The ArchivesPeopleRichard Worley
Richard Worley
New York pirate commander whose company was destroyed near Charles Town in November 1718 after a brief coastal cruise.
Bornnot establishedDiedkilled near Charles Town, November 1718
New York pirate commander whose company was destroyed near Charles Town in November 1718 after a brief coastal cruise.
What the record establishes
Worley's documented career is short, running from a departure from New York about late September 1718 (Johnson) to his death in a sea-fight near Charles Town about November 1718 (court records), roughly two months on the court record dating, though Johnson's hanging of 17 February 1718-19 would lengthen it, rather than the half-year some accounts imply1
A force fitted out by the government of South Carolina under Governor Robert Johnson met and destroyed Worley's company near Charles Town in about November 1718, and Worley was killed in the action2
Johnson's General History dates Worley's death to 17 February 1718-19 and places the fight at the mouth of the James River in Virginia, which is contradicted on both date and place by the South Carolina court record3
Robbery of a shallop off Newcastle on the Delaware, 1718 (about October); A shallop near Newcastle, Delaware; alleged by Charles Johnson4
Seizure of a Philadelphia sloop belonging to Black Robbin, the company quitting their open boat for her and taking one of Black Robbin's men along, 1718 (about October); Black Robbin's sloop of Philadelphia; alleged by Charles Johnson5
Capture of a sloop bound for Hull, laden with provisions, used to escape HMS Phoenix, 1718 (about October); A Hull-bound provision sloop; alleged by Charles Johnson6
Taking of a sloop and a brigantine among the Bahama Islands, 1718; A sloop and a brigantine in the Bahamas; alleged by Charles Johnson7
Cruising under a black death's-head ensign as an armed pirate company of about twenty-five men and six guns off the Delaware and the Carolinas, 1718; Shipping off the Delaware and Carolina coasts; alleged by Charles Johnson8
Armed resistance to the South Carolina force in a close boarding fight near Charles Town, 1718 (about November); The two sloops (of about eight and six guns) fitted out by Governor Johnson; alleged by South Carolina court record and Charles Johnson9
What the evidence does not settle
The South Carolina Vice-Admiralty journal and a contemporary dispatch naming Worley still need direct inspection; the continuous narrative conflicts with the colonial dates and place.
What the evidence does not settle
Colonial chronology
- Whether the South Carolina journal and contemporary dispatch agree with the continuous narrative
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.
- Worley's documented career is short, running from a departure from New York about late September 1718 (Johnson) to his death in a sea-fight near Charles Town about November 1718 (court records), roughly two months on the court record dating, though Johnson's hanging of 17 February 1718-19 would lengthen it, rather than the half-year some accounts imply Likely More likely than not on the evidence we have. Period narrative; Printed trial record: A General History of the Pyrates ('Of Captain Worley, and his Crew'); Manuscript journal of the South Carolina Court of Vice-Admiralty, 1718 sessions, as read in the Charleston Time Machine essays by Nicholas Butler
- A force fitted out by the government of South Carolina under Governor Robert Johnson met and destroyed Worley's company near Charles Town in about November 1718, and Worley was killed in the action Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Printed trial record; Period narrative: Manuscript journal of the South Carolina Court of Vice-Admiralty, 1718 sessions, as read in the Charleston Time Machine essays by Nicholas Butler; A General History of the Pyrates ('Of Captain Worley, and his Crew')
- Johnson's General History dates Worley's death to 17 February 1718-19 and places the fight at the mouth of the James River in Virginia, which is contradicted on both date and place by the South Carolina court record Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Period narrative: A General History of the Pyrates ('Of Captain Worley, and his Crew')
- Robbery of a shallop off Newcastle on the Delaware, 1718 (about October); A shallop near Newcastle, Delaware; alleged by Charles Johnson Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Period narrative: A General History of the Pyrates ('Of Captain Worley, and his Crew')
- Seizure of a Philadelphia sloop belonging to Black Robbin, the company quitting their open boat for her and taking one of Black Robbin's men along, 1718 (about October); Black Robbin's sloop of Philadelphia; alleged by Charles Johnson Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Period narrative: A General History of the Pyrates ('Of Captain Worley, and his Crew')
- Capture of a sloop bound for Hull, laden with provisions, used to escape HMS Phoenix, 1718 (about October); A Hull-bound provision sloop; alleged by Charles Johnson Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Period narrative: A General History of the Pyrates ('Of Captain Worley, and his Crew')
- Taking of a sloop and a brigantine among the Bahama Islands, 1718; A sloop and a brigantine in the Bahamas; alleged by Charles Johnson Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Period narrative: A General History of the Pyrates ('Of Captain Worley, and his Crew')
- Cruising under a black death's-head ensign as an armed pirate company of about twenty-five men and six guns off the Delaware and the Carolinas, 1718; Shipping off the Delaware and Carolina coasts; alleged by Charles Johnson Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Period narrative: A General History of the Pyrates ('Of Captain Worley, and his Crew')
- Armed resistance to the South Carolina force in a close boarding fight near Charles Town, 1718 (about November); The two sloops (of about eight and six guns) fitted out by Governor Johnson; alleged by South Carolina court record and Charles Johnson Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Printed trial record; Period narrative: Manuscript journal of the South Carolina Court of Vice-Admiralty, 1718 sessions, as read in the Charleston Time Machine essays by Nicholas Butler; A General History of the Pyrates ('Of Captain Worley, and his Crew')