Condent's Dragons (Ships) and his identity?

[Swashbuckler 1700]

In this documentary there is a some interesting info about pirate William Condon http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2118705/ (yes documentaries are rarely 100% accurate and this doesn't seem to be an exception)

It can be, it seems at least for the time being found on YouTube when you search "pirate Island documentary"

I am merely interested about one thing

First of all Wiki (yes it is wiki but...) knows the man William Condon alias "Billy One Hand" who seems to be the very same man as Christoper Condent http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Condon and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Condent (neither of the articles are good unfortunately. Not many sources etc.)

However, what is the mess around this man. Why he is only (practically) know of his flag that he probably never used (I think one of Foxe's results showed) while at least accordingly to the Clifford's documentary he commanded a formidable warship "Fiery Dragon" and stole a great haul of treasures.

Also, Condents vessel in book "The Pirate Ship 1660–1730" by Konstam is identified as a two masted sloop and it is named "The Flying Dragon" However, in the Clifford's documentary Condon has " the Fiery Dragon" and she is a three masted warship.

In the book Konstam says:"

Condent proved to be one of the smarter pirates of his age. At the French-held island of La Reunion, he negotiated a pardon from the governor, and retired from piracy. Although the exact circumstances are unclear, it has been proposed that Billy One Hands, one of Condent’s crew became the new captain of the sloop, and renamed her Fiery Dragon. Whatever the origins of Fiery Dragon, she was burnt in an accidental fire while at anchor in Martinique in 1721. Archaeologists have recently uncovered her remains."

What ? Firstly the documentary (and lol Wiki) says that Fiery Dragon sunk in Saint Mary Island (I think Konstam messed up with Kidd's Quedah Merchant since she had been found wrecked near Martinique and not Fiery Dragon) Secondly was Billy One hand(s) the same man as Condent and was Flying Dragon a war ship with three masts and 40 guns like in the documentary or a sloop like Konstam says? Or was it so that Flying Dragon was a sloop but Fiery Dragon a war ship?

Captain Johnson's "The history of the pyrates: containing the lives of Captain Mission. Captain Bowen. Captain Kidd ... and their several crews" doesn't tell too much about the man.

Here is the whole Condent section. It is not very long.

"OF Captain Condent, And his Crew.

CAptain Condent was a Plymouth Man born, but we are as yet ignorant of the Motives, and Time of his first turning Pyrate; he was one of those who thought fit to retire from Providence (on Governor Roger's Arrival at that Island) in a Sloop belonging to Mr. Simpson, of New York, a Jew Merchant, of which Sloop he was then Quarter-Master. Soon after they left the Island, an Accident happened on board, which put the whole Crew into Consternation; they had among them an Indian Man, whom some of them had beat; in revenge, he got most of the Arms forward into the Hold, and designed to blow up the Sloop. Upon which, some advised scuttling the Deck and throwing Grenade Shells down, but Condent said, that was too tedious and dangerous, since the Fellow might fire thro’ the Decks and kill several of them; he, therefore, taking a Pistol in one Hand, and his Cutlash in the other, leaped into the Hold; the Indian discharged a Piece at him, which broke his Arm, but, however, he ran up to and shot the Indian. When he was dead the Crew hack'd him to Pieces, and the Gunner ripping

up his Belly, tore out his Heart, broiled and eat it.

After this, they took a Merchant Man, called, the Duke of York; and some Disputes arising among the pyrates, the Captain, and one half of the Company, went on board the Prize; the other half, who continued in the Sloop, chose Condent Captain; he shaped his Course for the Cape de Verd Islands, and in his Way, took a Merchant Ship from Maderas, laden with Wine, bound for the West Indies, which he plundered and let go; then coming to the Isle of May, one of the said Islands, he took the whole Salt Fleet, consisting of about 20 Sail; he wanting a Boom, took out the Mainmost of one of these Ships, to supply the Want: Here he took upon him the Administration of Justice, enquiring into the Manner of the Commander's Behaviour to their Men, and those, against whom Complaint was made, he whipp'd and pickled. He took what Provisions and other Necessaries he wanted, and having augmented his Company, by Voluntiers and forced Men, he left the Ships and sailed to St. Jago, where he took a Dutch Ship, which had formerly been a Privateer; this prov'd also an easy Prize, for he fired but one Broadside, and clapping her on board, carried her without Resistance, for the Captain and several Men were killed, beside some wounded by his great Shot.

This Ship proving for his Purpose, he gave her the Name of the Flying Dragon, went on board with his Crew, and made a Present of his Sloop to a Mate of an English Prize, whom he had forced with him; from hence he stood away for the Coast of Brazil, and in his Cruize, took several Portuguese Ships, which he plundered and let go.

After these, he fell in with the Wright Galley, Captain John Spelt, Commander, hired by the South-Sea Company, to go to the Coast of Angela for

Slaves, and thence to Buenos Ayres. This Ship he detained a considerable Time, and the Captain being his Townsman, treated him very civilly; few Days after he took Spelt, he made Prize of a Portuguese, laden with Bale Goods and Stores; he new rigg'd the Wright Galley, and put on board her several Goods.

Soon after he had discharged the Portuguese, he met with a Dutch East-India Man of 26 Guns, whose Captain was kill'd the first Broadside, and took her with little Resistance, for he had hoisted the pyrates Colours on board Spelt's Ship.

He now, with three Sail, steer'd for the Island of Ferdinando, where he hove down and clean'd the Flying Dragon; having careen'd, he put 11 Dutchmen on board Captain Spelt, to make Amends for the Hands he had forced from him, and sent him away, making him a Present of the Goods he took from the Portuguese Ship. When he sail'd himself, he ordered the Dutch to stay at Ferdinando 24 Hours after his Departure; threatning, if he did not comply, to sink his Ship; if he fell a second Time into his Hands, and to put all the Company to the Sword. He then stood for the Coast of Brazil, where he met a Portuguese Man of War of 70 Guns, which he came up with; the Portuguese hal'd him, and he answer'd, from London, bound for Buenos Ayres: The Portuguese mann'd his Shrouds and chear'd him, when Condent fired a Broadside and a Volley of small Arms, which began a smart Engagement for the Space of 3 Glasses; but Condent finding himself over-match'd, made the best of his Way, and, being the better Sailor, got off.

Few Days after he took a Vessel of the same Nation, who gave an Account, that he had killed above 40 Men in the Guarda del Costa, beside a Number wounded; he kept along the Coast to the Southward, and took a French Ship of 18 Guns,

laden with Wine and Brandy, bound for the South-Sea, which he carried with him into the River of Plate. He sent some of his Men ashore to kill some wild Cattle, but they were taken by the Crew of a Spanish Man of War; on their Examination before the Captain, they said they were two Guiney Ships, with Slaves belonging to the South-Sea Company, and on this Story were allowed to return to their Boats: Here five of his forced Men ran away with his Canoe, he plundered the French Ship, cut her adrift, and she was stranded. He proceeded along the Brazil Coast, and hearing a Pyrate Ship was lost upon it, and the pyrates imprisoned, he used all the Portuguese, who fell into his Hands, who were many, very barbarously, cutting off their Ears and Noses; and as his Master was a Papist, when they took a Priest, they made him say Mass at the Main-mast, and would afterwards get on his Back and ride him about the Decks, or else load and drive him like a Beast. He from this went to the Guiney Coast, and took Captain Hill in the Indian Queen.

In Luengo Bay he saw two Ships at Anchor, one a Dutchman of 44 Guns, the other an English Ship, called the Fame, Captain Bowen, Commander; they both cut and ran ashore, the Fame was lost, but the Dutch Ship, the Pyrate, got off and took with him. When he was at Sea again he discharged Captain Hill, and stood away for the East-Indies. Near the Cape he took an Ostend East-India Man, of which Mr. Nash, a noted Merchant in London, was Supercargo. Soon after he took a Dutch East-India Man, discharged the Ostender, and made for Madagascar; at the Isle of St. Mary, he met with some of Captain Halsey's Crew, whom he took on board with other Stragglers, and shaped his Course for the East-Indies, and in the Way, at the Island of Johanna, took, in Company of two other pyrates

he met at St Mary's, the Cassandra East-India Man, commanded by Captain James Macragh; he continued his Course for the East-Indies, where he made a very great Booty, and returning, touch'd at the Isle of Mascarenas, where he met with a Portuguese Ship of 70 Guns, with the Vice-Roy of Goa, on board. This Ship he made Prize of, and hearing she had Money on board, they would allow of no Ransom, but carried her to the Coast of Zanguebar, where was a Dutch Fortification, which they took and plunder'd, razed the Fort, and carried off several Men who enter'd voluntarily. From hence they stood for St. Mary's, where they shared their Booty, broke up their Company, and settled among the Natives: Here a Snow came from Bristol, which they obliged to carry a Petition to the Governor of Mascarenas for a Pardon, tho’ they paid the Master very generously. The Governor returned Answer, he would take them into Protection if they would destroy their Ships, which they agreed to, and accordingly sunk the Flying Dragon, &c. Condent and some others went to Mascarenas, where Condent married the Governor's Sister-in-Law, and stay'd some Time; but as I have been credibly inform'd, he is since come to France, settled at St. Maloes, and drives a considerable Trade as a Merchant."

What Johnson said about (".....he met with a Dutch East-India Man of 26 Guns, whose Captain was kill'd the first Broadside, and took her with little Resistance, for he had hoisted the pyrates Colours on board Spelt's Ship.") Condent's ship capture of a large ship makes it look like Condent captured this ship and she is the war ship Clifford's documentary described. It seems that this was The Fiery Dragon and his original vessel, a sloop, was The Flying Dragon....

I am probably wrong about one or more things but at least I think Condent had been seriously underestimated as a pirate.

Seems to be one of the grand messes of the pirate history.... At least Konstam got confused about it and not just me

Edited November 29, 2013 by Swashbuckler 1700

[RoyalJames]

Hi Swashbuckler,

I am not sure what your question is here, but I would also like to know more about this guy.

As he moves on to the East India some of the stories are contradictory. The first is all the variants of his name: Thomas / William / Christopher, Congdom / Condent / Congdon, and also Billy one-hand. I would not be surprised if someone showed that this actually is a mix of more than one man. Another thing is that the stories regarding him sometimes seem to be very similar with the stories of La Bouche. Perhaps these two were mixed up for some reason, or they were operating together?

The captain of the Atlante stopped at Anjoan 1721, where he learned that Condom (!) had been present at the taking of the Cassandra (but this is not mentioned by Mackra, as far as I know), and that he then took a large prize of a Surat ship.

After this he sets down at St Marie and starts negotiating with the authorities at Reunion for an amnesty, or he will continue attack ships off Madagascar. His amnesty is granted and he sinks the Flying Dragon, as a part of the agreement, on St Marie. But only some 30 pirates of the 130 moves to Reunion in the end. At Reunion he seems to become a person of importance, but eventually he leaves for France.

These stories can be found in “Reunion esclavage traite noirs neg marron”.

Thanks for tip of the film, I got to have a look at it!

[Swashbuckler 1700]

You welcome :)

Interesting.... I was also wondering the Cassadra section of Johnson's book.

Well my questions were about his identity. Was Condent Billy one Hand?Also what were his ship(s).

In this thread his ship is identified as sloop with 10 guns ....

Edited November 30, 2013 by Swashbuckler 1700

[sea haugh]

His identity ..... Try Kendal

According to one reporting officer.