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Woodes Rogers Takes Nassau (1718)

The week in July 1718 when Woodes Rogers came into the road at Nassau as royal governor of the Bahamas, Charles Vane fired a captured French ship to drive off HMS Rose and got away to sea with about ninety men, and the fort was taken into the King's hands and put back into repair.

Also writtenThe arrival of Woodes Rogers at Nassau in July 1718 (the month in the report from Nassau printed in the London Gazette); The taking of possession of the fort at Nassau (the same report, which has the commission read before the officers and soldiers); Vane's escape from Nassau harbour (the same report, which has him make off in a sloop with about ninety men); Rogers's arrival at his Government, May or June 1718 (the month printed in the General History of the Pyrates of 1724)

Samuel Buck's memorial of 4 December 1719 put the loss before the Governor arrived at about 40 sail of merchant vessels brought into Providence and there burnt or sunk, besides great numbers plundered in the Gulf of Florida and the windward passage home.2

The town and its harbour have their own record here, and so does Woodes Rogers.

The offer

In the summer of 1717 Rogers told the lords proprietors that the Bahama Islands lay without any form of government or settled inhabitants, and asked them to hand the government to the Crown. The gentlemen concerned with him had a ship ready for dislodging the pirates and resettling Providence, 400 tons and 34 guns, which they proposed to man at their own charge with 150 seamen and artificers. His instructions as Governor were signed at St James's on 6 February 1718.3,4,5

The King's pardon went out ahead of him. Benjamin Bennett, Lieutenant Governor of Bermuda, reported that on 19 December 1717 he had sent a sloop to Providence with the King's proclamations, and that they were accepted there with great joy, near 300 of them being on the island. Charles Vane took the pardon and threw it away. About the latter end of March 1718, being then at Providence, he surrendered to a naval commander who had the proclamation on board, received the benefit of it, and afterwards turned pirate again.6,7

The last week of July

In July, in the evening, HMS Rose came into the road, having sailed in company with Woodes Rogers, Governor of the Bahama Islands. Vane had taken a French ship. He caused her to be set on fire to drive the Rose out, and the Rose cut her cables and warped clear in the night.24,8

Next morning the Milford and the Delicia, with Rogers aboard, were seen standing in for the harbour, the Delicia having lain off until daylight, her pilot unwilling to cross the bar in the dark. Vane and about 90 of his men made off in a sloop. He had slipped his cable and gone out by the opening the men of war left, firing at the man of war as he went off. Two sloops followed and could not get up with them.9,10,11

At his first coming in, on a day his own despatch gives as 26 July, his own ship and the Milford ran aground, and he deferred landing. Then he took possession of the fort and had his commission read before the officers, the soldiers and the people found there.1,13

The General History, printed six years later, gave the month as May or June 1718.12

Possession

The fort was put into the best repair it would bear, the ground within gun-shot of it cleared of brushwood and shrubs, palisades cut to stand round it. A small fort of eight guns went up at the eastern entrance of the harbour, with a watch kept in it.14,15

A sickness had been on the island a fortnight before he came in, imputed to raw hides put ashore near the town. The inhabitants were soon free of it. Several of the soldiers, passengers and seamen who came with him sickened and died.16

Buck's memorial counts 200 destitute inhabitants and 5 or 600 pirates surrendering, with about four score getting away with Vane, fewer than the ninety of the printed report from Nassau. The General History has 400 former pirates formed into companies.17,18

The fort was "made tenible", Rogers told Secretary Craggs on 24 December 1718, and the people had worked at it fourteen days, "seldom less than 200 men a day". Their zeal came of a thirst of revenge on the Spaniard, and was so strong, he wrote, that they forgot they were strengthening a curb for themselves.19,25

He ate, drank and worked with the people himself, officers, soldiers, sailors and passengers alongside him, and watched while they were drunk and drowsy; without that, he told the Council of Trade the following May, he could never have got the fort into any posture of defence. He added: "It was as bad as treason is in England to declare our designe of fortifying was to keep out the pirates if they were willing to come in and say they would be honest and live under Governmt."20,21

The men who went out again

Rogers equipped a sloop with sufficient men and arms and gave it to Hornigold and Cockram, both former pirates who had accepted the Act of Grace and had satisfied him of their sincerity since. They apprehended thirteen. Three of them died of their wounds.22,26

Rogers sent the court's proceedings home with his letter to Craggs of 24 December 1718, and told him he had reprieved George Rounsivell under the gallows until the King's pleasure was known.23

The court and the hangings belong to the governor's own record.

Rogers's despatch of 31 October 1718 sits in the Bahamas correspondence, C.O. 23, and the calendar's pages for October 1718 print it; either would give the day of his coming in from his own words. The report sent home from Nassau is broken in the printing where it gives the days of the month, the guns of Vane's French prize and the number of people at the reading of the commission. The logs of the Rose and the Milford would settle which ship crossed the bar on which tide.

What the evidence does not settle

Arrival date at Nassau

  • Arrival date unsettled among 24, 25, 26 or 27 JulyUnverified

Number hanged on 12 December 1718

  • Eight men were hanged at Nassau on 12 December 1718
  • Some accounts give nine hanged, folding in Hipps and RounsivellVery likely

Hornigold and Jennings's surrender terms

  • Hornigold's exact surrender date and terms remain unsettled

Each line is one question with its own grade, taken from the register where a claim carries it. Nothing here is graded as a whole.

Sources for this record

Every statement above that rests on a checked claim carries a small number; the numbers lead here. Each entry gives what is claimed, how far the record supports it, and where it comes from.

  1. Rogers's own despatch of 31 October 1718 fixes his arrival in the port at 26 July 1718, "I arriv'd in this port 26th July", HMS Rose having got in the evening before; reputable secondary accounts give 25, 26 and 27 July because the squadron came up to and worked into Nassau harbour over more than one day rather than all at once, one detailed reconstruction placing the escort at the harbour mouth in the early evening with HMS Rose leading in first and the deeper Delicia and HMS Milford held outside by the shoal ground, and the London Gazette dispatch of 11 November 1718 putting the Rose in the road on 25 July and the Governor's landing on the 27th; the Archive follows the despatch and carries 26 July as the arrival. Unverified Reported, not yet checked against the record. Secondary narrative in conflict: Rogers to the Council of Trade and Plantations, 31 October 1718, Calendar of State Papers Colonial vol 30 item 737 (manuscript CO 23/1), as carried on the Archive's Nassau and Woodes Rogers records; The London Gazette, issue 5706, Nassau dispatch of 11 November 1718 (25 July for the Rose, 27 July for the landing); Pirate Hunter of the Caribbean, chapter "Welcome to Nassau" (25 July sequence). Source check pending on the secondary carriers; the arrival date itself rests on the despatch
  2. Samuel Buck's memorial on the state of the Bahama Islands, laid before the Council of Trade and Plantations on 4 December 1719, states that before Governor Rogers arrived the pirates had brought about 40 sail of merchant ships into Providence, where they were burnt or sunk, and had plundered great numbers in the Gulf of Florida and the windward passage bound to England. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Calendared state papers: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 31, 1719-1720, America and West Indies: December 1719, item 473, Samuel Buck to the Council of Trade and Plantations, Whitehall, 4 December 1719, calendar page 273 (library file csp-col-v31-pp272-292.txt, lines 206-210)
  3. Writing to the Lords Proprietors of the Bahama Islands in the summer of 1717, Woodes Rogers described the islands as lying without any form of government or settled inhabitants and proposed that the Proprietors surrender the government to the Crown on the same footing the Jerseys did, keeping the property of the lands. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Calendared state papers: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 29, 1716-1717, America and West Indies: July 1717, 17-31, item 657 ii, Woodes Rogers to the Lords Proprietors of the Bahama Islands, calendar pages 345-346 (library file csp-col-v29-pp344-364.txt, lines 277-283)
  4. In the same letter Rogers stated that gentlemen concerned with him had a ship ready to proceed on the design of dislodging the pirates and resettling Providence, of 400 tons burthen and carrying 34 guns, which they proposed to man with 150 seamen and artificers at their own expense. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Calendared state papers: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 29, 1716-1717, America and West Indies: July 1717, 17-31, item 657 ii, Woodes Rogers to the Lords Proprietors of the Bahama Islands, calendar page 346 (library file csp-col-v29-pp344-364.txt, lines 286-293)
  5. The King's instructions to Woodes Rogers as Governor of the Bahama Islands were signed at St James's on 6 February 1718. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Calendared state papers: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 30, 1717-1718, America and West Indies: February 1718, 1-15, item 353, H.M. Instructions to Woodes Rogers, Governor of the Bahama Islands, St James's, 6 February 1718 (library file csp-col-v30-pp168-186.txt, lines 335-337)
  6. Benjamin Bennett, Lieutenant Governor of Bermuda, reported to the Council of Trade and Plantations on 3 February 1718 that on 19 December last he had sent a sloop to Providence with the King's proclamations relating to the pirates, where they were accepted with great joy, there being near 300 of the pirates on the island. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Calendared state papers: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 30, 1717-1718, America and West Indies: February 1718, 1-15, item 345, Lt. Governor Bennett to the Council of Trade and Plantations, Bermuda, 3 February 1718, calendar page 170 (library file csp-col-v30-pp168-186.txt, lines 143-146)
  7. The printed trial of Charles Vane carries a deposition that about the latter end of March 1718, being then at Providence, Vane surrendered to a naval commander who had His Majesty's proclamation for the pardoning of pirates on board, in order to obtain the benefit of that proclamation, which he received, and that he afterwards turned pirate again. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Trial pamphlet: The Tryals of Captain John Rackam and Other Pirates (Jamaica, 1721), the deposition read at the trial of Charles Vane (library file rackham_tryals_1721.txt, lines 2941-2945)
  8. The dispatch from the town of Nassau of 11 November 1718 reports that Charles Vane, who commanded the pirates, caused a French ship he had taken to be set on fire in order to drive out the man of war that had come into the road, which was obliged to cut her cables and warp out in the night. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Official printed dispatch: The London Gazette, issue 5706, Saturday 13 December to Saturday 27 December 1718, the dispatch from the town of Nassau on the island of Providence of 11 November 1718, page 1, right column (library file gaz_5706.txt, lines 98-102)
  9. The same dispatch reports that the next morning H.M. ship the Milford and the Delicia, on board which was the Governor, being seen at some distance standing in for the harbour, Vane and about 90 of his men made off in a sloop, and that two sloops sent after them could not get up with them. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Official printed dispatch: The London Gazette, issue 5706, Saturday 13 December to Saturday 27 December 1718, the dispatch from the town of Nassau on the island of Providence of 11 November 1718, page 1, right column (library file gaz_5706.txt, lines 103-108)
  10. At one of the two openings at the mouth of the harbour both the men of war entered and left the other open, so that Vane slipped his cable, set fire to a large prize he had there and put out, firing at the man of war as he went off. Likely More likely than not on the evidence we have. Period narrative: Charles Johnson, A General History of the Pyrates, volume I (London, 1724), the account of Vane's departure from Providence (library file gut40580_johnson_general_history.txt, lines 1221-1224)
  11. A modern edition of Rogers's voyage states that the Delicia, with the Governor and his retinue on board and escorted by H.M. ships Rose and Milford, lay off Nassau while the pilot of the Delicia judged it unsafe to venture over the bar that night, so that it was resolved to wait till the morning. Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Modern scholarship: G. E. Manwaring, introduction to Woodes Rogers, A Cruising Voyage Round the World (Seafarers' Library reprint, London, 1928), printed pages xxviii-xxix (library file rogers1712_djvu.txt, lines 1298-1302 and 1321-1325)
  12. Johnson's General History of the Pyrates (1724) gives the month of Rogers's arrival at his government as May or June 1718 and says he came with two of his Majesty's ships. Likely More likely than not on the evidence we have. Period narrative: Charles Johnson, A General History of the Pyrates, volume I (London, 1724), the account of the settlement of Providence (library file gut40580_johnson_general_history.txt, lines 1214-1218)
  13. The same dispatch reports that at the Governor's first coming in his own ship and the Milford running aground he deferred landing, and that he then took possession of the fort and caused His Majesty's commission to be read in the presence of the officers, the soldiers and the people found there. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Official printed dispatch: The London Gazette, issue 5706, Saturday 13 December to Saturday 27 December 1718, the dispatch from the town of Nassau on the island of Providence of 11 November 1718, page 1, right column (library file gaz_5706.txt, lines 109-113)
  14. The same dispatch reports that the fort was put into the best repair it was capable of, the ground within gun-shot of it cleared of brushwood and shrubs, and palisadoes cut to be placed round it, so that the place might be defended from all insults of pirates or enemies. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Official printed dispatch: The London Gazette, issue 5706, Saturday 13 December to Saturday 27 December 1718, the dispatch from the town of Nassau on the island of Providence of 11 November 1718, page 1, right column (library file gaz_5706.txt, lines 143-147)
  15. The same dispatch reports that the Governor caused a small fort of eight guns to be built at the eastermost entrance into the harbour, where a watch was kept. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Official printed dispatch: The London Gazette, issue 5706, Saturday 13 December to Saturday 27 December 1718, the dispatch from the town of Nassau on the island of Providence of 11 November 1718, page 1, right column (library file gaz_5706.txt, lines 165-167)
  16. The same dispatch reports that there had been a sickness upon the island about a fortnight before the Governor came in, imputed to a great number of raw hides put on shore near the town, that the inhabitants were soon freed from the distemper, and that several of the soldiers, passengers and seamen who came with the Governor sickened and died. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Official printed dispatch: The London Gazette, issue 5706, Saturday 13 December to Saturday 27 December 1718, the dispatch from the town of Nassau on the island of Providence of 11 November 1718, page 1, right column (library file gaz_5706.txt, lines 151-157)
  17. Johnson states that Rogers formed the former pirates, to the number of 400, into companies, appointing officers of those he most confided in. Likely More likely than not on the evidence we have. Period narrative: Charles Johnson, A General History of the Pyrates, volume I (London, 1724), the account of Rogers's government of Providence (library file gut40580_johnson_general_history.txt, lines 1226-1229)
  18. Samuel Buck's memorial of 4 December 1719 states that on the arrival of Governor Rogers there were 200 destitute inhabitants and 5 or 600 pirates who surrendered to him and about four score who made their escape with Vane, a lower figure than the about 90 given by the report from Nassau printed in the London Gazette. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Calendared state papers: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 31, 1719-1720, America and West Indies: December 1719, item 473, Samuel Buck to the Council of Trade and Plantations, Whitehall, 4 December 1719, calendar page 273 (library file csp-col-v31-pp272-292.txt, lines 200-204); The London Gazette, issue 5706, the Nassau dispatch of 11 November 1718 (library file gaz_5706.txt, lines 103-107)
  19. Writing to Secretary Craggs from Nassau on 24 December 1718, Rogers reported that the fort was by then made tenible, and in the manner laid down in the draught sent with the letter, and that the people had worked vigorously for 14 days, seldom less than 200 men a day. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Calendared state papers: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 30, 1717-1718, America and West Indies: December 1718, 11-31, item 807, Governor Rogers to Mr. Secretary Craggs, Nassau on Providence, 24 December 1718, calendar pages 437-438 (library file csp-col-v30-pp424-446.txt, lines 734-737)
  20. Writing to the Council of Trade and Plantations from Nassau on 29 May 1719, Rogers said that he could never have got the fort into any posture of defence had he not taken the method of eating, drinking and working with the people himself, with his officers, soldiers, sailors and passengers, and watching at the same time while they were drunk and drowsy. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Calendared state papers: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 31, 1719-1720, America and West Indies: May 1719, item 209, Governor Rogers to the Council of Trade and Plantations, Nassau on Providence, 29 May 1719, calendar page 101 (library file csp-col-v31-pp85-101.txt, lines 786-790)
  21. In the same letter Rogers said that it was as bad as treason is in England to declare that the design of fortifying was to keep out the pirates, if they were willing to come in and say they would be honest and live under government. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Calendared state papers: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 31, 1719-1720, America and West Indies: May 1719, item 209, Governor Rogers to the Council of Trade and Plantations, Nassau on Providence, 29 May 1719, calendar pages 100-101 (library file csp-col-v31-pp85-101.txt, lines 795-798)
  22. In his letter to Secretary Craggs of 24 December 1718 Rogers reported that he had equipped a sloop with sufficient men and arms under the command of Captains Hornigold and Cockram, who had themselves been pirates but had accepted the King's Act of Grace and whose behaviour since his arrival had given him full confidence of their sincerity, and that they apprehended pirates to the number of 13. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Calendared state papers: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 30, 1717-1718, America and West Indies: December 1718, 11-31, item 807, Governor Rogers to Mr. Secretary Craggs, Nassau on Providence, 24 December 1718, calendar page 438 (library file csp-col-v30-pp424-446.txt, lines 742-747)
  23. In the same letter Rogers enclosed the proceedings of the court and reported that he had reprieved one George Rounsivell under the gallows until the King's pleasure should be known. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Calendared state papers: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 30, 1717-1718, America and West Indies: December 1718, 11-31, item 807, Governor Rogers to Mr. Secretary Craggs, Nassau on Providence, 24 December 1718, calendar page 438 (library file csp-col-v30-pp424-446.txt, lines 755-756)
  24. The dispatch from the town of Nassau of 11 November 1718 reports that in July last, in the evening, His Majesty's ship the Rose, which had come in company with Mr Woodes Rogers, Governor of the Bahama Islands, came into the road. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Official printed dispatch: The London Gazette, issue 5706, Saturday 13 December to Saturday 27 December 1718, the dispatch from the town of Nassau on the island of Providence of 11 November 1718, page 1, right column (library file gaz_5706.txt, lines 95-98)
  25. In his letter to Secretary Craggs of 24 December 1718 Rogers reported that nothing but the people's innate thirst of revenge on the Spaniard could have prompted them to such zeal, and that the zeal was so strong that they forgot they were at the same time strengthening a curb for themselves. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Calendared state papers: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 30, 1717-1718, America and West Indies: December 1718, 11-31, item 807, Governor Rogers to Mr. Secretary Craggs, Nassau on Providence, 24 December 1718, calendar page 438 (library file csp-col-v30-pp424-446.txt, lines 736-739)
  26. In the same letter Rogers reported that of the pirates apprehended to the number of 13, three died of their wounds. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Calendared state papers: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 30, 1717-1718, America and West Indies: December 1718, 11-31, item 807, Governor Rogers to Mr. Secretary Craggs, Nassau on Providence, 24 December 1718, calendar page 438 (library file csp-col-v30-pp424-446.txt, lines 749-751)