go on the Main Deck likewise and told them they had engaged themselves to Capt. Kidd to stay on board the ship as long as I should be there, And that I was resolved to stay till the two Months in which Capt. Kidd promised to return were expired unless some Extraordinary Accident intervened: I also charged them with stealing out of the Ships Hould severall Bales of Goods And that if they went from the Ship before Capt. Kidd's Arrivall I was oblidged as his Friend and in my owne Justification to write to all Governm'ts in those parts to have them secured; this calmed them for two or three dayes.

That the said Seamen did again Joyne and draw up a Paper directed to me setting forth their Resolution of leaving the Ship and signed with their names within a Circle commonly called a Round Robin, so gott on board A Sloope and went for the Island Curacao leaving the Ship to me and three more.

That after the departure of the said Seamen I stayd about a Week in the ship and would have stayed longer had not a Friend of myne sent a Sloope Express from Curacao to informe me the Spaniards of the Citty of St. Domingo were arming out a Brigandine to come and take us, which induced me to leave the said ship Adventure Prize in the said River Higuey and went to the Island Curacao in order to protest ag't the Seamen as aforesaid and to get what satisfaction the Law would allow, For at that time they had most of them three or Four hundred pounds a Man. But the said Seamen had gained their Ends so farr in the Governm't that the Governor would not admitt me to stay in Curacao tho' at the same time John Ware Master of Capt. Kidd's ship and the said seamen were there openly protected; I do not charge this on the Govern'r[13] (who is since dead) For I should be very sorry to disturbe the Ashes of so good a Gentleman as I believe he was, but on some of his Councill that did not desire I should face them.

That I have not received of the produce of the Goods Capt. Kidd left upwards of three hundred and Eighty peices of Eight, all the rest is in Debts outstanding which is much less than my Charges.

This is the full that presents to my Memory in Answer to their Lord'ps Demands February 4th, 1700."

February 5 -

On this day in 1721, John Clipperton, sailing aboard his ship the 'Success', met up with George Shelvoke and forty surviving members of his crew at Coiba Island. With about 120 men between them, they joined forces.

Also on this day in 1722, the HMS Swallow, commanded by Captain Chaloner Ogle, came upon the three pirate ships, the Royal Fortune, the Ranger and the Little Ranger careening at Cape Lopez. The Swallow veered away to avoid a shoal, making the pirates think that she was a fleeing merchant ship. The Ranger, commanded by James Skyrme, departed in pursuit. Once out of earshot of the other pirates, the Swallow opened her gun ports and opened fire. Ten pirates were killed and Skyrme had his leg taken off by a cannonball, but refused to leave the deck. Eventually, the Ranger was forced to strike her colors and the surviving crew were captured.

Roger Ball. one of Roberts’ men in the ship Royal Fortune, upon being captured by HMS Swallow , tried to blow up the ship with Morris and Main. Being damp the keg had detonated with only enough force to smash a hole in the ship’s side through which he was thrown. Ball was picked up by the Swallow’s boat and resisted all attempts to dress his wounds, and although in terrible pain, he refused to be touched. "Why," he said, "John Morris fired a pistol into the powder, and if he had not done it, I would." Ball then became delirious during the night. He raved at the top of his voice about Roberts’ bravery and cunning. He was whipped the next morning on the forecastle for his insolences. He wrenched at the grating and was lashed more violently for his resistance. He remained through the day lay "in a private corner, with a look as sullen as winter", eating nothing, silent, brooding in the darkness. Eventually he lapsed into a coma and was gone.

[William Brand]

March 12 -

On this day in 1594, the 'Company of Distant' was established for business in the East-Indies.

And on this day in 1609, Bermuda became an official English colony.

And on this day in 1619, the Dutch settlement on Java changed name to Batavia.

Abel Tasman became the 1st European in New Zealand on this day in 1642.

And the 1st naturalization act in American colonies came to be on this day in 1664.

And also on this day in 1664, New Jersey became a British colony.

[William Brand]

March 14 -

Sir Francis Verney (1584 – 6 September 1615) was an English adventurer, soldier of fortune, and pirate. He was knighted at the Tower of London on 14 March 1603/4. Which is the perfect scenario. A lot of other things can happen to a pirate at the Tower.

[William Brand]

March 16 -

On this day in 1700, the House of Commons proposed to King William that Captain William Kidd should not be allowed to be tried, discharged or pardoned until the following session of Parliament.

Also on this day in 1719, Rogers learned that Spain and Britain were at war again. He redoubled his efforts to repair the island's fortifications, buying vital supplies on credit in the hope of later being reimbursed by the expedition's investors.

[William Brand]

March 17 -

On this day in 1521, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan reached the Philippines.

[William Brand]

March 19 -

On this day in 1720, John Clipperton and his crew reached the Port of Velas at the Western extremity of Nicoya peninsula arriving with their prize the 'Prince Eugene".

March 20 -

The Dutch East India Company (Dutch: Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, VOC, "United East India Company") was a chartered company established on this day in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia. It is often considered to have been the first multinational corporation in the world and it was the first company to issue stock. It was also arguably the first megacorporation, possessing quasi-governmental powers, including the ability to wage war, imprison and execute convicts, negotiate treaties, coin money, and establish colonies.

[William Brand]

March 22 -

"Charles, I shan't trust you aboard my ship, unless I carry you a prisoner; for I shall have you plotting with my men, knock me on the head and run away with my ship a pirating."

Before departing, Holford stated that he would be back on the island in a month, and threatened that if he found Vane still there, he would take him back to Jamaica and hang him. Another ship soon arrived and as none of the crew recognized Vane he was allowed on board. Unluckily, Captain Holford's ship met with this ship at sea, and the captain of Vane's ship invited Holford, a friend of his, to dine with him. While there, Holford saw Vane working aboard and informed the captain who Vane truly was. The captain quickly relinquished Vane to Captain Holford who locked him in his hold and promptly turned him over to the authorities in Jamaica. It is unclear why Vane seems to have been imprisoned for over a year before the trial. Vane may have been marooned longer than the few weeks recorded, or there may have been distant witnesses to gather once he was captured. Most likely his reputation had earned the disdain of pirates, royal mariners and the public at large and they wanted him to rot in gaol before being executed. During his trial, he was found guilty and sentenced to death on this day in 1720. At his trial, numerous witnesses from merchant vessels captured by Vane testified against him, as did Vincent Pearse, Captain of the HMS Phoenix, who related how Vane had made a mockery of the King's pardon. When it was Vane's turn to present his defense, he called no witnesses and asked no questions.

[William Brand]

March 23 -

On this day in 1708, English pretender to the throne James III landed at Firth of Forth.

[William Brand]

March 24 -

On this day in 1664, Roger Williams was granted a charter to colonize Rhode Island.

[William Brand]

March 25 -

On this day in 1643, anchoring in the harbor of present day Kingston on March 25, Captain William Jackson led a party of 500 men against the nearby town of St. Jago de la Vega which he captured after heavy resistance by the town's defenders at a cost of around forty men. Threatening to burn the town, he received a ransom of 200 cattle, 10,000 pounds of cassava bread, and 7,000 pieces-of-eight. Many of the English buccaneers became with the tropical island and, during their stay, twenty three men left to live among the Spaniards.

Also on this day in 1675 the first British Royal Yacht, Mary hit rocks in a fog off Anglesey. The wrecksite is protected.

And on this day in 1700, King William of England agreed with the House of Common's request to wait until the next session of Parliament to try William Kidd. This meant that Captain Kidd would spend the better part of a year in a London prison, uncharged, having already spent eight months in a Boston prison, uncharged. Kidd was after brought across the Atlantic by the HSM Advice and then confined to Newgate Prison.

[William Brand]

March 26 -

John Julian was a half-blood Miskito Indian who joined Samuel Bellamy early in his brief career. He eventually piloted the Whydah, which was the leading ship of Bellamy's fleet, when he was only 16 years old. Julian was one of 30 to 50 people of African descent in the pirate crew — and all were reportedly treated as equals.

Julian survived the Whydah wreck in 1717. He was jailed in Boston but apparently never indicted. He was likely sold into slavery, the "Julian the Indian" bought by John Quincy — whose grandson, President John Quincy Adams, became a staunch abolitionist. A purported "unruly slave," Julian the Indian was sold to another owner and tried often to escape. During one attempt, he killed a bounty hunter who was trying to catch him. He was executed on this day in 1733.

[GregF]

March 26 -

John Julian was a half-blood Miskito Indian who joined Samuel Bellamy early in his brief career. He eventually piloted the Whydah, which was the leading ship of Bellamy's fleet, when he was only 16 years old. Julian was one of 30 to 50 people of African descent in the pirate crew — and all were reportedly treated as equals.

Julian survived the Whydah wreck in 1717. He was jailed in Boston but apparently never indicted. He was likely sold into slavery, the "Julian the Indian" bought by John Quincy — whose grandson, President John Quincy Adams, became a staunch abolitionist. A purported "unruly slave," Julian the Indian was sold to another owner and tried often to escape. During one attempt, he killed a bounty hunter who was trying to catch him. He was executed on this day in 1733.

I always found the stories about Julian fascinating, too. I wrote a short post and guest column for the Cape Cod Times recently about Julian and the shipwreck of the Whydah --- http://www.gregflemming.com/2014/04/26/fate-missing-shipwreck-survivors/.

[William Brand]

March 27 -

Upon their arrival in the West Indies, Francis 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 this day in 1724.

[William Brand]

March 28 -

On this day in 845, Paris was sacked by Viking raiders, probably under Ragnar Lodbrok, who collected a huge ransom in exchange for leaving.

[William Brand]

March 29 -

On this day in 1721, Charles Vane was hanged at Gallows Point in Port Royal. He died without expressing the least remorse for his crimes. After death, his body was hung from a gibbet on Gun Cay, at the mouth of harbor at Port Royal, as a warning against piracy.