Today in pirate history

Executed by hanging on Reunion Island today in 1730. 

Olivier Levasseur 

RIP

A letter concerning pirates in Jamaica

            On the first of last month I writ to your Lordships by the Kent gally Capt. Thomas Lawton, who in his intended voyage to the Windward passage was taken by the pirates, and robbed of what they thought fitt and turned loose. He came to Port Royall, and now sails with two other ships the George Capt. Patterson and the Brocham Joseph Jewell under convoy of H.M.S. Adventure, who returned from her last voyage the 18th Dec. the Capt. very much out of order, but as he tells me his whole company in a very good state of health, but complains much of the refractoriness of his officers...On the 4th Dec. H.M.S. Swift Capt. Durell arrived at Port Royal, I desired the Captain to have taken a cruize with the Adventure being a proper vessell for the service drawing but little water, but he tells me he dair not stirr without orders from home, besides that he has but six guns (tho' capable to carry 18) and his complyment of men but 40, which I must acknowledge too few to adventure on these pirates by himself; they generally going two and two, with seventy or eighty desperate rogues, and 10 or 12 guns in each sloop. 

            They take more than half the ships and vessells that are bound either to this Island or the French settlements on Hispaniola, and Spaniards that comes in their cruize, as well as those that go from hence taking something out of all they meet, and very often burn their vessells, other they disable just leaving them sufficient to bring them down [to Jamaica], out of some they meet with rogues that willingly desert, as lately a Guinea ship Capt. Evans out of whom they took 40 choice men slaves and all their gold and what else they thought fitt, and then dismist her, from which ship the master reports 4 of his men deserted to the pirates. 

             Out of a ship from New England they took what they thought for their purpose, and then forced the Carpenter away with them. On the last of December  a poor turtler came before me and said they had robbed him of his netts and what little he had on board, and then turned into him three of their gang (and a little boy) that they did not approve of, first whipping them inhumanely and burning matches betwen their fingers ears and toes, they would not lett the little boy who I take to be about 12 or 13 years of age, because he desired to leave them go without a daudorus as they called it, [ie.] a good whipping, they give me an accompt of one they hanged for an example for offering to leave them and another they beat and abused so much that they beleived he could not live, and then without any remorse thro' him overboard and drowned him. 

         

              To inumerate the villanys we have accompts some of them commit would I fear be too tro'blesome to your Lordships, but we have great reason to fear they have taken some vessells and murdered all the people taking out what they wanted and then burning the vessells. We have one particular reason to believe the truth of this, for the pirates that lye the windermost, that we know have a great plenty of Madera wines and other liquors, but they would not let the master of the Guinea man or any others they have taken know when or where they gott them. 

              There is of these pirates of all nations, those to windward are generally Spaniards and some few French, but most mulattos, quarteroons and negroes. They lye from the leeward part of the Island of St. John de Porto Reco down along the south side of Hispaniola, then on the other side of Hispaniola, from Cape Nicola down the north west, and west of Hispaniola and upon the south side to the Isle of Ash, then on the coast of Cuba from the southeastermost end down to the south key and Trinidado lyes others, and from the Isle of Pines clear round to the Bay of Hondo, and so on to the Havana and bay of Matances, and from thence to the Island of  Providence, how many is uncertain, and make that Isle their chief rendezvous taking all nations they meet with. 

               One of those small rogues lately took a Spanish ship of 22 guns and 22 pattareroes, a very fine ship from Cadiz, as I am informed. In short these seas are full of these Rovers which will in particular be a very great detriment to this Island, hinder both vessells coming to us from H.M. Northern Plantations, and put a stop to the little trade our merchants have to the Spanish coast. They give out they want but a good ship or two fit for their purpose and then they design farther off in particular to the coast of Brazil. I am inclined to beleive some of them may go for they generally take all the good instruments they meet with...to [Joseph Eels] we gave an assurance that he should be secured of his life by a noli prosequi provided he made a full discovery of what he knew of the late piracys committed in the Bay of Hondo. 

        

         Upon this information and deposition we ordered Daniel Axtell and Jasper Ashworth to be apprehended, and committed by a warrant from the Chief Justice as correspondents with and accesso­rys to pirates and piracys. Upon taking up of these persons a great many are fled, that a warrant was issued to apprehend both as principles and accessarys, and what to do with these men, we know not as yett, not having a Commission under the Broad Seal of England as the statute of the 11th of King William directs, nor Admiral, Vice Admiral or a deputy to whom to direct a Commission pursuant to the statute of the 28th of Hen. VIII. 

           We are likewise necessitated to keep under confinement the said Joseph Eels for want of sufficient security designing to make use of him as evidence for the King in this behalf which he has promised upon being secured himself to become.               

             I farther advise you that the said sloop Mary which was commanded by the said Leigh Ashworth was condemned as the goods of pirates in the Court of Admiralty here, she being concerned in the piracys committed on the French ship in the Bay of Hondo at which time the said Eels was quartermaster on board her under the command of the said Leigh Ashworth etc.

"General Heywood, Commander in Chief of Jamaica, to the Council of Trade and Plantations" Jamaica. December 3, 1716. Calendar of State Papers, Col. Series (America & W.Indies) 29:#411.

A letter regarding New Providence

           

            I was formerly directed by H. E. Genll. Nicholson to render to your Lordships an accot. of the state and condition of ye Bohamia  Islands wch. has a long time bin without governmts., The want of wch. has laid those Islands open to be a recepticall and shelter of pirates and loose fellows and gives ye inhabitants as well as ye trading vessuals from other parts ye liberty and opportunity of inriching themselves by sideing and dealing with, entertaining and releiveing such villians who from time to time resort there to sell and dispose of their piraticall goods, and perfusely spend wtt they take from ye English French and mostly Spaniards, and as I am an inhabitant of New Providence have bin an eye witness to those ellegiall and unwarrantable practises committed both by ye pirates and inhabitants and others tradeing there, and have used ye uttmost of my endeavours to put by and prevent them, as alsoe by my goeing to the Havana hath bin a means of preventing ye design of ye provoked Spaniards comeing to cut those Islands off for the piracies yett. has since ye peace bin commited even by some of the inhabitants of those Islands... 

            The pirates daly increase to Providence and haveing began to mount ye guns in ye Fort for there defence and seeking ye opportu­nity to kill mee because I was against their illegall and unwar­rantable practices and by no means would consent to their mounting of guns in ye Fort upon such accots.  I was thereupon forced with my wife and family to acquitt ye Island to my great expence and damage  and ye latter part of June last [1716] arrived safe to this Province where I remaine upon [my own] expence in hopes that H.M. will be graciously pleased to take those Islands under his care and protection...that ye Islands may become a flourish­ing plantation...

            His Honr. the Governr. of this Province has lately granted commissions against ye pirates thatt resorts att Providence by virtue of wch. commissions ye grand Pirate Capt. Benja. Hornigold man of warr sloop of tenn guns is taken and destroyed, though he has escapted himself. This step in some measure has disabled him from doeing such damages upon ye heigh seas as he would have done if he had continued his command in the said sloop wch. did accomidate 135 men, when he last sayled out of Providenc­e , and by some commission granted as aforesaid great quanties of piraticall goods traded for att Providence was reprized & brought into this Port, and most justly condemnd. wch. has bin a great service to H.M. and ye said Governour by his granting such commissons, I hope will put a stop to ye Island of Providence falling wholly under ye command, and into the hands and possession of pirates as 'twas like to doe when I left ye place and seemingly ye pirates were increasing and groweing so strong under ye resolution of fortifieing and strength­ining the place and haveing got to so great a head that consequent­ly will putt ye Crown to some expence and charge to reduce and subdue them, if speedy measures, be not taken from hence and other Governmts. to putt a stop to their designs and if let alone will be of ill consequence.

Letter  “to the Council of Trade and Plantations" South Carolina. August 1716. Colonial Office Papers 5, 1265 no.52.

Laura's note: Always keep in mind when reading things from this era that they were written before dictionaries and standardized spelling s were created.

Map of Calais

Map of Calais, France circa 1695.

Description:

The map is upside down, the north and the sea being at the bottom. On that map, you can see 2 forts. The small one called "Risban" controls the entrance to the harbour and pirates would not pass by. For the big one, called "Citadelle", they had to destroy 1/3 of the old English town. The main square in the middle of the city is the Market Place, and the main buildings there are the townhall, next to the Watch tower. From the top ot that tower, they looked for ennemies coming from the sea, mainly English. On the left you can guess the main church, Our Lady church, "Notre-Dame" in French. All these buildings, except the old townhall, still exist today and you'd easily find pictures of them by internet. But nothing remain of all these military walls, except those of the Citadelle.

Courtesy of Phillipe Cassez of Amis du Vieux Calais

L'ensemble des cartes de France de Cassini (1750-1790),   map 6

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Calais

Olivier Levasseur is said to be a “Natif de Calais,” which means native, so perhaps he was raised there, but not necessarily that he was born there.

Levasseur in pirate fiction

Here is yet another excerpt from Master of the Sweet Trade, by Elizabeth Moisan:

“What's the cargo?” Sam was aboard the Dutch ship.

Paul brought him the news. “Cocoa, coffee, and tobacco. Not too much coin. We're going to reckon it up now. Still haven't seen him, Sam.” He nodded at Henri, as the French quartermaster came up on deck with the ship's log under one arm.

Henri came to Sam, “Monsieur. Capitaine Levasseur wishes you to join him on le Postillion, when you are ready.”

“Where is he now?” Sam asked, glancing around the battered ship.

“That I do not know, capitaine.”

Sam took his time looking over their prize. The stench of blood, gunpowder and smoke filled the air. Masts and yards were shot with holes, sails shredded, rigging badly damaged. Spilled powder had ignited, burning part of her fore deck, and the charred timbers still smoldered, though wet with seawater. He had seen Levasseur avoid inflicting the damage that would make repairing the Dutchman at ea nearly impossible, but here was senseless destruction. Sam knew it for what it was: La Buze – the vulture's – deliberate show of his absolute power.

Woven through the splintered and shattered wood were splintered and shattered men. Blood ran freely from their bodies, forming pools and mixing with soot and ash to make an ugly red-black mud. Flesh and bone crushed by falling spars and tackle, slashed by flying metal, pierced by shot, or burned – the injuries were many and gruesome. He looked up to see John Ferguson, the Marianne's surgeon, with the Postillion's doctor – Sam never knew his name – lay out their tools on a hatch cover and set to work helping whom they could.

He crossed the deck toward the Postillion an spotted the Dutch captain siting on an upended bucket, cradling his broken arm. The man stood and spoke first in his own language, then in rapid-fire French, his face showing a mixture of hatred and pain.

Sam's few words of rough French were useless, so they stood amid the rubble and faced each other in silence. Finally, pointing to the injured arm and the dead and wounded sprawled on the deck, he said, “Next time, don't run. Strike your colors.”

The Dutch captain glared darkly at him, then turned away and sat again. Sam turned and boarded the Postillion in search of Levasseur.

***

In the great cabin, Sam once again wondered about La Buze. The fancy clothes were neatly stowed, he knew, in various storage places around the cabin, and the collection of hats and wigs hung from pegs near the top of the bulkhead. He took down a dark-red hat, decorated with a wide leather band and a yellow feather, and was examining it closely when a crewman came into the cabin and tossed a brace of pistols and a cutlass on the deck.

“C'est la guerre,” the man said, and turned to look at Sam, “Eh?”

Sam pointed to the weapons. “Where – Levasseur?”

The seaman pulled ff his headscarf, and wiping his sweaty face with it, tossed it onto the pile. He ran his hands through his short, matted hair, and grinned at Sam.

“But of course, I am here! Just as you see!” He opened his arms wide. “Mon Dieu! What did you think?”

Sam chuckled. “Now I know why I didn't see you on deck.”

Without the wig, hat, and the extra height created by the high heels of his fine boots, Levasseur looked very different. He was dressed in the clothes of an ordinary seaman and was dirtier than Sam could ever have believed possible, Instead of the sweet fragrance that usually accompanied him, La Buze smelled of battle – gunpowder, sweat, and smoke.

“From the blade,” he said, looking at the bloodstained tears in his shirt. “I wipe her clean many times.” He threw his belt and ammunition pouch to the deck, and dropping heavily into his chair, tugged at his sea boots.

“Ah, it is what I like. You do not see me, but I am there – always.” He glanced at Sam, who was still holding the hat. “So! You are thinking: what hat does he wear? What wig goes into battle? Never! For the fight, I am thus! In battle, the foe – he looks for le capitaine and then - “ he drew his finger across his throat. “But me,” he said with a shrug, “I am just a sailor. I do not know where he is, le capitaine. Clever, non?”

Sam hung the hat back on its peg.

-- To be continued --