CapitainDams
Pirate Spirit Crew's Captain
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<b>Henry "Long Ben" Every</b>
June 1694 to September 1695. English. Ships: Fancy. AKA: John Avery, Benjamin Bridgeman.
Sometimes called Benjamin Bridgeman (and nicknamed "Long Ben"), Every captured an Indian treasure ship and managed to escape with the loot. Although other pirates took more booty, his robbery engaged the British East India Company and aroused great public interest. Every was the hero of works by several authors, including Daniel Defore (who erroneously called him John Avery).
Every's admirers invented improbable stories about his early life. He is first mentioned in the early 1690's as an unlicensed slave dealer and pirate sailing from the Bahamas with the governor's protection. In June 1694, Every was `second-in`-command of a `46-gun` private warship, licensed by the Spanish government to attack French smugglers. At Cadiz, the crew took the ship while the captain was dead drunk one night. Renaming her the Fancy, they elected Every captain.
Heading south along the African coast, the pirates plundered three British vessels at the Capte Verde Islands and destroyed two Danish ships near Sao Thome. Early in 1695, they reached Johanna Island (Anjouan) in the Comoros, where Every seized a French pirate ship loaded with booty. Most of its crew joined his gang, bringing to it more than 170 men. It was here at Johanna that Every wrote his famous letter:
To All English Commanders.
Let this satisfy that I was riding here at this instant in the Fancy, `man-of`-war, formerly the Charles of the Spanish expedition who departed from La Coruna 7th May 1694, being then and now a ship of 46 guns, 150 men, and bound to seek our fortunes. I have never yet wronged any English or Dutch, or ever intend whilst I am commander. Wherefore as I commonly speak with all ships I desire whoever comes to the perusal of this to take this signal, that if you or any whom you may inform are desirous to know what we are at a distance, then make your ancient [ship's flag] up in a ball or bundle and hoist him at the mizzen peak, the mizzen being furled. I shall answer with the same, and never molest you, for my men are hungry, stout, and resolute, and should they exceed my desire I cannot help myself. As yet an Englishman's friend,
At Johanna, 18th February 1695
- Henry Every
Here is 160 odd French armed men at Mohilla who waits the opportunity of getting any ship, take care of yourselves.
Reaching the Red Sea in May or June, Every ran into smaller pirate ships commanded by William Want, Joseph Farrell, William May, Thomas Wake, and Thomas Tew. Cruising with Every as their admiral, the pirates waited for the treasure ships returning to India. Each year, Indian ships took rich luxury goods (and Muslim pilgrims) to Mecca and Jiddah and returned with gold and silver.
Most of the Indian fleet got past the pirates during the night, but Every took the last two vessels. Every easily captured the smaller Fateh Mohammed and then pursued the `Gang-I`-sawai (Gunsway), the largest ship in the Indian's fleet. The heavily armed Gunsway carried 400 to 500 soldiers. During a `two-hour` battle, both sides suffered heavy casualties.
Every's crew looted their prizes at the island of Socotra. In addition to gold coins, the pirates seized many jewels and a saddle and bridle encrusted with diamonds. They tortured prisoners and raped many women, including the aged wife of an important Indian official. Some jumped into the sea to escape, while others died after being brutally handled.
The booty was split at Reunion Island, where most of the French pirates stayed. The East India Company estimated the plunder at 325,000 pounds. After giving small sums to the other pirate ships, each man received about 1,000 in cash plus some of the jewels. Every took two shares as captain, and he may also have grabbed some loose gems.
Before sailing to America, Every took on provisions at Sao Thome. One English captain reported that he paid the Portuguese governor with a check "drawn on The Bank of Aldgate Pump, attested by `John-a`-Noakes and signed by Timothy Tugmutton and Simon Wifflepin." In the Caribbean, the pirates sold some of their plunder at Saint Thomas and sailed to the Bahamas in April.
In return for some 2,000 pounds in bribes, Governor Thomas Trott welcomed the pirates and entertained the officers in his own home. The pirates even gave Trott the Fancy, but she was wrecked during a storm. The British government fired Trott the following October but allowed him to take his loot to South Carolina.
Meanwhile, the Indian emperor took out his anger on the British East India Company. Indian officials seized the company's trading posts and imprisoned its officials, treating some so severely that they died in jail. The British government offered 500 pounds for every man in Every's crew, and the East India Company doubled the reward.
Since the Bahamas were a privately owned colony, Trott could not grant a royal pardon, and the governor of Jamaica refused a bribe of 20,000 pounds. The Fancy's crew fled in all directions, while Every and several others bought a sloop and escaped to Ireland. Over the years, 14 were arrested, and six were hanged. But Henry Every vanished with his plunder.
<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.net/components/com_akogallery/img_pictures/Henry%20Every.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bookish.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":mm" border="0" alt="bookish.gif" /> sources:
<a href="http://www.kipar.org/society/author/`pirates-history`/`pirate-fame`.html" target="_blank">http://www.kipar.org/society/author/pirate...-fame`.html</a>
<a href="http://pirateshold.buccaneersoft.com/roster/henry_every.html" target="_blank">http://pirateshold.buccaneersoft.com/roste...enry_every.html</a>
<b>Henry "Long Ben" Every</b>
June 1694 to September 1695. English. Ships: Fancy. AKA: John Avery, Benjamin Bridgeman.
Sometimes called Benjamin Bridgeman (and nicknamed "Long Ben"), Every captured an Indian treasure ship and managed to escape with the loot. Although other pirates took more booty, his robbery engaged the British East India Company and aroused great public interest. Every was the hero of works by several authors, including Daniel Defore (who erroneously called him John Avery).
Every's admirers invented improbable stories about his early life. He is first mentioned in the early 1690's as an unlicensed slave dealer and pirate sailing from the Bahamas with the governor's protection. In June 1694, Every was `second-in`-command of a `46-gun` private warship, licensed by the Spanish government to attack French smugglers. At Cadiz, the crew took the ship while the captain was dead drunk one night. Renaming her the Fancy, they elected Every captain.
Heading south along the African coast, the pirates plundered three British vessels at the Capte Verde Islands and destroyed two Danish ships near Sao Thome. Early in 1695, they reached Johanna Island (Anjouan) in the Comoros, where Every seized a French pirate ship loaded with booty. Most of its crew joined his gang, bringing to it more than 170 men. It was here at Johanna that Every wrote his famous letter:
To All English Commanders.
Let this satisfy that I was riding here at this instant in the Fancy, `man-of`-war, formerly the Charles of the Spanish expedition who departed from La Coruna 7th May 1694, being then and now a ship of 46 guns, 150 men, and bound to seek our fortunes. I have never yet wronged any English or Dutch, or ever intend whilst I am commander. Wherefore as I commonly speak with all ships I desire whoever comes to the perusal of this to take this signal, that if you or any whom you may inform are desirous to know what we are at a distance, then make your ancient [ship's flag] up in a ball or bundle and hoist him at the mizzen peak, the mizzen being furled. I shall answer with the same, and never molest you, for my men are hungry, stout, and resolute, and should they exceed my desire I cannot help myself. As yet an Englishman's friend,
At Johanna, 18th February 1695
- Henry Every
Here is 160 odd French armed men at Mohilla who waits the opportunity of getting any ship, take care of yourselves.
Reaching the Red Sea in May or June, Every ran into smaller pirate ships commanded by William Want, Joseph Farrell, William May, Thomas Wake, and Thomas Tew. Cruising with Every as their admiral, the pirates waited for the treasure ships returning to India. Each year, Indian ships took rich luxury goods (and Muslim pilgrims) to Mecca and Jiddah and returned with gold and silver.
Most of the Indian fleet got past the pirates during the night, but Every took the last two vessels. Every easily captured the smaller Fateh Mohammed and then pursued the `Gang-I`-sawai (Gunsway), the largest ship in the Indian's fleet. The heavily armed Gunsway carried 400 to 500 soldiers. During a `two-hour` battle, both sides suffered heavy casualties.
Every's crew looted their prizes at the island of Socotra. In addition to gold coins, the pirates seized many jewels and a saddle and bridle encrusted with diamonds. They tortured prisoners and raped many women, including the aged wife of an important Indian official. Some jumped into the sea to escape, while others died after being brutally handled.
The booty was split at Reunion Island, where most of the French pirates stayed. The East India Company estimated the plunder at 325,000 pounds. After giving small sums to the other pirate ships, each man received about 1,000 in cash plus some of the jewels. Every took two shares as captain, and he may also have grabbed some loose gems.
Before sailing to America, Every took on provisions at Sao Thome. One English captain reported that he paid the Portuguese governor with a check "drawn on The Bank of Aldgate Pump, attested by `John-a`-Noakes and signed by Timothy Tugmutton and Simon Wifflepin." In the Caribbean, the pirates sold some of their plunder at Saint Thomas and sailed to the Bahamas in April.
In return for some 2,000 pounds in bribes, Governor Thomas Trott welcomed the pirates and entertained the officers in his own home. The pirates even gave Trott the Fancy, but she was wrecked during a storm. The British government fired Trott the following October but allowed him to take his loot to South Carolina.
Meanwhile, the Indian emperor took out his anger on the British East India Company. Indian officials seized the company's trading posts and imprisoned its officials, treating some so severely that they died in jail. The British government offered 500 pounds for every man in Every's crew, and the East India Company doubled the reward.
Since the Bahamas were a privately owned colony, Trott could not grant a royal pardon, and the governor of Jamaica refused a bribe of 20,000 pounds. The Fancy's crew fled in all directions, while Every and several others bought a sloop and escaped to Ireland. Over the years, 14 were arrested, and six were hanged. But Henry Every vanished with his plunder.
<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.net/components/com_akogallery/img_pictures/Henry%20Every.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bookish.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":mm" border="0" alt="bookish.gif" /> sources:
<a href="http://www.kipar.org/society/author/`pirates-history`/`pirate-fame`.html" target="_blank">http://www.kipar.org/society/author/pirate...-fame`.html</a>
<a href="http://pirateshold.buccaneersoft.com/roster/henry_every.html" target="_blank">http://pirateshold.buccaneersoft.com/roste...enry_every.html</a>
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