Pirates & Privateers: Steven C. Hahn's Books

Before Woodes Rogers arrived to eradicate piracy in the Bahamas and take up his mantle as governor of the island, another man sailed into Nassau’s harbor in 1718. Captain Vincent Pearse of the Royal Navy carried with him King George’s Act of Grace in search of those “young, resolute, [and] wicked fellows” who wished to be pardoned for their crimes and rejoin society. (1) Benjamin Hornigold was one of the first to surrender; the notorious pirate captain turned pirate hunter until his demise at sea. He was a well-known scoundrel, but the majority of the other 208 pirates were simply names on a list.

While perusing Pearse’s three-page, handwritten document at Britain’s National Archives at Kew, Hahn wonders who these men are. How do they become pirates and what happens to them after they are pardoned? This book contains the stories of about 150 men, a third of whom remain in the Bahamas after receiving their absolution. Others return to their hometowns or start life anew in other colonies. William Smith, for example, spends many years at sea and becomes a successful merchant. Two of his descendants later marry into the family of a man who is elected President of the United States. Peter Goudet serves as Bahamas’ customs collector, as well as in the legislature. Other reformed pirates succumb soon after their surrenders. Hahn also delves into Pearse’s story and discovers some interesting details that suggest his relations with pirates aren’t as impartial as history leads us to believe. Even some of those included in his list are guilty by association rather than being pirates themselves.

A Pirate’s Life No More is part of the University of Georgia Press’s Early American Places series. In addition to a bibliography, notes, and an index, Hahn includes several illustrations, a table, maps, and an appendix of Pearse’s List of Pardoned Pirates. This last item provides brief biographical summaries of the pirates. If he was unable to locate additional information, only the pirate’s name is listed.

This volume shines a fascinating and unique spotlight on pirate history. Although primarily about the individuals whom Hahn traced, he also puts the time and places into historical perspective, such as why the Bahamas is more conducive to being a safe refuge for pirates and why events off the Florida coast give rise to their proliferation. Their rehabilitation is also explored – whether they return to their homes in New York, New England, or London, or choose to put down roots elsewhere. Placing these men in context makes their stories richer and more dynamic. Equally interesting are the answers to questions that crop up as a result of King George’s clemency, such as can the pirates keep their ill-gotten earnings, and does the forgiveness occur overnight. Aside from a brief period in their lives, these lesser-known pirates live ordinary lives, and Hahn has crafted a stellar addition to any piratical or maritime history collection.

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