A buck an ear!
Seriously, the following rewards were offered by Governor Spotswood in November, 1718 to "every Person or Persons" who "shall take any Pyrate, or Pyrates, on the Sea or Land, or in case of Resistance, shall kill any such Pyrate, or Pyrates between the Degrees of thirty four, and thirty nine, of Northern Latitude, & within one hundred Leagues of the Continent of Virginia, or within the Provinces of Virginia or North Carolina":
- For every private Man taken on Board a Pyrate ship, Sloop, or Vessel....£10
- For every "inferior officer"....£15
- For every Lieutenant, Master, or Quartermaster, Boatswain, or Carpenter....£20
- For every Commander of a Pyrate Ship, Sloop, or Vessel [except, see next]....£40
- For Edward Teach, commonly called Captain Teach, or Blackbeard....£100
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a reprint of a 1948 article about the Mail Boat Aleta, "Boat Hauls Mail, More." You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news032114.htm.
A buck an ear, huh? Wonder whether you were able to type that with a straight face. It brought a smile to mine. Hah!
ReplyDeleteYou should sell tickets!
I've said it before--thanks, as always.
;-)
P.S.
The detail about the bounties was equally engaging.
Very interesting! Wherever did you find such rare historical records? hellowasn't aware that such records still existed weresuchm curious to know the source of your research.
ReplyDeleteOh these smartphones--the only part that made sense was
ReplyDeleteit was very interesting,
I was surprised such records exist and curious to know your source
The source for my information is Capt. Charles Johnson's 1724 book, "A General History of the Pyrates." In it Johnson reproduces a document titled: "By his Majesty's Lieutenant Governor, and Commander in Chief, of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, A PROCLAMATION Publishing the Rewards Given for Apprehending, or Killing Pyrates."
DeleteMany thanks
DeleteA buck an ear? Too much to pay for corn.
ReplyDelete