The Archives

The ArchivesPlacesThe Red Sea

The Red Sea

The sea whose southern gate carried the pilgrim and trading fleets between Surat and Mocha, and where English crews out of America lay at anchor waiting for them. Every's company took two ships out of the fleet in 1695, and Kidd's crew watched three weeks at the same anchorage for another.

Also writtenThe Straits of Babel Mandel, being the Entrance into the Red Sea (Johnson, A General History of the Pyrates, 1724); Bobs Key (the anchorage at the mouth, in the evidence of John Dann and Philip Middleton at the Every trial, 1696); Babs Key (the same anchorage in the print of Kidd's trial, 1701); the Babs, the Straits of Bab-el-Mandeb (Wright, Annesley of Surat and His Times, quoting the Company's news from Mocha); Perim (the island at the entrance, in Wright's Annesley of Surat and His Times)

The Red Sea is a searoad rather than a town. Surat and Mocha stand at either end of the traffic and are described on their own pages. Here it is the gate at the south end.

The gate

Tew doubled the Cape and steered for the straits of Babel Mandel, at the entrance into the Red Sea. In that entrance lies the island of Perim, well placed as a base against the rich trade then carried between Surat and Mocha. Philip Middleton, giving evidence at the Every trial, put the anchorage at Bobs Key, "by the mouth of the Red Sea".3,4,5

Joseph Palmer told Kidd's court that they put in at a place called Mabbee and took in water there, and corn that Kidd took from the people ashore. The island itself had no drinking water, so the watering was done elsewhere, and not always by asking. Every's men had burnt a town called Meat in 1695 because its people would not trade with them.6,7,8

The fleets and their convoys

With thousands of pilgrims sailing every year from Surat to the holy places in Arabia, Sir John Gayer undertook to send "a ship or two to act as convoy of the Mocha and Jeddah fleets" if the Governor would find them freights enough to pay for the voyage. After the loss of the Gunjsawaee the imperial court sent down a decree: all three European nations with factories at Surat were to send ships to bring the pirates in, or pay the damages. The Company's bond went in on 6 January 1696.9,10,11,12

Two ships belonging to the Company's brokers in Bombay were taken off the Babs by two small pirates, one of fourteen guns and the other of thirteen, about 150 men in each and almost all English. The news came in from Mocha: "the little merchants" of the island were "almost broake".13

Every at Bobs Key

They "came up into the Red Sea in a little time", John Dann told the court, and anchored at Bobs Key. Examined before the trial, he had described six vessels lying at Perim that agreed Every should command, Thomas Tew's Amity sloop among them, and the fleet passing them on a Saturday night in August.14,1

Told the next day that the fleet had gone by them, they called a council, agreed to follow, and went after it. Three days after making land they came up with one of the ships. Dann put her at about two or three hundred tons; the printed abstract of the trial makes her about 250.15,16

She was taken with small resistance, and gold and silver came out of her to the value of thirty or forty thousand pounds. The accounts of the great ship disagree. The Gunjsawaee was one of a small fleet the Emperor kept for the pilgrims. In Wright's telling her nakhoda surrendered after "a feeble resistance", and the ship was carried off to Madagascar and her cargo sold there. Dann's examination has her mounting about forty guns and standing a fight of three hours before she yielded. The taking of the Gunjsawaee has a page to itself.17,18,19,1

The Company's people at Bombay wrote in October that the pirates had dealt barbarously with both crews to make them confess where their money was. A great lord's wife was abused as she came home from Mecca. The governor of Surat put the Company's people there in irons, behind planked windows.2

Kidd's three weeks

Robert Bradinham swore that Kidd lay three weeks at the same anchorage, looking for the Moco fleet. The summing-up has the fleet lying at Moco and the spies sent out three times to get intelligence of it. Joseph Palmer said Kidd ordered his men to look out on the highlands.20,21,22

The boat brought word of fourteen or fifteen ships. Palmer remembered a great ship among them with red colours, ready to sail. In the morning Kidd went among them, fired at them, and took none of them. Bradinham's explanation was that he had fetched up with them and found they were under convoy. The summing-up put him there in expectation of the Moco fleet, which he meant to make a prize of. Kidd has his own record here.23,24,25,26

Where the ships were fitted out

Bellomont told the Council of Trade on 18 May 1698 that "the pirates who have given the greatest disturbance in the Red Sea and the East Indies have either been fitted from New York or from Rhode Island, and manned at New York". He went on to name the ships of Mason, Tew, Glover and Hore, commissioned by the Governor of New York, the last three by Colonel Fletcher. Those three had their commissions when they had no ship in the government at all. They were permitted to raise men "with the open design of being bound to the Red Sea".27,28

Fletcher answered the charge the other way. He never knew nor heard that any of them intended for the Red Sea or had ever been there, "except Tew, who openly vowed and protested never to return thither again".29

John Evans of the Richmond deposed on 3 January 1699 that he had heard an affidavit read before the Governor and Council of New York. In it Edward Taylor owned to roving in the Red Sea and to spoil taken from the subjects of the Mogul. He had bargained with William Nicoll and Fletcher for protection. Taylor afterwards told Evans that he had "never changed a word with Col. Fletcher in his life", and that what he swore was extorted from him by fear and threats.30,31

Tew came up with a large ship, richly laden, bound from the Indies to Arabia and carrying three hundred soldiers, and boarded her all the same. His men, Johnson says, shared near three thousand pounds a piece. Adam Baldridge's deposition makes the share 1,200 pounds a man.32,33

Everything above is English. Khafi Khan's chronicle, the one substantial account from the other deck, is not among the documents behind this page, so the violence aboard the pilgrim ships is described by the attackers' countrymen. John Dann's examination of August 1696 and the Bombay letters of October 1695 reach this page at second hand, out of Jameson's Illustrative Documents. An Admiralty chart or period sailing directions would fix the width of the strait, and settle whether the witnesses' Bobs Key is the Perim of the Company's papers. The Surat and Bombay factory books in London hold the sailings and convoys year by year. No wreck in this sea has been found.

What the evidence does not settle

Khafi Khan's account

  • Khafi Khan's account of the Ganj-i-Sawai captureConfirmed

Control of Mocha

  • Mocha's Ottoman control is often run forward from 1538

Conflicting Red Sea figures

  • Value of the 1695 plunder is reported inconsistentlyLikely

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. In 1695 six vessels gathered at the island of Perim at the entrance of the Red Sea and joined in partnership, agreeing that Captain Every should be the commander: Every's Fancy, the Dolphin under Captain Want, the Portsmouth Adventure under Captain Faro, a ship fitted out from Boston under Thomas Wake, the brigantine Pearl under William Mues and the Amity sloop under Thomas Tew. After they had lain there five or six days the Moors' ships, about twenty-five in number, passed them in the night unseen on a Saturday night in August; they weighed on the Monday, burning the Dolphin as an ill sailer, and about three days before making Cape St John took one of the Moors' ships of between two and three hundred tons and six guns, which fired three shot, and took out of her about 50,000 to 60,000 pounds in silver and gold. Coming to an anchor they then took a second ship of about forty guns, which stood a fight of three hours and yielded. The night passage of the convoy is placed in August, not in early September; and on John Dann's account the sloop fell astern and never came up with the others, so that Thomas Tew's death in the assault on the first prize is not supported by the earliest examination. Unverified Reported, not yet checked against the record. Examination printed in a documentary collection: Examination of John Dann of Rochester, mariner, taken 3 August 1696, Public Record Office C.O. 323:2, no. 25 IV, printed as document no. 63 in J. F. Jameson, ed., Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period: Illustrative Documents (New York, 1923): "they all Joyned in partnership, agreeing Captain Every should be the Comander"; "After they had laine there 5 or 6 dayes the Moores shipps (being about 25 in number) past by them in the night unseen, though the passage was not above 2 miles over. they was in August last on Saturday night"; "they wheighed on Monday, but the Dolphin being an ill sayler they burnt her... the sloop fell asterne and never came up to them"; "about 3 dayes before they made Cape St. John they mett with one of the Moores ships, betweene 2 and 300 tons, with 6 Guns, which they tooke, she haveing fired 3 shott. they tooke about 50 or 60,000 l. in that ship in Silver and gold"; "she had about 40 Guns mounted and as they said 800 men. Shee stood a fight of 3 houres and then yeilded"
  2. The East India Company's General and Council at Bombay reported on 12 October 1695 that the Gunsway, one of the King's ships, had arrived at Surat from Judda and Mocha, her nakhoda and merchants with one voice proclaiming that they were robbed by four English ships of a very great sum; that the pirates dealt very barbarously by the people of the Gunsway and of Abd-ul-Ghaffar's ship to make them confess where their money was; that a great umbraw's wife, related to the King and returning in her old age from her pilgrimage to Mecca, was much abused and several other women forced, which caused one person of quality, his wife and nurse to kill themselves to prevent being ravished; and that the governor of Surat set a strong guard on the English factory, clapped all the Company's people in irons and shut them up in a room with the windows planked. The compensation estimated at 600,000 rupees, the trial of six of Every's men at the Old Bailey on 19 October 1696 and the executions at Execution Dock on 25 November are not carried here, no trial record having been read. Unverified Reported, not yet checked against the record. East India Company correspondence printed in a documentary collection: Abstract of East India Company letters from Bombay, 12 October 1695, London, Privy Council, Unbound Papers, 1:46, printed as document no. 60 in J. F. Jameson, ed., Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period: Illustrative Documents (New York, 1923): "the 13th in the Morning, the Gunsway, one of the Kings Ships, arrived from Judda and Mocho, the Nocqueda and Merchants, with one voice, proclaiming that they were robbed by four English Ships near Bombay of a very great Sume"; "upon this the Governour sent a very strong Guard to the Factory and clapt all our People in Irons, shut them up in a room, planked up all their windows"; "it is certain the Pyrates, which these People affirm were all English, did do very barbarously by the People of the Gunsway and Abdul Gofors Ship, to make them confess where their Money was, and there happened to be a great Umbraws Wife (as Wee hear) related to the King, returning from her Pilgrimage to Mecha, in her old age. She they abused very much, and forced severall other Women, which Caused one person of Quality, his Wife and Nurse, to kill themselves to prevent the Husbands seing them (and their being) ravished"
  3. Johnson's General History states that Tew doubled the Cape of Good Hope and shaped his course for the Straits of Babel Mandel, being the entrance into the Red Sea. Likely More likely than not on the evidence we have. Period narrative: A General History of the Pyrates (1724), Volume I, the digression on Captain Thomas Tew (library file gut40580_johnson_general_history.txt, lines 1846-1850)
  4. Wright's history of the Surat factory states that the island of Perim, from its situation at the entrance of the Red Sea, suggested its own adoption as a convenient base for operations against the rich native trade then conducted between Surat and Mocha. Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Modern scholarship: Arnold Wright, Annesley of Surat and His Times (London, 1918), the chapter on the depredations of Captain Evory, printed p. 159 to 160 (library file wright_annesley.txt, lines 4997-5002)
  5. Philip Middleton's evidence at the Every trial places the company's anchorage at Bobs Key, by the mouth of the Red Sea. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Trial print: The Tryals of Joseph Dawson, Edward Forseith, William May, William Bishop, James Lewis, and John Sparkes, for several Piracies and Robberies by them committed, in the Company of Every the Grand Pirate (London, 1696), The evidence of Philip Middleton at the trial of 31 October 1696 (library file every_tryals_1696.txt, line 1370)
  6. Wright's history of the Surat factory states that the island of Perim was untenable because of the total absence of drinking water. Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Modern scholarship: Arnold Wright, Annesley of Surat and His Times (London, 1918), the chapter on the depredations of Captain Evory, printed p. 160 (library file wright_annesley.txt, lines 5004-5007)
  7. Joseph Palmer deposed at Kidd's trial that they put in at a place called Mabbee in the Red Sea and took in water there, and corn that Kidd took from the natives. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Trial print: The Arraignment, Tryal and Condemnation of Captain William Kidd, upon six several indictments, at the Admiralty Sessions held at the Old Bailey, May 1701 (London, 1701), The evidence of Joseph Palmer (library file kidd_trial_1701.txt, lines 2619-2620)
  8. Every's company burnt a town called Meat in 1695 because its people would not trade with them, and then went up the Red Sea as far as they could. Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Trial print: The Tryals of Joseph Dawson, Edward Forseith, William May, William Bishop, James Lewis, and John Sparkes, for several Piracies and Robberies by them committed, in the Company of Every the Grand Pirate (London, 1696), The evidence of John Dann at the trial of 31 October 1696 (library file every_tryals_1696.txt, lines 1197-1198)
  9. Wright's history of the Surat factory states that thousands of pilgrims sailed annually from the port of Surat to the holy places in Arabia, and that the native shipping drew a constant income from carrying them. Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Modern scholarship: Arnold Wright, Annesley of Surat and His Times (London, 1918), the chapter on Surat and the English factory, printed p. 101 (library file wright_annesley.txt, lines 3200-3204)
  10. Wright's history of the Surat factory states that the English undertook to send a ship or two to act as convoy of the Mocha and Jeddah fleets, provided the Governor would undertake that they should have such freights as would defray the charges of the voyage. Likely More likely than not on the evidence we have. Modern scholarship: Arnold Wright, Annesley of Surat and His Times (London, 1918), the chapter on the imprisonment of the Surat factory, printed p. 172, reporting Sir John Gayer's undertaking (library file wright_annesley.txt, lines 5379-5383)
  11. Wright's history of the Surat factory states that the decree from the imperial court directed that all three European nations having factories in Surat should send ships to search for and bring in the pirates or pay the damages sustained by the loss of the Gunjsawaee. Likely More likely than not on the evidence we have. Modern scholarship: Arnold Wright, Annesley of Surat and His Times (London, 1918), the chapter on Aurungzebe and the pirates, printed p. 179 (library file wright_annesley.txt, lines 5575-5580)
  12. Wright's history of the Surat factory states that the English Company's bond for the convoy was sent in to the Governor by Annesley on 6 January 1696. Likely More likely than not on the evidence we have. Modern scholarship: Arnold Wright, Annesley of Surat and His Times (London, 1918), the chapter on Aurungzebe and the pirates, printed p. 179 (library file wright_annesley.txt, lines 5593-5595)
  13. Wright's history of the Surat factory reports news from Mocha that two ships belonging to the Company's brokers in Bombay had been taken off the Babs by two small pirates, one of fourteen and the other of thirteen guns with about 150 men in each and almost all English, leaving the little merchants of the island almost broake. Likely More likely than not on the evidence we have. Modern scholarship: Arnold Wright, Annesley of Surat and His Times (London, 1918), the chapter on Kidd the pirate, printed p. 191 to 192, quoting the official narrative (library file wright_annesley.txt, lines 5946-5951)
  14. John Dann's evidence at the Every trial states that they came up into the Red Sea in a little time and came to an anchor at Bobs Key. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Trial print: The Tryals of Joseph Dawson, Edward Forseith, William May, William Bishop, James Lewis, and John Sparkes, for several Piracies and Robberies by them committed, in the Company of Every the Grand Pirate (London, 1696), The evidence of John Dann at the trial of 31 October 1696 (library file every_tryals_1696.txt, line 1212)
  15. The abstract of the Every trial states that the company were informed the next day that the fleet had gone by them, called a council, agreed to follow, and came up with one of the ships, of about 250 tons. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Trial print: The Tryals of Joseph Dawson, Edward Forseith, William May, William Bishop, James Lewis, and John Sparkes, for several Piracies and Robberies by them committed, in the Company of Every the Grand Pirate (London, 1696), the abstract of the trial of Friday 6 November 1696 (library file every_tryals_1696.txt).
  16. John Dann's evidence at the Every trial states that about three days after they made land they came up with one of the fleet, of about two or three hundred tons. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Trial print: The Tryals of Joseph Dawson, Edward Forseith, William May, William Bishop, James Lewis, and John Sparkes, for several Piracies and Robberies by them committed, in the Company of Every the Grand Pirate (London, 1696), The evidence of John Dann at the trial of 31 October 1696 (library file every_tryals_1696.txt, lines 1222-1223)
  17. The prize taken before the Gunsway was of about 250 tons, was taken with small resistance, and yielded gold and silver to the value of 30 or 40,000 pounds with other merchandise. Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Trial print: The Tryals of Joseph Dawson, Edward Forseith, William May, William Bishop, James Lewis, and John Sparkes, for several Piracies and Robberies by them committed, in the Company of Every the Grand Pirate (London, 1696), the abstract of the trial of Friday 6 November 1696 (library file every_tryals_1696.txt, lines 2396-2398).
  18. Wright's history of the Surat factory calls the Gunjsawaee one of a small fleet of ships kept in commission by the Emperor for the use of the faithful on their pilgrimage. Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Modern scholarship: Arnold Wright, Annesley of Surat and His Times (London, 1918), the chapter on Annesley in chains, printed p. 162 to 163 (library file wright_annesley.txt, lines 5090-5093)
  19. Wright's history of the Surat factory states that the nakhoda of the Gunjsawaee surrendered after a feeble resistance and that the ship was afterwards carried off to the pirates' base in Madagascar, where the cargo was disposed of. Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Modern scholarship: Arnold Wright, Annesley of Surat and His Times (London, 1918), the chapter on Annesley in chains, printed p. 163 (library file wright_annesley.txt, lines 5105-5109)
  20. Robert Bradinham deposed at Kidd's trial that Kidd went to Babs Key and lay there three weeks looking for the Moco fleet. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Trial print: The Arraignment, Tryal and Condemnation of Captain William Kidd, upon six several indictments, at the Admiralty Sessions held at the Old Bailey, May 1701 (London, 1701), The evidence of Robert Bradinham (library file kidd_trial_1701.txt, lines 4309-4311)
  21. The summing-up at Kidd's trial states that they had expectations of the Moco fleet that lay at Moco and sent out to get intelligence of it three times. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Trial print: The Arraignment, Tryal and Condemnation of Captain William Kidd, upon six several indictments, at the Admiralty Sessions held at the Old Bailey, May 1701 (London, 1701), The summing-up of the evidence (library file kidd_trial_1701.txt, line 3737)
  22. Joseph Palmer deposed at Kidd's trial that when Kidd came to Babs Key he ordered his men to look out on the highlands. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Trial print: The Arraignment, Tryal and Condemnation of Captain William Kidd, upon six several indictments, at the Admiralty Sessions held at the Old Bailey, May 1701 (London, 1701), The evidence of Joseph Palmer (library file kidd_trial_1701.txt, line 6413)
  23. Robert Bradinham deposed at Kidd's trial that the boat brought word that fourteen or fifteen ships were there, and that when Kidd had fetched up with them he found they were under convoy. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Trial print: The Arraignment, Tryal and Condemnation of Captain William Kidd, upon six several indictments, at the Admiralty Sessions held at the Old Bailey, May 1701 (London, 1701), The evidence of Robert Bradinham (library file kidd_trial_1701.txt, lines 2069-2075)
  24. Joseph Palmer deposed at Kidd's trial that among the ships there was a great ship with red colours ready to sail. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Trial print: The Arraignment, Tryal and Condemnation of Captain William Kidd, upon six several indictments, at the Admiralty Sessions held at the Old Bailey, May 1701 (London, 1701), The evidence of Joseph Palmer (library file kidd_trial_1701.txt, line 6418)
  25. Joseph Palmer deposed at Kidd's trial that in the morning Kidd went among the ships and fired at them, but took none of them. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Trial print: The Arraignment, Tryal and Condemnation of Captain William Kidd, upon six several indictments, at the Admiralty Sessions held at the Old Bailey, May 1701 (London, 1701), The evidence of Joseph Palmer (library file kidd_trial_1701.txt, line 6427)
  26. The summing-up at Kidd's trial states that the company stayed at Babs Key about three weeks in expectation of meeting with the Moco fleet, which he intended to make a prize. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Trial print: The Arraignment, Tryal and Condemnation of Captain William Kidd, upon six several indictments, at the Admiralty Sessions held at the Old Bailey, May 1701 (London, 1701), The summing-up of the evidence (library file kidd_trial_1701.txt, line 6807)
  27. The Earl of Bellomont reported to the Council of Trade and Plantations on 18 May 1698 that the pirates who had given the greatest disturbance in the Red Sea and the East Indies had either been fitted from New York or from Rhode Island and manned at New York, and that the ships commanded by Mason, Tew, Glover and Hore had their commissions from the Governor of New York, the last three from Colonel Fletcher. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Calendared state papers: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies, volume 16 (1697-1698), Item 473, Governor the Earl of Bellomont to the Council of Trade and Plantations, New York, 18 May 1698, calendar page 224 (library file csp-col-v16-pp217-234.txt, line 106)
  28. Bellomont reported that Tew, Glover and Hore received their commissions from Colonel Fletcher when they had no ship within the Government of New York, and that they were permitted to raise men in New York with the open design of being bound to the Red Sea. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Calendared state papers: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies, vol. 16 (1697-1698), item 473, Governor the Earl of Bellomont to the Council of Trade and Plantations, New York, 18 May 1698, calendar page 225.
  29. Colonel Fletcher, answering the charges against him, stated that he never knew nor heard that any of the men he had commissioned intended for the Red Sea or had ever been there, except Tew, who openly vowed and protested never to return thither again. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Calendared state papers: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies, volume 16 (1697-1698), Colonel Fletcher's answer to the charges made against him, December 1698, calendar page 586 (library file csp-col-v16-pp578-594.txt, line 392)
  30. Captain John Evans deposed on 3 January 1699 that he had heard an affidavit read before the Governor and Council of New York in which Edward Taylor stated that he and company had been roving in the Red Sea and taken much spoil from the subjects of the Mogul, and returning with the ship Jacob had bargained with William Nicoll and Governor Fletcher to obtain protection for money. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Calendared state papers: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies, volume 17 (1699 and Addenda 1621-1698), America and West Indies, January 1699, 1-14, item 8, Deposition of Capt. John Evans, 3 January 1699 (library file csp-col-v17-pp1-19.txt, lines 226-228)
  31. Captain John Evans deposed that Edward Taylor afterwards owned to him that he had never changed a word with Colonel Fletcher in his life, and that what he had sworn was extorted from him by fear, threats and promises of favour. Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Calendared state papers: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies, volume 17 (1699 and Addenda 1621-1698), America and West Indies, January 1699, 1-14, item 8, Deposition of Capt. John Evans, 3 January 1699 (library file csp-col-v17-pp1-19.txt, line 228)
  32. Johnson's General History states that Tew came up with a large richly laden ship bound from the Indies to Arabia with three hundred soldiers on board besides seamen, and that he boarded and carried her. Likely More likely than not on the evidence we have. Period narrative: A General History of the Pyrates (1724), Volume I, the digression on Captain Thomas Tew (library file gut40580_johnson_general_history.txt, lines 1846-1850)
  33. The value of Tew's Red Sea prize is contested, Johnson saying that his men shared near three thousand pounds a piece and Adam Baldridge's deposition reporting the share as 1,200 pounds a man. Likely More likely than not on the evidence we have. Period narrative and deposition: A General History of the Pyrates (1724), Volume I, the digression on Captain Thomas Tew (library file gut40580_johnson_general_history.txt, lines 1850-1852), with the deposition of Adam Baldridge printed as document 68 in J. F. Jameson, ed., Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period.