Learn About Pirates & Privateers

The Americans responded to the situation with the time-honored practice of privateering. American privateering activity during the American Revolution became an industry born of necessity that encouraged patriotic private citizens to harass British shipping while risking their lives and resources for financial gain.

The Virgin Islands’ geographical features and strategic location were key factors in the struggles for control of the islands. The Virgin Islands consist of approximately 90 islands, islets, and cays, all of which are within no more than a day’s sail from each other and some of which are within sight of Puerto Rico.

Most pirates were men. In fact, it was traditionally believed to be bad luck to have a woman on board a pirate vessel. We do know of a few women who were also pirates. Like the men, some turned to piracy for the money, some for the adventure, and some to escape terrible situations.

Piracy, privateering, and colonization of the New World went hand-in-hand in the sixteenth century. If not for the prospect of raiding Spanish shipping, it is unlikely that England would have made multiple attempts to colonize Roanoke Island in the 1580s.

Although “Free Trade and Sailor’s Rights” is often touted as the motivation for sailors to go to war, there were also mercenary motives.

In the evening of April 26, 1717, Captain Sam Bellamy's and his ship the Whdyah went down with all hands off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The wreck of the former slave ship turned pirate ship has spawned legend after legend of its Captain and onboard treasure.