Rose Pink

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 vessel is named the 'Rose Pink' in Johnson, in George Roberts's narrative and in Nicholas Merritt's narrative; Philip Ashton calls the same ship 'the Frigate' or 'Rose Frigate'; all refer to the one vessel, Edward Low's commodore ship of 1722 to 1723 Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Period narrative: A General History of the Pyrates (Chap. XIII: Of Capt. Low and his Crew); The Four Years Voyages of Capt. George Roberts (written by Himself); Ashton's Memorial: An History of the Strange Adventures and Signal Deliverances of Mr. Philip Ashton
2. The Rose Pink was a pink (a ship type with a narrow overhanging stern); Ashton, a primary eyewitness, calls her 'a large Portugueze Pink, laden with Wheat ... which I was told was formerly call'd the Rose-Frigat', so a Portuguese origin is primary-supported; Johnson by contrast says she had 'formerly a Man of War, Capt. Thompson' Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Period narrative: A General History of the Pyrates (Chap. XIII: Of Capt. Low and his Crew); The Four Years Voyages of Capt. George Roberts (written by Himself); Ashton's Memorial: An History of the Strange Adventures and Signal Deliverances of Mr. Philip Ashton
3. The Rose Pink's master before Low took her was Capt. Thompson Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Period narrative: A General History of the Pyrates (Chap. XIII: Of Capt. Low and his Crew)
4. Low took the Rose Pink at St. Michael's Road in the Azores on 3 August 1722, among seven sail lying there, after threatening all who resisted with present death; Ashton, a primary eyewitness, also narrates the taking but describes her instead as a large Portuguese wheat pink taken off St. Michael's that 'struck to the Schooner' Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Period narrative: A General History of the Pyrates (Chap. XIII: Of Capt. Low and his Crew); Ashton's Memorial: An History of the Strange Adventures and Signal Deliverances of Mr. Philip Ashton
5. Low made the Rose Pink his own ship and commanded her as commodore of his little fleet Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Period narrative: A General History of the Pyrates (Chap. XIII: Of Capt. Low and his Crew); The Four Years Voyages of Capt. George Roberts (written by Himself)
6. The Rose Pink mounted 14 guns, per Philip Ashton, who says Low 'made the Pink, which Mounted 14 Guns, their Commodore'; Johnson separately says she was rearmed with guns taken out of a French ship of 34 guns that Low had captured at the end of July 1722 and then burnt Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Period narrative: A General History of the Pyrates (Chap. XIII: Of Capt. Low and his Crew); Ashton's Memorial: An History of the Strange Adventures and Signal Deliverances of Mr. Philip Ashton
7. Capt. Thompson, the Rose Pink's former master, was captured again by Low at St. Michael's in September 1723 in a new London-built ship of 14 guns; Johnson notes he 'was taken there the Year before, by Low, in the Rose Pink', which fixes the Rose Pink capture to 1722 Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Period narrative: A General History of the Pyrates (Chap. XIII: Of Capt. Low and his Crew)
8. The Rose Pink was ballasted with wheat, which Low later gave to the Portuguese at Bonavista when he took on other ballast Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Period narrative; Modern scholarship: Ashton's Memorial: An History of the Strange Adventures and Signal Deliverances of Mr. Philip Ashton; The Pirates of the New England Coast 1630-1730
9. Low first careened the Rose Pink successfully at Bonavista in the Cape Verde Islands (the schooner hove down first, then the pink) before the later fatal careening Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Period narrative; Modern scholarship: Ashton's Memorial: An History of the Strange Adventures and Signal Deliverances of Mr. Philip Ashton; The Pirates of the New England Coast 1630-1730