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Sloop William

The twelve-ton William stolen by John Rackham's company, the same vessel already recorded as William (sloop), and captured off Jamaica in 1720.

Launchedstolen at New Providence, 22 August 1720Tocaptured off Jamaica, October 1720

The twelve-ton William stolen by John Rackham's company, the same vessel already recorded as William (sloop), and captured off Jamaica in 1720.

What the record establishes

The 1720/1721 Tryals of Captain John Rackam does NOT name the sloop; the indictment calls it 'a certain Pirate Sloop, of an unknown Name' and 'a certain Sloop of an unknown Name'1

The sloop was commanded by John Rackham; the two women Ann Fulford alias Bonny (Anne Bonny) and Mary Read were aboard, and a deposed witness swore 'the two Women, Prisoners at the Bar, were then on Board Rackam's Sloop'2

Rackham and eight of his men (George Fetherston, Richard Corner, John Davies, John Howell, Patrick Carty, Thomas Earl, James Dobbin and Noah Harwood) were found guilty and condemned at St. Jago de la Vega on 16-17 November 17203

The sloop's attested prizes are seven fishing boats about two leagues from Harbour Island (early September), two merchant sloops about three leagues off Hispaniola (1 October), Thomas Spenlow's schooner off Porto Maria Bay (19 October) and Thomas Dillon's sloop Mary at Dry Harbour Bay (20 October 1720)4

The sloop was taken by the privateer Jonathan Barnet near Negril Point at the west end of Jamaica; Barnet's broadside and volley 'carried away the Enemy's Sloops Boom, and then they called to Barnet for Quarter, which he gave them'5

Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes reported the capture to the Council of Trade and Plantations on 13 November 1720: Barnet 'was met by a pirate vessel at the Leward part of this Island commanded by one Rackum in which were 18 pirates more whom he took and are now in goal'; the letter does not name the sloop6

Charles Johnson's General History narrates Rackham's cruise but does not name the William; it describes 'a small English Sloop' taken from a Spanish guardacosta; no name or identity fact in this pack rests on Johnson7

The entity 'Sloop William' (SLO) is the same vessel as 'William (sloop)' (WIL): the twelve-ton sloop stolen by John Rackham's company and captured off Jamaica in 1720; SLO is a probable duplicate register entry8

The name 'William' for Rackham's sloop rests solely on Woodes Rogers's proclamation, printed in the Boston Gazette (October 1720): 'a Certain Sloop call'd the William, Burthen about 12 Tons, mounted with 4 great Guns and 2 Swivel ones, also Amunition, Sails, Rigging, Anchor, Cables, and a Canoe, owned by and belonging to Capt. John Ham'9

What the evidence does not settle

This is a duplicate catalogue identity. The proclamation names William, while the trial calls the pirate sloop unnamed; no separate Sloop William has been found.

What the evidence does not settle

Catalogue identity

  • Whether the William named in the proclamation was Rackham's unnamed pirate sloop
  • Whether any separate Sloop William existed

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 1720/1721 Tryals of Captain John Rackam does NOT name the sloop; the indictment calls it 'a certain Pirate Sloop, of an unknown Name' and 'a certain Sloop of an unknown Name' Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Printed trial record: The Tryals of Captain John Rackam and Other Pirates (St. Jago de la Vega, Jamaica, 1720/1721)
  2. The sloop was commanded by John Rackham; the two women Ann Fulford alias Bonny (Anne Bonny) and Mary Read were aboard, and a deposed witness swore 'the two Women, Prisoners at the Bar, were then on Board Rackam's Sloop' Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Printed trial record; Modern scholarship: The Tryals of Captain John Rackam and Other Pirates (St. Jago de la Vega, Jamaica, 1720/1721); Proclamation by Woodes Rogers against Rackham and his company, printed in the Boston Gazette
  3. Rackham and eight of his men (George Fetherston, Richard Corner, John Davies, John Howell, Patrick Carty, Thomas Earl, James Dobbin and Noah Harwood) were found guilty and condemned at St. Jago de la Vega on 16-17 November 1720 Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Printed trial record: The Tryals of Captain John Rackam and Other Pirates (St. Jago de la Vega, Jamaica, 1720/1721)
  4. The sloop's attested prizes are seven fishing boats about two leagues from Harbour Island (early September), two merchant sloops about three leagues off Hispaniola (1 October), Thomas Spenlow's schooner off Porto Maria Bay (19 October) and Thomas Dillon's sloop Mary at Dry Harbour Bay (20 October 1720) Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Printed trial record: The Tryals of Captain John Rackam and Other Pirates (St. Jago de la Vega, Jamaica, 1720/1721)
  5. The sloop was taken by the privateer Jonathan Barnet near Negril Point at the west end of Jamaica; Barnet's broadside and volley 'carried away the Enemy's Sloops Boom, and then they called to Barnet for Quarter, which he gave them' Confirmed Directly supported by the record. Printed trial record: The Tryals of Captain John Rackam and Other Pirates (St. Jago de la Vega, Jamaica, 1720/1721)
  6. Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes reported the capture to the Council of Trade and Plantations on 13 November 1720: Barnet 'was met by a pirate vessel at the Leward part of this Island commanded by one Rackum in which were 18 pirates more whom he took and are now in goal'; the letter does not name the sloop Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Colonial state paper: Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes to the Council of Trade and Plantations, 13 November 1720 (CSP Colonial item 288)
  7. Charles Johnson's General History narrates Rackham's cruise but does not name the William; it describes 'a small English Sloop' taken from a Spanish guardacosta; no name or identity fact in this pack rests on Johnson Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Period narrative: A General History of the Pyrates
  8. The entity 'Sloop William' (SLO) is the same vessel as 'William (sloop)' (WIL): the twelve-ton sloop stolen by John Rackham's company and captured off Jamaica in 1720; SLO is a probable duplicate register entry Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Printed trial record; Modern scholarship; Colonial state paper: The Tryals of Captain John Rackam and Other Pirates (St. Jago de la Vega, Jamaica, 1720/1721); Proclamation by Woodes Rogers against Rackham and his company, printed in the Boston Gazette; Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes to the Council of Trade and Plantations, 13 November 1720 (CSP Colonial item 288)
  9. The name 'William' for Rackham's sloop rests solely on Woodes Rogers's proclamation, printed in the Boston Gazette (October 1720): 'a Certain Sloop call'd the William, Burthen about 12 Tons, mounted with 4 great Guns and 2 Swivel ones, also Amunition, Sails, Rigging, Anchor, Cables, and a Canoe, owned by and belonging to Capt. John Ham' Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Modern scholarship: Proclamation by Woodes Rogers against Rackham and his company, printed in the Boston Gazette; Pirate Hunter of the Caribbean: The Adventurous Life of Captain Woodes Rogers (chapter reproduction)