Stede Bonnet – Gentleman Pirate

The tale of Major Stede Bonnet is a curious anomaly in the annals of piracy. Unlike the typical buccaneer, driven to a life of maritime plunder by poverty or a harsh upbringing, Bonnet’s background was steeped in respectability. He lacked the salt-laced experiences common to those who roamed the seas as outlaws, an even more remarkable fact considering he had never truly been a sailor.

Born into a well-regarded English family, Stede Bonnet received an education befitting his station. He ascended to the rank of Major in the army before transitioning to a life of leisure. He settled in Bridgetown, the bustling heart of Barbados, a verdant island in the West Indies. Here, he cultivated a life of comfort and social standing. His sugar plantation flourished, bringing him considerable wealth and earning him the esteem of his peers.

Then, in a bewildering twist of fate, Stede Bonnet, this pillar of Barbadian society, abruptly abandoned his respectable existence and embarked on a career of piracy. The news sent shockwaves through Bridgetown. His former acquaintances struggled to comprehend the transformation, whispering explanations for his sudden descent into the life of a "pyrating" rogue. The prevailing public explanation attributed his behavior to a "Disorder in his Mind," while more scandalous rumors suggested the root cause lay in the domestic sphere – the incessant nagging of a discontented wife, creating "some discomforts he found in the married state." The life of Stede Bonnet was about to change dramatically.

Bonnet’s foray into piracy was as unconventional as his motivations. Unlike seasoned pirates who seized their vessels through force, Stede Bonnet opted for a more bourgeois approach. In early 1717, he committed the almost unheard-of act of purchasing a ship. This was no battered hulk, but a swift sloop, equipped with ten cannons securely fastened to its single gun deck. He christened her the Revenge, a name popular among pirates, perhaps reflecting a desire to avenge some perceived slight or simply embracing the rebellious spirit of his new calling.

His approach to crewing the Revenge was equally unorthodox. Rather than promising shares of plundered treasure, the standard practice among pirates, Stede Bonnet hired his crew, paying them wages directly from his own pocket. He scoured the taverns and grog shops of Bridgetown, recruiting approximately 70 sailors, many of them derelicts eager for a steady income, even if it came with a considerable degree of risk.

Despite the seemingly naive approach to preparing for a life of piracy, Stede Bonnet demonstrated a degree of careful planning. Instead of immediately embarking on a plundering spree, the Revenge remained at anchor in the harbor for several days. When questioned, Bonnet explained he intended to establish trade with neighboring islands. Then, under the cloak of night, without farewells to his friends or the ever-whining Mrs. Bonnet, the captain ordered the anchor raised, and the Revenge slipped silently out of Bridgetown harbor and into the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Once beyond the sight of land, the ship set course for the Capes of Virginia, a strategic location along a major sea lane. The journey of Stede Bonnet had begun.

For a novice pirate, Bonnet proved surprisingly successful. Within a few short days, he captured the Anne of Glasgow, the Endeavor of Bristol, the Young from Leeds, and the Turbes from Barbados. After relieving the ships of their valuable cargo, Bonnet set the crews ashore, leaving them to be rescued by passing vessels. The Turbes, however, suffered a more fiery fate, likely because it hailed from Barbados. This act established a pattern: any ship from Barbados that subsequently fell into Bonnet’s hands was put to the torch, perhaps to prevent news of his piratical activities from reaching his former home.

Sailing northward, Bonnet discovered a ready market in New York for his ill-gotten gains. The merchants who purchased the stolen goods asked no probing questions. While the capture of a sloop bound for the West Indies proved lucrative, the northern Atlantic proved less profitable than the southern waters. After briefly stopping at Long Island to replenish supplies, Bonnet steered south, towards the Carolina coast. The legend of Stede Bonnet was growing.

The Revenge positioned itself near the entrance to Charleston harbor, patiently waiting for ships entering or leaving the port. Success came swiftly. A sloop and then a brigantine soon appeared on the horizon, both quickly falling prey to the Revenge. The brigantine was stripped of its cargo and released, but the sloop, laden with "sugar, rum, and negroes" from Barbados, was kept, although its crew was spared. Bonnet then turned north again, seeking refuge in one of North Carolina’s hidden inlets. The Barbadian sloop was burned, and the Revenge was careened and its hull scraped clean, preparing it for further exploits.

With his ship gliding effortlessly through the waves, Bonnet left the North Carolina coast behind and sailed for the Bay of Honduras, a well-known pirate rendezvous. However, tranquility was absent on board the Revenge. The captain’s inexperience was becoming increasingly apparent. The crew had long realized that their captain knew little about nautical matters, leading to growing discontent and insubordination. Though often portrayed as a gentleman, Stede Bonnet was courageous. He believed that swift and harsh discipline was the only way to quell the brewing rebellion, and any instance of insubordination was severely punished. Yet, even as the pirates dropped anchor in the Bay of Honduras, murmurs of discontent spread like wildfire among the crew.

Another Revenge was already moored in the bay – the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the formidable flagship of the infamous Blackbeard, widely regarded as the most fearsome pirate operating in North American waters. This unlikely pair of captains formed an immediate friendship and decided to cruise together, charting a course and heading out to sea.

However, their partnership was short-lived. Blackbeard quickly realized that he had "caught an odd sort of fish." Despite Bonnet’s earlier successes, his lack of seamanship proved a significant impediment. Blackbeard, not keen on partnering with an amateur, invited Bonnet aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Once aboard, Bonnet effectively became a prisoner. Blackbeard, with a disarming facade of flattery, suggested that a man of education and refined background should not be subjected to the hardships of command. It would be more fitting, he argued, for Bonnet to enjoy a life of ease aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Bonnet understood the veiled message, but he was powerless to resist, regretting his naivety in joining forces with another captain. Blackbeard’s lieutenant, Richards, a man more to the pirates’ liking, was appointed captain of the Revenge, swiftly quashing any thoughts of mutiny among the sailors.

Bonnet remained in enforced idleness aboard Blackbeard’s ship. Their cruise covered the sea lanes between the Bahamas and South Carolina, proving highly lucrative. At least a dozen ships of various sizes were captured, some retained for pirate use, others having sailors join the pirate ranks. By the time Blackbeard set sail for North Carolina, he commanded a flotilla of four ships and a crew of at least 140 men. Though entitled to a captain’s share of the booty, Stede Bonnet remained restless, yearning to command his own ship once more.

His opportunity arrived sooner than expected. Blackbeard’s fleet reached Topsail Inlet in North Carolina in June 1718. Two of the ships ran aground, igniting quarrels among the pirates. As tension escalated, Blackbeard informed Bonnet that he could resume command of the Revenge.

Many of the pirates, enriched by their successful cruise, now desired to abandon piracy. This decision was facilitated by the extension of King George I’s proclamation of pardon to all pirates who swore allegiance to the crown. Simultaneously, news arrived of the outbreak of war between England and Spain, creating a demand for privateers. Bonnet realized that not only could he receive forgiveness, but he could also continue plundering ships legally as an English naval representative.

Leaving the Revenge under the command of a subordinate officer, he hastened to Bath, North Carolina, and surrendered to Governor Charles Eden. After receiving Bonnet’s oath, the governor authorized him to sail to St. Thomas in the West Indies to obtain a Letter of Marque and Reprisal, effectively transforming him into a legal pirate.

Returning to Topsail Inlet, Bonnet discovered that Blackbeard had betrayed him. The Revenge remained intact, but other ships had been sunk, and Blackbeard had absconded with all the plunder, including Bonnet’s and his crew’s shares. Seventeen men who had opposed Blackbeard’s actions had been stranded on a desolate sandbar without food, water, or means of escape. Bonnet rescued them after two harrowing days and nights. He also found others who had fled Blackbeard’s fury hiding in a nearby settlement.

Blackbeard had stripped the Revenge of much of its equipment, and provisions were scarce. Small boats began bringing food from the shore. From one of these, laden "with apples and cider to sell," they learned that Blackbeard, with a crew of only 18, was anchored in Ocracoke Inlet. The crew of the Revenge and their captain were consumed by a desire for revenge. They set sail for Ocracoke. Upon arrival, they learned that Blackbeard had sailed north up the coast only hours earlier. The pursuit was renewed, but Blackbeard eluded them.

With supplies dwindling once more, Bonnet headed for the Virginia Capes. A small ship was stopped, and pork and bread were taken. Apparently, Bonnet had not yet decided to resume piracy, as he paid the captain for the supplies. Two days later, his attitude had changed. Almost within sight of Cape Henry, a sloop was boarded. This time, he offered no payment. The ship was sunk, and the crew was set ashore. This action clearly indicated that Bonnet had abandoned the idea of privateering and was returning to his former life.

His experience with Blackbeard had been educational. From that point onward, a streak of cruelty emerged in Bonnet’s character. Prisoners were sometimes subjected to torture, and he was said to be the only pirate who forced his captives to walk the plank. He became a forceful leader, facing little resistance from his crew. They scarcely protested when he announced his intention to fly the Jolly Roger once more. His first voyage would be up the coast towards New England.

To evade the consequences of accepting the King’s pardon and then resuming piracy, Bonnet changed his name, insisting on being addressed as "Captain Thomas." He also defied English authority by renaming the Revenge as the Royal James, supposedly in honor of the Chevalier de St. George, the son of the exiled English king, James II, who was plotting to overthrow George I and reclaim the throne.

On its first cruise under its new name, the crew of the Royal James captured at least ten prizes between Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware Capes, realizing a considerable profit from selling their cargo. However, the Royal James began to leak, requiring careening and a major overhaul. The ship was steered south towards the Cape Fear region of North Carolina.

The area near the mouth of the Cape Fear River had become a favorite pirate rendezvous. The intricate terrain and meandering waterways provided concealment, and Governor Eden of North Carolina was gaining a reputation for being sympathetic to buccaneers.

Careening the Royal James revealed disturbing news: the ship was in such poor condition that repairs could take two months. In their haste to prepare the vessel for sea, Bonnet and his crew became careless. A captured shallop was broken up, and its lumber was used for repairs. The crew was released, a mistake that allowed them to spread word of the pirate ship laid up in the lower Cape Fear.

Bonnet’s activities had long been a source of frustration for the people of South Carolina, particularly those in Charleston. Not only had the pirates disrupted the port’s commerce, but Blackbeard had angered the city by making insolent demands. Governor Eden of North Carolina was unlikely to assist in suppressing the pirates, as rumors suggested that his secretary, Tobias Knight, was in league with them, and possibly the governor himself. With no prospect of cooperation from North Carolina, Governor Robert Johnson of South Carolina planned an expeditionary force to eliminate the pirates.

He found a willing commander in Colonel William Rhett, the colony’s receiver-general. Rhett received the necessary commissions, and two sloops, the Henry and the Sea Nymph, were pressed into service. Each ship carried eight guns. The Henry had a crew of seventy men, while the smaller Sea Nymph accommodated sixty. Provisions were loaded aboard both vessels, and the leaders began planning their campaign against the pirates in Cape Fear.

Plans changed abruptly when a sloop from Antigua arrived in Charleston harbor with alarming news. The infamous Charles Vane had plundered his cargo near the port entrance. Two other ships had met the same fate. Vane commanded a twelve-gun brigantine and a crew of 90 men, and he intended to repair his vessel south of Charleston. Rhett immediately set sail in pursuit, but Vane had actually turned northward. Rhett wasted time searching the South Carolina shoreline before realizing his mistake.

Determined to carry out his original plan, Rhett decided to pursue the pirates reported at Cape Fear, suspecting that it might be Vane himself. On September 26, 1718, Cape Fear was sighted. As the two sloops entered the mouth of the Cape Fear River, misfortune struck. Even experienced pilots were unfamiliar with the river’s many sandbars. Rhett’s ships ran aground.

Despite their predicament, the enemy was in sight. The topmasts of Bonnet’s Royal James were visible above the trees. Nothing could be done until the high tide refloated the South Carolina sloops. The intervening hours were spent preparing for battle.

Their presence could not be concealed. As dusk approached, the pirates discovered the newcomers, but the fading light obscured their intentions. Bonnet ordered two boats to investigate, and they returned with the disheartening news that the grounded sloops were heavily armed and carried fighting crews. A deadly battle was imminent.

Throughout the night, Rhett and his crew heard the sounds of battle preparations aboard the pirate ship. Bonnet, driven by desperation, motivated his men with threats and curses. He penned an angry letter to Governor Johnson, vowing to plunder and burn every ship leaving Charleston if he survived the coming fight.

At dawn, the South Carolinians heard the rattle of anchor chains and saw the sails being raised aboard the Royal James. The pirates were preparing to attack. Bonnet intended to force a running fight and escape into the open sea.

Rhett anticipated this strategy. Anchors were weighed, and the Henry and the Sea Nymph bore in, attempting to force the Royal James into shallow waters. All three ships exchanged broadsides. Rhett’s strategy worked. The pirate ship ran aground. The attackers closed in but soon lost their advantage, running aground themselves.

The Sea Nymph was grounded too far downstream to be of assistance. The Henry was within pistol-shot of the Royal James, an unfortunate circumstance because the ships had grounded in the same direction. This position offered protection to the buccaneers, but the canted deck of the Henry exposed her crew to the pirates’ fire. The South Carolinians stood their ground, returning fire and inflicting damage on the Royal James.

The pirates were jubilant, believing that the Henry‘s helpless position would lead to its destruction. They taunted Rhett’s men, inviting them to come aboard. The crew of the Henry responded with cheers, promising to board soon. The firing continued from both ships.

As the tide turned, the Henry slowly righted itself, eliciting a resounding "Hurrah!" from its crew. Consternation spread aboard the Royal James. The pirates demanded that Bonnet surrender. The enraged captain vowed to blow up his own ship before surrendering. His determination was met with resistance from his crew, who chose to face a court trial rather than certain death.

During this exchange, Rhett had been repairing his sloop. He steered towards the Royal James, hoping to board it. Suddenly, the white flag of surrender was raised on Bonnet’s ship. After brief negotiations, Bonnet agreed to surrender unconditionally. Only then did Rhett discover that the "Captain Thomas" he had been fighting was the infamous Stede Bonnet.

The victory came at a high cost. Ten men on the Henry had been killed and fourteen wounded. The Sea Nymph suffered two deaths and four wounded. Seven pirates lay dead aboard the Royal James, and five were wounded.

On October 3, 1718, Rhett’s vessels limped back into Charleston harbor to the joy of the province. The crew of the Royal James was placed in the public watchhouse, and Bonnet was held in the town marshal’s home, guarded by sentinels. David Herriot and Ignatius Pell, two of Bonnet’s crew, were later placed in the same house, having agreed to testify against their former comrades.

The people of South Carolina were determined to see justice served. A trial date was set, and the Assembly of the Province passed "An Act for the more speedy and regular trial of pirates." However, Bonnet had influential friends in Charleston, who terrorized some of the town’s citizens. Bribes were offered to the sentinels guarding the marshal’s house. On October 25, Bonnet and David Herriot escaped, reportedly with Bonnet disguised in women’s clothing. Ignatius Pell remained behind, hoping for a pardon.

Governor Johnson posted a reward of £700, and Colonel Rhett led a group to pursue the escapees.

Bonnet’s escape had been well-planned. A boat awaited him, and he was joined by others seeking to become pirates. They attempted to sail north, but contrary winds forced them to return to Charleston harbor to replenish supplies, hiding on Sullivan’s Island.

Their return was discovered, and Rhett landed on the island after dark. The pirates’ camp was found, and Rhett’s men opened fire. Herriot was killed instantly. A black man and an Indian belonging to Bonnet’s gang were severely wounded. Bonnet surrendered without resistance and was returned to Charleston for safer confinement.

On October 28th, Bonnet’s crew was tried before the Vice-Admiralty Court. Judge Nicholas Trott sentenced all but Ignatius Pell and three others to hang.

On November 8, 1718, the 29 condemned pirates were hanged at White Point. Their bodies were left hanging for several days as a warning. Afterwards, they were buried at the marsh’s edge below the low watermark.

Two days later, Bonnet was brought to trial. He pleaded "not guilty" but offered little defense. Judge Trott sentenced him to death by hanging, painting a vivid picture of his eternal damnation.

Governor Johnson scheduled the execution for December 10, 1718. Stede Bonnet became a shadow of his former self, living in terror. Sympathy for him grew among the public, and some petitioned Governor Johnson to pardon or commute his sentence. Bonnet wrote pathetic letters, including one to Colonel Rhett, who offered to accompany him to England for a new trial if the governor consented.

The governor remained firm. Bonnet addressed a final plea to the governor, begging for mercy.

Governor Johnson remained steadfast. On the day of the execution, Bonnet was brought from his confinement in a state of near collapse. He was "scarce sensible when he came to the place of execution." Moments later, holding flowers in his manacled hands, Stede Bonnet was hanged. His body was buried at the marsh’s edge near the graves of his crew.

So ended the life of Major Stede Bonnet, the gentleman pirate. No stone marked his grave, and the sea washed away all traces of his final resting place.