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Valentine Ashplant

Master of a brigantine before joining Bartholomew Roberts, captured in the Ranger and convicted at the Cape Coast Castle trials.

Bornc. 1690Diedexecuted 3 April 1722, Cape Coast Castle

Master of a brigantine before joining Bartholomew Roberts, captured in the Ranger and convicted at the Cape Coast Castle trials.

What the record establishes

The surname Ashplant is securely attested among Bartholomew Roberts's crew tried at Cabo Corso (Cape Coast) Castle in spring 1722; the only forename the record gives is Valentine, printed in both the 1723 trial pamphlet and Johnson's 1724 reproduction1

Johnson groups Valentine Ashplant among the senior pirates he distinguishes 'by the Title of Lords' (with Sympson and Anstis), the grouping popularly called the House of Lords2

George Fenn deposed that he had known the prisoner as 'Master of a Brigantine seven Years ago', implying Ashplant had earlier commanded a merchant vessel, about 17153

Attested name forms this session are 'Valentine Ashplant' and 'Val. Ashplant' (1723 pamphlet and Johnson 1724); the register's 'John Ashplant' is otherwise unattested4

The securely dated portion of Ashplant's life is confined to the piratical career and its end, roughly 1719 to 1722; the record fixes his capture, trial and sentence in 1722 firmly, with only a single earlier hint (a brigantine command about 1715)5

Ashplant was captured aboard the consort Ranger when HMS Swallow (Captain Chaloner Ogle) took her under Cape Lopez on 5 February 1722; Roberts's own ship the Royal Fortune was taken and Roberts killed five days later, on 10 February 17226

Ashplant was arraigned at the Admiralty court held at Cabo Corso Castle from 28 March 1722, pleaded Not Guilty, was found guilty on the King Solomon evidence, and 'said little or nothing in his defence'7

Ashplant was sentenced to be hanged and afterwards hung in chains; the warrant was dated 2 April 1722 and directed execution the following morning, so he was executed on or about 3 April 1722, among the first six of Roberts's crew put to death8

Serving as patroon (coxswain) of the pirates' boat, being 'the forwardest among them', and returning with goods from what they called their prizes, 1720 to 1722; Various prizes of Roberts's company; alleged by Captain Joseph Trahern and Thomas Castle (depositions at the trial)9

What the evidence does not settle

His birth, family and the vessel he mastered seven years before trial remain unidentified.

What the evidence does not settle

Origins

  • Ashplant's birth and family

Earlier command

  • The brigantine Ashplant mastered about seven years before trialVery likely

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. The surname Ashplant is securely attested among Bartholomew Roberts's crew tried at Cabo Corso (Cape Coast) Castle in spring 1722; the only forename the record gives is Valentine, printed in both the 1723 trial pamphlet and Johnson's 1724 reproduction Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Printed trial record: A Full and Exact Account of the Tryal of all the Pyrates, lately taken by Captain Ogle, on board the Swallow Man of War, on the Coast of Guinea; A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates (the Bartholomew Roberts chapter, with the Cabo Corso trial appendix)
  2. Johnson groups Valentine Ashplant among the senior pirates he distinguishes 'by the Title of Lords' (with Sympson and Anstis), the grouping popularly called the House of Lords Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Printed trial record: A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates (the Bartholomew Roberts chapter, with the Cabo Corso trial appendix)
  3. George Fenn deposed that he had known the prisoner as 'Master of a Brigantine seven Years ago', implying Ashplant had earlier commanded a merchant vessel, about 1715 Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Printed trial record: A Full and Exact Account of the Tryal of all the Pyrates, lately taken by Captain Ogle, on board the Swallow Man of War, on the Coast of Guinea
  4. Attested name forms this session are 'Valentine Ashplant' and 'Val. Ashplant' (1723 pamphlet and Johnson 1724); the register's 'John Ashplant' is otherwise unattested Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Printed trial record: A Full and Exact Account of the Tryal of all the Pyrates, lately taken by Captain Ogle, on board the Swallow Man of War, on the Coast of Guinea; A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates (the Bartholomew Roberts chapter, with the Cabo Corso trial appendix)
  5. The securely dated portion of Ashplant's life is confined to the piratical career and its end, roughly 1719 to 1722; the record fixes his capture, trial and sentence in 1722 firmly, with only a single earlier hint (a brigantine command about 1715) Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Printed trial record: A Full and Exact Account of the Tryal of all the Pyrates, lately taken by Captain Ogle, on board the Swallow Man of War, on the Coast of Guinea; A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates (the Bartholomew Roberts chapter, with the Cabo Corso trial appendix)
  6. Ashplant was captured aboard the consort Ranger when HMS Swallow (Captain Chaloner Ogle) took her under Cape Lopez on 5 February 1722; Roberts's own ship the Royal Fortune was taken and Roberts killed five days later, on 10 February 1722 Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Printed trial record: A Full and Exact Account of the Tryal of all the Pyrates, lately taken by Captain Ogle, on board the Swallow Man of War, on the Coast of Guinea; A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates (the Bartholomew Roberts chapter, with the Cabo Corso trial appendix)
  7. Ashplant was arraigned at the Admiralty court held at Cabo Corso Castle from 28 March 1722, pleaded Not Guilty, was found guilty on the King Solomon evidence, and 'said little or nothing in his defence' Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Printed trial record: A Full and Exact Account of the Tryal of all the Pyrates, lately taken by Captain Ogle, on board the Swallow Man of War, on the Coast of Guinea
  8. Ashplant was sentenced to be hanged and afterwards hung in chains; the warrant was dated 2 April 1722 and directed execution the following morning, so he was executed on or about 3 April 1722, among the first six of Roberts's crew put to death Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Printed trial record: A Full and Exact Account of the Tryal of all the Pyrates, lately taken by Captain Ogle, on board the Swallow Man of War, on the Coast of Guinea; A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates (the Bartholomew Roberts chapter, with the Cabo Corso trial appendix)
  9. Serving as patroon (coxswain) of the pirates' boat, being 'the forwardest among them', and returning with goods from what they called their prizes, 1720 to 1722; Various prizes of Roberts's company; alleged by Captain Joseph Trahern and Thomas Castle (depositions at the trial) Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Printed trial record: A Full and Exact Account of the Tryal of all the Pyrates, lately taken by Captain Ogle, on board the Swallow Man of War, on the Coast of Guinea