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Kingston

A merchant ship taken in Jamaican waters and recovered by colonial sloops with most of her cargo after the pirates escaped ashore.

Launched1718To1719, Port Royal

A merchant ship taken in Jamaican waters and recovered by colonial sloops with most of her cargo after the pirates escaped ashore.

What the record establishes

The ship Kingston is distinct from the town of Kingston, Jamaica (a records imprint reads 'Church Street, Kingston'; Rackham's own crew were executed partly at the town of Kingston in 1720) and from at least one other ship named Kingston ('The Kingston, Captain Estwick' in Johnson's General History)1

Johnson's General History places Rackham careening and living ashore 'to the Back of Cuba' over Christmas 1718 and describes his recovery of a vessel from a Spanish Guarda del Costa, an episode distinct from the Kingston and probably the seed of the later conflation2

A second pair of country sloops recovered the Kingston; the pirates aboard 'made their escape on shoar in a canoe', and the sloops returned to Port Royal 'with the ship and the greatest part of her cargoe'3

Jamaica Court of Admiralty proceedings were taken so that 'justice may be done as well to the freighters and insurers as to the captors'4

No wreck, archaeological remains or material evidence of the Kingston was located; she was recovered largely intact and returned to Port Royal, so no loss event generated physical evidence5

Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes of Jamaica is the single authority for both the loss and the recovery of the Kingston; both rest on his letters to the Council of Trade and Plantations and are therefore capped at Highly Probable6

What the evidence does not settle

The surviving account does not establish her builder, dimensions, armament or later career, and similarly named vessels must be kept separate.

What the evidence does not settle

Construction

  • Kingston's builder, dimensions and armament

Later career

  • What became of Kingston after her recovery

Namesakes

  • Which similarly named vessels must be kept separate

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 ship Kingston is distinct from the town of Kingston, Jamaica (a records imprint reads 'Church Street, Kingston'; Rackham's own crew were executed partly at the town of Kingston in 1720) and from at least one other ship named Kingston ('The Kingston, Captain Estwick' in Johnson's General History) Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Council minutes; Period narrative: Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes to the Council of Trade and Plantations (Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies, vol. 31, doc. 132); A General History of the Pyrates (Chap. VII, Of Capt. John Rackam and his Crew)
  2. Johnson's General History places Rackham careening and living ashore 'to the Back of Cuba' over Christmas 1718 and describes his recovery of a vessel from a Spanish Guarda del Costa, an episode distinct from the Kingston and probably the seed of the later conflation Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Period narrative: A General History of the Pyrates (Chap. VII, Of Capt. John Rackam and his Crew)
  3. A second pair of country sloops recovered the Kingston; the pirates aboard 'made their escape on shoar in a canoe', and the sloops returned to Port Royal 'with the ship and the greatest part of her cargoe' Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Council minutes: Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes to the Council of Trade and Plantations (Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies, vol. 31, doc. 132)
  4. Jamaica Court of Admiralty proceedings were taken so that 'justice may be done as well to the freighters and insurers as to the captors' Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Council minutes: Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes to the Council of Trade and Plantations (Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies, vol. 31, doc. 132)
  5. No wreck, archaeological remains or material evidence of the Kingston was located; she was recovered largely intact and returned to Port Royal, so no loss event generated physical evidence Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Council minutes: Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes to the Council of Trade and Plantations (Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies, vol. 31, doc. 132)
  6. Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes of Jamaica is the single authority for both the loss and the recovery of the Kingston; both rest on his letters to the Council of Trade and Plantations and are therefore capped at Highly Probable Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Council minutes: Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes to the Council of Trade and Plantations (Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies, vol. 31, doc. 34); Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes to the Council of Trade and Plantations (Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies, vol. 31, doc. 132)