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The Rise and Fall of the Whydah: Captain Kidd and Sam Bellamy's Pirate Legacy

Explore the gripping saga of the Whydah, a notorious pirate ship, through the lens of the movie "Captain Kidd" and Robert Ritchie's book. This paper delves into the captivating journey of Captain Sam Bellamy, a once poor sailor turned pirate, detailing his rise to infamy, the ship's ill-fated journey, and the tragic storm that led to its sinking. With references to piracy, historical context, and the Whydah's treasure-laden past, this analysis enriches our understanding of a pivotal moment in maritime history.

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The Rise and Fall of the Whydah: Captain Kidd and Sam Bellamy's Pirate Legacy

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  1. First Short Paper Due • 11 March • 800 – 1000 word paper based on the movie Captain Kidd and the book by Robert Ritchie • If you missed the movie • or want to see it again…..? • Copy on reserve in the Library • Also available on Hulu and IMDB

  2. Up from a watery grave Shipwrecks! The Quedah Merchant (?) and the Wydah

  3. The Whydah • Named for the slave port Ouidah (Wee- dah) • Built in London in 1715 • 300 to galley – oars and sails • Shallow drafted • Fast and easy to maneuver • 18 mounted cannon • Early 1716 left London and headed for Africa

  4. After several weeks collecting its ‘cargo’ of slaves • The Whydah left Ouidah with about 300 slaves headed for Caribbean • After off loading the • Ship along with its profit • headed out into the Atlantic • After a few more stops ship headed to England • All on board looking forward to getting home and spending the money

  5. Sam Bellamy • poor sailor from England who had travelled to New England • Fell in love with the daughter of a prosperous merchant • Needed respect and standing in the community • 1715 a Spanish treasure galleon sank of coast of Florida • Bellamy headed down to try to make his fortune • Spanish had recovered loot • Pirate Henry Jennings raided the fort left with over 120,000 pieces of eight • persuaded Bellamy to go on the account

  6. Bellamy’s travels • February 1716: Gulf of Honduras • March 1716: Portobello, Panama • April 1716: Baya Honda, Cuba • April 1716: Cape Corrientes and the Isle of Pines Cuba • May1716: Eastern tip of Cuba • June – August 1716: North Coast of Haiti • September 1716: Puerto Rico • October 1716: Samana Bay to Cape Nicholas, Hispaniola • November – December 1716: St. Crox • January 1717: La Isla Blanquilla, Venzuela

  7. Early 1717 comes across the Whydah • After a three day chase the Whydah is captured • Bellamay refits it, moves all his booty on board and headed north • “20,000 or 30,000 pounds sterling was counted over, in the cabin, and put up in bags, fifty pounds weight to every man’s share” • Peter Hoof Whydah crew member

  8. After capturing Whydah • Bellamy began the journey home • Leaving Bahamas March 1717 • Of the coast of Haiti he took the Tanner Frigate a richly laden ship • Before heading North to retire • With enough wealth to achieve • Prestige • The hand of Maria Hallett in marriage

  9. To ensure he could afford the best for his new bride • Bellamy took a few more ships on the way North and added them to his fleet • The Anne • A galley • The Mary Anne • A Pink with 7000 gallons of Maderia wine • The Fisher • A sloop with Deer hides and Tobacco

  10. April 26, 1717 Bellamy off coast of Cape Cod with 146 men on board • 130 pirates • 16 prisoners • Unfortunately nature against his plans • A dense fog rolled in over the sea • Lightning flashed through the mist • And the sea began to rise

  11. Bellamy sailed into • The Perfect Storm • An Arctic Gale from Canada was running into a warm front heading north from the Caribbean • Waves and wind pounded the Whydah

  12. The Anne and the Fisher managed to ride out the storm despite being severely damaged • The Mary Anne or Marianne somehow missed the storm altogether • While the Whydah felt the full force • It ran hard into a sandbar • Mainmast broke and the Whydah rolled over

  13. As the boat sank • Many men were thrown overboard • Others were crushed • Others pulled under with the ship • The beach was only 500 feet away • Strength of a storm and freezing water made it seem miles away

  14. Of 146 people on board • 2 survived • Thomas Davis, the Carpenter • John Julian • They made it to the beach and scaled the sand cliffs • Both soon found by the local authorities

  15. Remaining crews of the Anne and Fisher joined together and fled to Maine • Crew from the Mary Anne knew it was time to hide • left the boat and headed by foot to Rhode Island • A well known pirate location in the region • But they were after all sailors so….. • Stopped for a beer and were caught by the local sheriff

  16. October 18, 1717 • Seven months later the remaining crew were dragged out of prison and put on trial in Boston • 1st the 7 men from the Mary Anne • Charged with piracy and robbery • Each claimed to have been forced into Piracy • All except one man – Thomas South – were sentenced to death by hanging

  17. November 15th accompanied by local minister Cotton Mather • condemned men were rowed across the harbor to Charleston • Gallows awaited them at the waters edge • All repented on the gallows • Cotton Mather published a pamphlet of the trial titled • “The End of Piracy” • A little optimistic

  18. Two men from the Whydah both avoided the Noose • Thomas Davis walked away a free man • The court accepted his claim that he had been forced into the crew • As a carpenter he had special skills that made the claim plausible • John Julian, avoided the noose • may have wished he hadn’t • Julian was a 16 year old South American Indian and was sold into slavery

  19. Under British Law at the time • Once pirate loot was recovered it belonged to the Crown • Massachusetts Governor sent • Captain Cyprian Southack to recover • “money, bullion, treasure, goods, and merchandize” • Southack was a experienced Captain and cartographer

  20. Some items had been scavenged by locals • In the words of Southack • “The riches, with the guns, would be buried in the sand” • Despite his best efforts the only thing he recovered were • “two anchors, two great guns and some junk”

  21. Did bring back two other items which proved more valuable • detailed notes and map of his search • Almost 300 years later Barry Clifford after finding the map and notes decided to hunt for the wreck • Began hunting in 1982 • no luck for many years • Fall 1985 the found the final proof

  22. Top 10 Audacious Acts of Piracylist from Time Magazine • Kidnapping Julius Caesar: 75 B.C. • Jean Fleury Hijacks Aztec Gold: 1523 • Barbarossa Captures Capri: 1535 • Francis Drake Raids Cadiz: 1584 • Koxinga Conquers Taiwan: 1662 • Henry Morgan Seizes Panama: 1671 • Captain Kidd Takes the Cara Merchant: 1698 • Blackbeard Blockades Charleston: 1718 • Mistress Ching Retires Rich: 1810 • The Taking of the MV Sirius Star: 2008

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