Pyrates Part 2: The life of Pirate William Kidd

There is, perhaps, no greater element in pirate mythology than buried treasure and map to find it. The idea became firmly entrenched in the public imagination with the publishing of “Treasure Island.” The historical truth about pirates is that they nearly always spent their loot on “wine and women,” until they had spent themselves poor once again.[1] Despite the less than common nature of this common pirate folklore, there were a few instances when pirates are known or believed to have buried their treasure. The most notable of these, and likely the inspiration behind the myth to begin with, was the pirate William Kidd.[2]

Kidd is known to have been born in 1645, to a Presbyterian Minister, other than this very little is known about his early life.[3] The historical record picks up on Kidd in 1689, when he commanded the privateer Blessed William in a Royal Navy raid on the French Island of Marie Galante. Shortly after this Kidd’s crew seized the ship to pursue a life of piracy, leaving Kidd at Nevis.[4] Captain Kidd managed to procure a new ship from the governor of Nevis and for the next several years he engaged in the legitimate business of privateering.

Kidd arranged to command a privateering expedition in 1697, the purpose of this expedition was to engage and capture pirates. He had managed to collect powerful backers for the expedition, including the King himself. His inability to find suitable prey, the requirement to see profit for his backers, would soon force him to turn toward piracy.

In August of 1687, Kidd attempted an attack on a convoy of pilgrims in the Red Sea, while flying the red flag of piracy. The ships of the convoy were under the protection of three East India Company warships, and were certainly not covered under his privateering commissions.[5] As it was Kidd lost his nerve and the attack was a total failure.

Captain Kidd next attacked a small trading ship, one that flew the English flag and while he was interviewing that vessels captain, his men we reportedly torturing the crew for information on valuables stored aboard ship.[6] The captain was forced to remain aboard and act as a pilot, while provisions were procured from his ship. Shortly following this incident, Kidd killed one of his crew due to a “threat of mutiny.”[7] Kidd’s belief was that his backers in England would protect him from the consequences of these actions.

In January of 1698, Kidd finally approached a ship worth capturing, and approached her flying French flags. The Quedah Merchant was an Armenian vessel captained by an Englishman. Upon spotting Kidd’s ship, Captain John Wright ordered French flags be flown to avoid being taken by privateers.[8] It was normal practice for merchants to carry papers and flags of many nations for just such purposes. Kidd took the ship as a prize and sold her cargo at a nearby port. Kidd captured a Portuguese ship and attempted to take the East India Company ship Sedgewick.[9]

Kidd had turned completely to piracy. In the following months he consorted with the known pirates such as Robert Culliford, captured or attempted to capture many more outside the scope of his commission, and was declared a pirate by the Governor of St Thomas.[10] It was with this declaration that Kidd came to realize how bad his situation had become. He traveled to Long Island, where one of the expedition’s backers had been installed as Governor.

It was at this time, that the legend on Kidd’s buried treasure got its start. While negotiating with Governor Bellomont, Kidd’s ship sat between Gardiners and Block Islands. His attempts to ‘justify’ his actions fell on deaf ears. Kidd was arrested and returned to England for trial. Almost immediately after Kidd’s arrest, the Governor began his attempts at finding the treasure that still remained unaccounted for. The media of the day speculated on its location and the idea that Kidd had buried it.[11]

Kidd’s trial was short, with already overwhelming evidence of his guilt being shored up by the loss of evidence that would have aided his defense.[12] William Kidd was executed on the 23^rd of May 1701.[13] Kidd corpse hung for three tides, at which time his body was cut down, tarred, and placed into a metal cage.[14] His body would hang there for almost two years, as a warning to others who would be pirates.

[1] Cordingly, David. Under the Black Flag. New York: Random House, 1995.pp179

[2]Cordingly, David. Under the Black Flag. New York: Random House, 1995. pp179

[3] Cordingly, David. Under the Black Flag. New York: Random House, 1995.pp180

[4] Cordingly, David. Under the Black Flag. New York: Random House, 1995.pp180

[5] Hawkins, Paul. Captain William Kidd. 2009. http://www.captainkidd.org/ (accessed December 9, 2011).

[6]Cordingly, David. Under the Black Flag. New York: Random House, 1995.pp183

[7] Hawkins, Paul. Captain William Kidd. 2009. http://www.captainkidd.org/ (accessed December 9, 2011).

[8] Cordingly, David. Under the Black Flag. New York: Random House, 1995.pp184

[9] Cordingly, David. Under the Black Flag. New York: Random House, 1995.pp184

[10] Cordingly, David. Under the Black Flag. New York: Random House, 1995.pp184

[11]Cordingly, David. Under the Black Flag. New York: Random House, 1995.pp190

[12] Cordingly, David. Under the Black Flag. New York: Random House, 1995.pp189

[13] Hawkins, Paul. Captain William Kidd. 2009. http://www.captainkidd.org/ (accessed December 9, 2011).

[14] Hawkins, Paul. Captain William Kidd. 2009. http://www.captainkidd.org/ (accessed December 9, 2011).