Bonnet & Black
For the next four months, the two worked together
using three vessels to plunder roughly 27 more ships
before amicably parted ways that December.
Now on his own again, Bonnet returned to
commanding his ship, but unfortunately by March
of 1718 a failed vessel capture under his command
left his crew untrusting the pirate’s ability to lead.
This resulted in a “mutiny of sorts”, with the majority
of his crew defecting to instead operate under
Blackbeard’s command, leaving Bonnet to stay with
the group simply as Blackbeard’s guest.
Shortly thereafter, in an effort to secure the high
seas the Governor of North Carolina offered both
Bonnet & Blackbeard a full pardon; but only if they
renounced piracy forever. Both accepted.
By this time Bonnet had had enough of pirating and
had planned to use his pardon and his ship to become
a privateer (a private vessel contracted to attack
enemy ships on behalf of the country). But in an
ironic twist of fate when Bonnet returned to his ship
to set sail he found he had been cleaned out – robbed
– by Blackbeard. Poor Bonnet was now stuck in a
precarious position, with no money, no supplies, very
few men and very few options on how to raise money.
His solution to this problem would seal his fate!
QUICKIE on
a Pirate
Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! Ahoy, me
hearties! Shiver me timbers! and
Ya Scurvy Dog, are all popular
pirate phrases that Barbados’
very own pirates may have said
when they were plundering the
Caribbean seas. Here’s what they
mean along with a few other
pirate terms to have you talking
like a pirate in no time.
Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! exclaimation
of discontent or disgust
Ahoy, me Hearties! the same as
saying “Hello, my friends!”
Avast ye stop and check this out
or pay attention
Batten down the hatches put
everything away on the ship and
tie everything down because a
storm is brewing
Blimey! a cry of surprise
Blow me down! an expression of
shock of disbelief
Blow the man down command
to kill someone
Dead men tell no tales leave no
survivors
Davy Jones’ Locker fabled,
mythical place at the bottom of
the ocean where the evil spirit
of Davy Jones brings sailor and
pirates to die
How it
Unfolded
July 1718 – In need of money, Bonnet opted to
return to piracy, using an alias for himself “Captain
Thomas” and renaming his ship “Royal James” (in an
effort to attempt to keep his pardon). His wrath was
swift and within one month he had ravaged at least
14 vessels and added two sloops to his fleet of pirate
ships.
August 1718 – Bonnet headed to Cape Fear
River to anchor, repair the ships and wait out the
Pieces of eight coins or found in
pirate stashes
Poop deck the part of the ship
farthest to the back, usually
above the captain’s quarters. Not
the bathroom.
Three sheets to the wind
someone who is very drunk. One
sheet is mildly drunk and four
sheets is passed out.
Shiver me timbers! An
exclamation of surprise!”
Ya Scurvy dog A mild insult used
during conversation.
hurricane season.
September 1718 – Having
Remained in Cape Fear too long, news of
the pirates’ location reached the navy, who
set off to capture the looting criminals. A
fierce battle with the Navy left the pirates
outnumbered and their vessel grounded
forcing captain & crew to surrender.
Early October 1718– The pirates
were arrested and brought to Charleston.
Late October 1718– Three weeks
later Bonnet escaped and fled with three
others to a nearby island.
November 1718– The hunt for
Bonnet left one companion shot dead and the
other two wounded and led to Bonnets quick
surrender. This time, again charged with
piracy he was sentenced to death (as were the
majority of his crew members). Notably it was
reported that his incarceration led to a brief
civil uprising that nearly led to the burning
down of the town.
Bonnet wrote to the Governor to ask for
clemency and was denied - though this did
gain him a stay of execution seven times.
December 1718 - Stede Bonnets’
reign of terror lasted just over one year - from
the summer of 1717 to October 1718 - having
escaped death in fierce gun ship battles,
survived life threatening wounds and mutiny.
He eventually paid for his crimes and on Dec
10th 1718 Bonnet was hanged for his crimes
in Charleston.
Overall Bonnet amassed a fortune large
enough to place him at #15 on the Forbes
2013 list of Top-Earning Pirates, just 3
ranks below his former friend Blackbeard.
Today a plaque commemorating Bonnet
stands near Bonnet's Creek in Southport,
North Carolina, on the Cape Fear River
and an annual Stede Bonnet Regatta near
Southport, commemorates the pirate's dash
for the ocean to flee capture. Bonnet he has
also been depicted in several video games,
novels and television shows and information
on the pirate can be found at the Barbados
Museum, St. Michael