Pirates & Privateers from Long Island Sound to Delaware Bay

by Jamie L H Goodall

Illicit commerce was key to the survival of the mid-Atlantic colonies from the Golden Age of piracy to the battles of the American Revolution.

Out of this exciting time came beloved villains like Captain William Kidd and Black Sam Bellamy as well as inspiring locals like Captain Shelley and James Forten. 

From the shores of New York to the oceans of the East Indies, from Delaware Bay to the islands of the West Indies, author Jamie L.H. Goodall illuminates the height of piratical depredations in the mid-Atlantic in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Genres: Pirates

130 pages, Hardcover

Published May 16, 2022

Reviews

[Dave Tabler · Rating 4 out of 5]

She calls herself a historienne, and her two dogs are Thomas Jefferson (“T.J.” for short) and John Tyler (“J.T” for short). This is a writer who doesn’t take herself too seriously. Don’t be fooled, though. Jamie L.H. Goodall’s "Pirates & Privateers from Long Island Sound to Delaware Bay" is a meticulously researched work. Published in 2022, the book delves into the often overlooked history of piracy and privateering in the coastal waters between Long Island Sound and Delaware Bay from the late 17th to mid 18th centuries.

Goodall builds on the influence of scholars such as Marcus Rediker, David Cordingly, and Peter Earle. She distinguishes her work by focusing on a specific geographic region in the context of the overall pirate world, which allows her to provide a more in-depth analysis of the socio-political context of piracy and privateering in America’s Mid-Atlantic area. The book is organized chronologically, beginning with the late 17th-century buccaneers and moving through the Golden Age of Piracy, the American Revolution, and the early Republic.

In "Pirates & Privateers from Long Island Sound to Delaware Bay," Goodall argues that piracy and privateering in the region were shaped by complex socio-political factors, including colonial rivalries, economic growth, and the evolving nature of maritime warfare.

She contends that pirates and privateers played a crucial role in the development of the American colonies, as they helped to fuel economic expansion. She cites the fact, for example, that during the 1690-1750 period she’s evaluating, there were more silversmiths in the mid-Atlantic colonies than lawyers. Why? Pirates brought in hard specie, and the silversmiths fenced it and melted it down. Pirates eliminated a trail to their ill gotten gains, silversmiths got a steady supply of raw materials.

One of the key strengths of Goodall's work lies in her ability to humanize pirates and privateers by examining their lives, motivations, and experiences. She skillfully weaves together archival sources, such as court records, personal letters, and newspaper accounts, to create vivid portraits of individuals involved in piracy and privateering. She takes an in-depth look at William Kidd, in particular, who started off as a privateer (a “good guy”), the darling of Lord Bellomont, colonial governor of New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New York. Goodall examines closely the possible reasons Kidd turned to piracy, becoming at the end hunted relentlessly by his former protector.
This humanized approach enables her to challenge traditional stereotypes of pirates as lawless, bloodthirsty criminals and instead present them as complex individuals navigating a world of shifting loyalties and opportunities.

Goodall pays attention to the role of women in piracy and privateering. She observes the careless flaunting of fine Indian silks and calico fabrics by Deputy Pennsylvania Governor William Markham’s wife and daughter, clothing clearly purchased illegally from pirates. Markham was so embedded in the pirate trade that his daughter even married a pirate—James Brown, from the ship ‘Every’, an outlaw ship with a lords justices’ proclamation against its members. The pair nonetheless lived in the open, near New Castle, DE.

While "Pirates & Privateers from Long Island Sound to Delaware Bay" is a well-researched and engaging work, it is not without its flaws. Some readers may find the book's chronological organization to be somewhat disjointed, as it occasionally disrupts the flow of the narrative. For example, Goodall tells the story of two pirate ships that sailed into Lewes, DE in 1698 and plundered the town, holding 11 town leaders hostage while they ransacked the place. But then she introduces the story yet again 20 pages later as though for the first time.

Goodall's reliance on English-language sources may limit the scope of her analysis, as it potentially overlooks the experiences and perspectives of the French, Dutch and Spanish pirates and privateers who operated in the region. Goodall's book does not address the issue of race in the context of piracy. While she does mention that some pirates were black, such as the Moorish pirates often found congregating at Madagascar’s “safe haven” pirate town St. Mary’s, she does not explore the broader implications of this fact.

Despite these limitations, "Pirates & Privateers from Long Island Sound to Delaware Bay" remains a valuable contribution to the field of maritime history. Goodall's meticulous research, attention to detail, and ability to humanize her subjects create a compelling and enlightening account of piracy and privateering in the coastal waters between Long Island Sound and Delaware Bay.

[Cindy Vallar · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the late seventeenth century, if a pirate needed protection, one official was happy to oblige. His name was Colonel Benjamin Fletcher, and he was the governor of New York. One pirate who sought his assistance was Samuel Burgess, who originally served under Captain William Kidd until William Mason absconded with the Blessed William and turned to piracy. Burgess went along for the ride, but circumstances didn’t turn out exactly as he hoped, so he jumped ship in Madagascar, where he stayed until sailing to New York in 1693 to seek Fletcher’s help. And the governor willingly complied, but Burgess eventually returned to pirating.

One might think that Fletcher’s collaboration with pirates was unusual. The fact is, as Goodall shows, the opposite was true. A number of governors and colonists associated with these scoundrels, because they supplied necessities and luxuries that lined pockets and coffers with money. As a result, piracy became a major element in the colonies’ economy during the golden age of piracy. This is what Goodall examines in the first half of this book. She discusses New York history, Kidd’s ties to the colony, his association with Frederick Philipse (the richest man in New York and a prominent merchant), Adam Baldridge (Philipse’s storekeeper in Madagascar who bartered with pirates), the slave trade, Fletcher’s collusion with pirates as well as that of Governor Markham of Pennsylvania, the antipiracy efforts of the Earl of Bellomont and Jeremiah Basse, and colonial ties with Blackbeard and Thomas Tew, as well as supposed associations with Bartholomew Roberts.

As piracy declined and wars erupted in Europe, privateers take center stage in the second half of the book. Of particular interest here are those associated with King George’s War (1744-48) and the French and Indian War (1754-1763). Privateering successes bring abundance to the colonies, especially New York. As a result, the booming economy leads to job growth. Among the topics Goodall covers in this section are what happened to the privateers who were captured, effects on maritime insurance rates and prices of imports, and the impact on Black privateers. Two privateers whom she highlights are the audacious William Reen and persevering Patrick Dennis, who was captured and enslaved, but escaped only to sign aboard another privateering venture.

Corruption, of course, is a main theme throughout the book, and while some information can be found elsewhere, much of it is not only particular to the regions of Long Island Sound and Delaware Bay, but is also rarely discussed in other volumes. For example, one place where pirated goods were resold in legitimate markets was Hamburg, Germany. In the six years in which Governor Fletcher served, his income amounted to £30,000, an amount far beyond his yearly salary. Also, the great influx of money brought to the colonies by the pirates resulted in silversmiths being more plentiful than lawyers, in part because the silversmiths served as the sea marauders’ fences. In addition to notes, a bibliography, and an index, Goodall includes maps and illustrations as well as quotes from period documents. This is a worthwhile addition to pirate history and incorporates a lot of information in a small volume at a reasonable price.

(Review originally published at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Goodall.ht...)

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pirates & Privateers from Long Island Sound to Delaware Bay looks at piracy from the late 17th century to the late 18th century on the mid-Atlantic littoral between Long Island Sound and Delaware Bay/New York and Philadelphia. Using much original research, it describes the shift from pirates in many ways as an arm of colonial development to pirates as a threat to the growing colonies, and then jumps to the American Revolutionary War to discuss the use of privateers to supplement the efforts of the American revolutionaries.

The book is interesting and informative, and is generally well-written, although at times could be a little hard to follow when the narrative drew very heavily on the Calendar of State Papers Colonial, such that many names and events were covered quickly.

The standard of editing for grammar and structure is of a high level (I’m in no position to comment on any errors of fact, but the book is well-sourced with frequent reference notes). There is also an index and bibliography (useful for those looking to delve further unto matters of piracy and privateering), and the book has a good number of images reproduced throughout the text.

All up, I found it a very interesting read, and it provides many interesting details about the interactions between pirates and colonial authorities, particularly in the 1690s, as well as an interesting overview of privateering in the American Revolutionary War.