A General History of the Pirates · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for A General History of the Pirates by Captain Charles Johnson.
Chapter 1
The Preface
The preface discusses the origins of piracy, linking it to the transition from privateering in wartime to piracy in peacetime, and criticizes the inefficacy of naval patrols in the Americas. It argues that pirates exploit predictable shipping routes and seasonal patterns, and suggests that a national fishery could provide employment for seamen and thus prevent piracy. The author also defends the truthfulness of the accounts, drawing on eyewitness testimony and the pirates' own confessions, and notes the inclusion of new material in this second edition.
Chapter 2
A General History of the Pirates
This chapter introduces the rise of piracy in the Caribbean, focusing on the settlement of pirates in the Providence Islands and their early exploits. It sets the stage for the Golden Age of Piracy by detailing the economic and political conditions that fostered piracy.
Chapter 3
Of Captain Avery, and His Crew
This chapter recounts the story of Captain Avery, a pirate who became the subject of exaggerated legends claiming he had become a king in Madagascar, married the Great Mogul's daughter, and amassed immense wealth. In reality, Avery was a former mate who led a mutiny on a ship hired by Spanish agents, turned pirate, captured a rich Indian ship, but ultimately lost his fortune and died in poverty in England. The chapter also describes the fate of his crew, who settled in Madagascar and lived among the native princes, and includes a digression about Captain Thomas Tew, who also turned pirate and joined them.
Chapter 4
Of Captain Martel, and His Crew
This chapter recounts the brief but successful pirate career of Captain Martel, who operated in the Caribbean after the Peace of Utrecht. It describes how former privateers turned to piracy in peacetime, Martel's capture of multiple vessels including the Berkley galley, the John and Martha, and the Dolphin, and his eventual refuge at Santa Cruz. The chapter concludes with the arrival of HMS Scarborough under Captain Hume, which destroys Martel's fleet, forcing him to scuttle his ship and flee into the woods, presumably to his death.
Chapter 5
Of Captain Teach Alias Blackbeard
This chapter details the life and exploits of the notorious pirate Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard. It covers his early piracy under Captain Hornigold, his command of the Queen Ann's Revenge, his alliance with Major Stede Bonnet, and his eventual demise at the hands of Lieutenant Robert Maynard. The narrative also highlights his corrupt dealings with Governor Charles Eden of North Carolina, his brutal behavior, and the final battle at Ocracoke Inlet.
Chapter 6
Of Major Stede Bonnet and His Crew
This chapter recounts the story of Major Stede Bonnet, a wealthy and educated gentleman from Barbados who inexplicably turned to piracy. Despite his lack of maritime experience, he outfitted a sloop, the Revenge, and began plundering ships off Virginia and New York. He later joined forces with the notorious Blackbeard (Edward Teach), who effectively took command and sidelined Bonnet. After Blackbeard wrecked his ship and accepted the King's pardon, Bonnet reclaimed his sloop and also surrendered. However, he soon relapsed into piracy under the alias Captain Thomas, preying on vessels off Virginia. He was eventually captured by Colonel William Rhet after a fierce battle, escaped briefly, was recaptured, and brought to trial in Charleston, where he was convicted of piracy.
Chapter 7
Of Capt. Edward England, and His Crew
This chapter recounts the career of Captain Edward England, a pirate who began as a mate on a sloop from Jamaica before being taken by Captain Winter. England commanded a sloop and sailed to Africa, taking several ships including the Cadogan snow, where the master Skinner was brutally murdered by former crew members. England later captured the Pearl, renamed her the Royal James, and took numerous vessels at the Azores and Cape Verde Islands. In 1719, he returned to Africa and captured several ships. The chapter details his eventual downfall: after a confrontation with Captain Mackra and the East India Company fleet, England was marooned on Mauritius with three companions for his leniency toward prisoners. He later made a small boat to Madagascar, where he subsisted on charity. The chapter also follows the remnants of his crew under Captain Taylor, who captured a Portuguese man-of-war, settled at Delagoa, and eventually surrendered to the Governor of Porto Bello.
Chapter 8
Of Captain Charles Vane, and His Crew
This chapter recounts the exploits of Captain Charles Vane, a pirate who refused the King's pardon at Providence and escaped with his crew. It details his subsequent cruises, captures, and the eventual betrayal by his consort Yeats. The narrative follows Vane's decline after being deposed for cowardice, his shipwreck, and his final capture and execution in Jamaica, orchestrated by Captain Holford.
Chapter 9
Of Captain John Rackam, and His Crew
This chapter recounts the career of John Rackam, who became captain after Vane was deposed. It details his cruises, captures, escapes, and eventual capture by Captain Barnet. The narrative concludes with the trial and execution of Rackam and his crew, including the controversial conviction of nine men who came aboard just before the capture, and the stay of execution for two pregnant female pirates.
Chapter 10
The Life of Mary Read
This chapter recounts the extraordinary life of Mary Read, from her birth to a young widow who disguised her as a boy to secure financial support, through her service as a foot-boy, soldier, and eventually a pirate. It details her secret romance with a fellow pirate, her fierce bravery in battle, her discovery by Anne Bonny and Captain Rackam, and her trial and death in prison after being convicted of piracy.
Chapter 11
The Life of Anne Bonny
This chapter details the birth, upbringing, and piratical career of Anne Bonny. It begins with her illegitimate birth in Ireland, the scandal involving her father and a maid, and her eventual move to Carolina. It recounts her fierce temperament, her marriage to a poor sailor, and her subsequent affair with the pirate John Rackam, with whom she took to sea in men's clothing. The chapter concludes with her capture, her harsh words to Rackam before his execution, and her eventual reprieve from hanging.
Chapter 12
Of Captain Howel Davis, and His Crew
This chapter recounts the life and piratical career of Captain Howel Davis, from his early days as a mate on the Cadogan snow, through his capture by the pirate England, to his eventual rise as a pirate captain. It details his cunning stratagems, including a failed plot to ransom the Portuguese governor of Prince's Island, which ultimately led to his death in an ambush. The chapter also includes a lengthy digression on the Portuguese settlements in Africa and the history of navigation.
Chapter 13
IX: Of Captain Bartho. Roberts, and His Crew
This chapter details the rise of Bartholomew Roberts from a reluctant captive to a pirate captain after the death of Howel Davis. It describes the election of Roberts, the establishment of pirate articles, the trial and execution of several pirates, and the ongoing adventures of Roberts and his crew.
Chapter 14
Of Captain Anstis, and His Crew
This chapter details the career of Thomas Anstis, who began as one of six conspirators at Providence in 1718 and later separated from Bartholomew Roberts in April 1721. It recounts his cruises in the West Indies, the brutal assault on a female passenger aboard the Irwin, the capture of the Morning Star, and the crew's petition for a royal pardon. After hiding on an uninhabited island near Cuba for nine months, the crew eventually dispersed; Anstis was shot in his hammock by his own men, and the surviving pirates surrendered at Curaçao, where they were tried and hanged.
Chapter 15
Of Captain Worley, and His Crew
This chapter recounts the brief but fierce pirate career of Captain Worley, who set out from New York in September 1718 with only eight men in a small open boat. After committing robberies in the Delaware River and taking several sloops, Worley increased his crew to about twenty-five men and mounted six guns. He adopted a black ensign with a white death's head and swore his crew to take no quarter. After cleaning his sloop in North Carolina, he was pursued by two government sloops from Carolina. Mistaking them for merchant vessels, Worley sailed into the Chesapeake Bay, where he was trapped. In the ensuing battle, the pirates fought desperately hand-to-hand, refusing quarter, and all were killed except Worley and one other man, who were captured, brought ashore in irons, and hanged the next day, February 17, 1718/19.
Chapter 16
Of Capt. George Lowther, and His Crew
This chapter details the pirate career of Captain George Lowther, from his mutiny and establishment of a pirate crew with articles, to his partnership and eventual split with Captain Massey, his engagements with merchant vessels, his alliance and later separation from Edward Low, and his final defeat by the natives at Port Mayo, leading to his death.
Chapter 17
Of Captain Edward Low, and His Crew
This chapter chronicles the life and brutal career of the pirate Edward Low, from his thieving childhood in Westminster to his violent exploits at sea. After a failed attempt to murder his captain, Low and twelve companions turned pirate, eventually joining forces with George Lowther. The narrative details Low's savage attacks, including the massacre of a Spanish sloop's crew, the torture of prisoners, and the murder of a Portuguese captain and his crew after a treasure was lost. It also covers Low's alliance with Harris, his capture of numerous vessels, and his eventual setbacks, including the loss of his ship and the capture of a sloop crew sent to the Western Islands.
Chapter 18
Of Capt. John Evans, and His Crew
John Evans, a Welsh former master of a sloop, turns to piracy after losing his employment and finding wages poor. With a few comrades, he steals a canoe, robs houses, and captures a sloop named the Scowerer. They take several prizes, including a Spanish sloop and a New England ship, and share substantial plunder. After capturing a Dutch sloop, they head to the Grand Cayman to clean their vessel, but a quarrel between Evans and his boatswain leads to Evans being shot dead. The crew kills the boatswain in revenge, then breaks up the company, leaving the mate to bring the sloop into Port Royal.
Chapter 19
Of Captain John Phillips, and His Crew
This chapter recounts the career of John Phillips, a former carpenter who turned pirate after being captured by Anstis. After a brief return to England, he fled to Newfoundland, where he conspired with a few men to seize a vessel and begin a new pirate venture. They drew up articles, elected officers, and set sail, capturing several small fishing vessels and recruiting more hands, including John Rose Archer, a former pirate under Blackbeard. The crew faced starvation before capturing a French sloop, then cleaned their vessel at Tobago. Internal tensions led to mutiny attempts, brutal punishments, and the killing of Captain Robert Mortimer. Eventually, the pirates headed for Newfoundland, with the captive carpenter Edward Cheeseman plotting with John Philmore to overthrow the pirate government.
Chapter 20
Of Captain Spriggs, and His Crew
This chapter details the exploits of Captain Spriggs and his pirate crew, including their cruel treatment of prisoners, such as forcing Captain Hawkins to eat candles and marooning him on an uninhabited island. It also recounts their pursuit of Captain Solgard, their capture of various vessels, and their brutal games with horses on deck. The chapter concludes with the story of Mr. Rowry, whose crew mutinied and attempted piracy but were thwarted when Rowry escaped and sought help from the Portuguese governor of St. Thomas.
Chapter 21
An Account of the Piracies and Murders Committed by Philip Roche, etc.
This chapter recounts the brutal piracy and murder committed by Philip Roche and his confederates, who, after befriending a French captain, murdered the entire crew of a small vessel, took command, altered the ship's appearance, and continued their crimes until Roche was eventually captured, tried, and executed.
Chapter 22
An Abstract of the Civil Law and Statute Law Now in Force, in Relation to Piracy
This chapter provides a legal abstract of civil and statute laws concerning piracy, defining pirates as hostis humanis generis and detailing the legal distinctions, jurisdictional rules, and trial procedures for piracy under English law, including references to acts from 28 H. 8, 11 and 12 W. 3, and 4 G. c. 11.
Chapter 23
Endnotes
This chapter contains endnotes providing citations and references for the main text.
