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The history of Rhode Island is truly remarkable. The Story of Rhode Island is my humble attempt to tell you some of the stories about the people, places, and events that have made Rhode Island the state it is today.
To learn more about the show visit the Story of Rhode Island Podcast website at https://www.storyofrhodeisland.com/
Hello and welcome to the Story of Rhode Island. The podcast that tells you the story of Rhode Island’s fascinating history. In Season 2, we watched America’s smallest colony grow into an economic powerhouse, largely thanks to the seaborne trade taking place in Newport. And while many citizens from that city generated their wealth through admirable professions like ship building and rope making, others have chosen a far more malicious lifestyle. As we revisit Rhode Island’s most prosperous city on a summer day in 1683, we watch one of these law-breaking men make his way into Newport Harbor. The man’s name is Thomas Paine and although in about a century that name will be associated with one of the most famous authors of the American Revolution, in the late 17th century it’s tied to one of the most notorious pirates in the American colonies. As Paine’s ship known as The Pearl pulls up alongside one of the wharfs, local citizens look on in awe. Even William Coddington Jr, the Governor of Rhode Island and son of the man who founded the city of Newport back in 1639, can’t help but stare at the large frigate and its 8 guns. And while one might think that the people of Rhode Island would flee at the sight of a pirate crew, quite the opposite occurs. Because at the moment, America is in the middle of a time known as The Golden Age of Piracy, an era spanning from about the mid 17th century to the early 18th century, and pirates are beloved by the American colonists. The reason for this is two-fold. First, most pirates during the 17th century do not raid American colonies but instead plunder far off towns and ships belonging to foreign nations. For instance, Paine’s ship, the one that has just finished docking at one of the local wharfs, is returning from his crew’s raid on Spanish settlements in Florida. And as you may have guessed he hasn't returned empty handed, helping us understand the other reason why pirates are so warmly received by the colonists. Being unloaded from The Pearl are hoards of treasure that will be injected into the local economy. To start, are the foreign goods that the people of Newport will be able to purchase without paying taxes, and as we all know there’s nothing more that the Rhode Islanders love than avoiding taxes. On top of that, is the hard money that Paine has returned with, a resource that’s quite scarce amongst the American colonies. The Rhode Islanders know that the pirate crew will use this hard money to purchase fine clothes and large quantities of rum, enabling it to increase their supply of coins. In fact, so many pirates use hard money in the colonies that most of the Spanish coins in late 17th century America have come from these seaborne criminals. This has led one Governor to accurately claim how the colonies are QUOTE “full of pirate money” UNQUOTE. And if these benefits aren’t enough to encourage the local government to turn a blind eye to the pirates' despicable ways then typically a show of good faith in the form of pirate treasure is enough to smooth things over with the colony’s governor. So as Captain Paine steps off The Pearl and onto the streets of Newport the tavern owners, shopkeepers, and the Governor himself feel a wave of excitement rush through their bodies. Because for now, in 1683, Rhode Island is a haven for pirates, a place where their riches and tales of plunder are welcomed with open arms. But it won’t always be that way. In just a few decades these seaborne criminals will go from being beloved celebrities to a cancer that the colonists hope to destroy, a drastic transition that we’ll take a deeper look at today. The tale of how Rhode Island’s contributed to the Golden Age of Piracy is what we’ll cover in this bonus episode the Story of Rhode Island Podcast.
Intro Music
Although Captain Paines arrival in Newport is well received by the locals, not all are so thrilled about his appearance. To the British government, pirates like Paine are a nuisance to society and must be punished for their crimes. And so, the royal authorities in Rhode Island spend the next year or so attempting to arrest Paine But luckily for him, Governor Coddington refuses to let that happen. Coddington continuously finds a way to keep Paine from being locked up in jail or worse, hanged at the gallows. However, this begs one to ask the question; how on earth are these known criminals able to live freely in Rhode Island without ever being prosecuted for their crimes? The answer to that question is revealed when one understands just how little of difference there is between a pirate and its legal alternative, a privateer. In fact, one could say the difference is paper thin. Because just like pirates, privateers also venture out in armed vessels to raid ships and settlements. However, unlike pirates, they have been given permission to do so by local authorities via a letter of marque (MARK), a document that sanctions them to take warlike actions against an agreed upon enemy. For example, a colonial or British government might commission a privateer to attack enemy ships during a time of war or to capture pirates harassing ships at sea. But where things go wrong is when the men given a letter of marque end up attacking ships outside of their commission, turning them from a privateer to a pirate. Thomas Paine himself was supposed to be hunting pirates but instead decided to “go on the account”, a contemporary term used to describe a life of piracy. Once men like Paine return from their raids they end up claiming they were only attacking the ships and settlements they were sanctioned to by their letters of marque. And so, because of this minor difference, the Rhode Island government is able to shield these economically stimulating pirates from royal authorities, something local citizens are happy to see occur. This enabling their colony to become a haven for pirates and a place where criminals like Paine are able to walk the streets of Newport as if he are law abiding citizens. And Paine is by no means the only pirate in the Colony. Other Rhode Islanders like Sion Arnold, Richard Cornish, and James Gillam are also known pirates but they too have managed to avoid the gallows. Even one of the grandsons of Samuel Gorton, the founder of Warwick and a man we discussed extensively in Season 1, is a pirate as well. His name is William Mayes Jr. and by the end of the 17th century he’ll be the owner of the White Horse Inn, an establishment that is now a restaurant called the White Horse Tavern. Some of these men remain pirates until they are captured by royal authorities or killed at sea, while others eventually give up that life and adopt a more respectable lifestyle. Thomas Paine himself chooses the latter when he decides to hang up his pirate gear and become a farmer on Jamestown. After using his pirate money to build a house on the island, a house that still stands there today, he goes on to marry Mercy Carr, the daughter of Justice Caleb Carr, a man who will become the Governor of Rhode Island in 1695. Then, Paine becomes a local hero when he fights off a team of French privateers attacking Block Island, a story we don’t have time for today but that you can learn more about by checking out this episode's webpage. Finally, he solidifies his position as a respected memenet of Rhode Island society by becoming one of the founders of an Anglican congregation on Aquidneck Island. The congregation still exists today but now worships at the famous Trinity Church in Newport. So men like Paine, men who have plundered ships at sea and raided far off settlements, are deeply embedded with the Rhode Island community. And one of these Rhode Island pirates is about to forever cement his place in history. His name is Thomas Tew and by the end of the century, he’ll be one of the wealthiest pirates to ever live.
On the surface, Thomas Tew doesn’t seem cut out for a life of piracy. Not only does his small stature make it difficult to see him as a menacing individual but he also comes from a well connected Rhode Island family that makes one wonder why he would ever commit himself to such a risky lifestyle. But nonetheless, that’s the path Tew has chosen and he’s damn good at it. As we take our first look at Tew, It’s 1692 and he’s cruising the Red Sea in search of Mughal (moo-gl) ships filled with treasure. Over the past couple of years the Red Sea has become quite a hotspot for pirates to frequent. Not only is the sea littered with massive trade ships filled with valuable goods but even more alluring are the ships carrying thousands of Muslims dressed in their finest attire and most expensive jewelry while making their annual pilgrimage to their holy city of Mecca. As Captain Tew’s ship, a 70 ton sloop known as The Amity, sails along the ocean water, Tew scours the Red Sea in search of his next big prize. Meanwhile, the 60 other men in his crew work tirelessly to ensure the Amity is ready to pounce when the time presents itself. These men, a mixed group of black and white individuals, live a far different lifestyle than any of the law-abiding sailors at sea. Not only are the pirates given the freedom to consume copious amounts of alcohol while on the job but they also have a say in their ships course of action. While European naval and merchant vessels are run by Captains who essentially act as a dictator, most pirate ships operate via radically democratic principles. Along with electing their Captains, pirates also vote on what ships and settlements they will attack next. In fact, we’re about to watch one of these electoral procedures take place. Tew has just located a large Mughal ship on the horizon and wants to try and capture it. However, his crew is hesitant to do so as they know a ship this large vessel will be well armed. Their Captain spends the next ten minutes attempting to persuade his crew to take the risk but eventually leaves it up to a vote. As pirate after pirate raises their hand in favor of the attack, Tew sees that the vote has gone his way so he prepares his men for battle. No longer needing to hide their identities as pirates, the men raise their crew’s emblem high into the sky. As the men inch closer to the ship their black flag with a white arm wielding a scimitar waves back and forth. The pirates, although drastically outnumbered, manage to outfight the opposing force of 300 soldiers and convince the Muslim’s Captain to surrender. When Tew’s men begin boarding the Mughal vessel they are blown away by the amount of gold, silver, gunpowder, and jewels onboard. The amount of riches is so vast that the pirates have to leave some of the gunpowder behind so that they can fit all of the jewels on their ship. After the immensely successful raid, Tew and his men remain at sea for a while but eventually decide to return home to Rhode Island. Tew’s return to Newport harbor, like Paine’s a decade earlier, sends a wave of jubilation into the Colony’s most prosperous city. The pirates' riches, rumored to be worth over 100,000 pounds, are acquired by local citizens while the Colony’s Governor is given a generous “gift” as thanks for being such a gracious host. Meanwhile, Tew goes on to live the lavish life of a colonial celebrity and the city of Newport becomes alive with celebration. While always sporting his finest attire and the jewels that he illegally obtained while at sea, Tew spends his hard money at the city’s local taverns while telling stories about his battle with Mughal Ships. As groups of inebriated locals crowd around Tew so that they can hear his captivating tales, local tavern owners hand out cups of rum as if they were water. But eventually, Tew once again feels that itch that for some will never be completely scratched and by the summer of 1695 he’s back at committing acts of piracy on the Red Sea. Joining Tew are two other Rhode Island pirates, Joseph Fari and William Muse. While at sea, these three men make the fateful decision to serve under one of history’s most feared pirates, Henry Avery. Together, this team of criminals spend the next several months hunting Mughal Ships but this time the adventure doesn’t go the way Tew had hoped. In the midst of battle, he is struck by a cannonball and killed on the spot, proving to be yet another example of a man who should've stopped while he was ahead. And Tew was ahead alright. At the time of his death, he’s managed to accumulate a net worth of over $103 million in present-day money, a fortune so large that in 2008 Forbes Magazine listed him as the 3rd wealthiest pirate in history. So although that marks the end of Tew’s story, it’s not quite over for the other two Rhode Island pirates who also joined Avery’s crew as they’re about to shake up the pirate world. In 1695, this team of pirates capture the Gang-i-Sawai, (gan-ji-sue-eye) a ship owned by the Sixth Emperor of the Mughal Empire and one of the most powerful men in the entire world. For the next few days, Henry Avery and his two Rhode Island pirates plunder the vast amount of riches on the ship while also torturing innocent men and women who refuse to share information about where additional treasure is hidden. By the end of their hideous act, numerous Muslims are killed while the pirates escape with over 300,000 pounds of sterling. And legend states that some of the riches from the Gang-i-Sawai (gan-ji-sue-eye) made it back to Aquidneck Island. In 2014, a handful of Arabian silver coins minted in 1693 were unearthed at Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown. Since American colonists didn’t begin trading in the Middle East until the 18th century, some contend that they might have come from the infamous raid on the Gang-i-Sawai. Unfortunately, we may never know for sure where the coins came from but what we do know is that the plundering that the two Rhode Island pirates participated in creates some real problems for the little colony around Narragansett Bay. In response to the raid, the Mughal Emperor shuts down trade with the East India Company, an event that puts a major economic burden on one of England’s largest trading enterprises. With their pocketbooks now affected by piracy, the British government begins cracking down on the colonies harboring these criminals, and as you might have guessed, Rhode Island is one of the primary culprits. In fact, the British government declares that the little colony around Narragansett Bay is believed to be a QUOTE “great receptacle for pirates” UNQUOTE. This belief is confirmed when Richard Coote, the Earl of Bellomont, and a man responsible for investigating what’s going on in Rhode Island, arrives on the scene. Not only does he see pirates being welcomed into their colony with open arms but he even discovers that former pirate, Thomas Paine, is allowing Captain Kidd, one of history's most notorious pirates, to store treasure at his farm in Jamestown. Bellomont tries to catch Paine in the act but Paine manages to avoid royal authorities yet again, allowing the treasure to go undiscovered. To learn more about what might have happened to that treasure be sure to check out the story of rhode island website. Now, for those of you who listened to Season 2, you might recall how Lord Bellomont spends the next couple of years attempting to have Rhode Island’s charter revoked. However, you might also recall how the colony’s Governor at the time, Samuel Cranston, a man who was captured by pirates himself before entering civil service, is blessed with a stroke of luck when Lord Bellomont unexpectedly dies in 1701, putting an end to his attacks against the colony's charter. Then, the Governor’s luck continues when the King of England dies and his successor, Queen Anne, is too occupied with a new set of wars to pay much attention to the American colonies supporting piracy. In the decades following these fortuitous events, Rhode Island pirates once again begin hitting the open ocean in search of helpless victims to plunder. However, this time their raids are no longer targeting foreign ships but those from the very colony they come from. One of these pirates is Paulsgrave Williams, a former silversmith from Newport who’s decided to go on the account. And although he takes part in numerous successful raids his achievements won’t be celebrated like the pirates of the past. Instead he’ll help us understand how these once beloved seaborne criminals have turned into a nuisance that the colonists want nothing to do with.
It’s April 1717 and Captain Paulsgrave Williams is sailing the Caribbean Sea on his ship, the Marianne. Sailing in his own ship beside Williams, is Captain Sam Bellamy (bell-uh-me), a man Williams teamed up with when he left Newport back in 1715. Although the two men are somewhat new to the world of piracy they’ve proven to be naturally talented in the craft. After plundering over 50 ships they’ve managed to amass a large fortune. By far their largest prize came when they captured the Whydah (whi-duh), a 300 ton British slave ship. Not only was the ship filled with large quantities of sugar, gold, and silver but the vessel itself was in wonderful condition and far larger than their ships. Because of this the pirates have decided to make it their flagship. And while their success would’ve made them heroes in 17th century Rhode Island, that is no longer the case in 18th century Rhode Island. We learn why this is true as we watch Williams and Bellamy chase down their most recent victim, a merchant vessel operating out of Williams hometown of Newport. As the pirate's flag, a piece of woolen fabric decorated with a skull and crossbones, waves in the air, Williams keeps a close eye on his prey. Eventually, the pirates catch up to the ship and force their adversary to make a decision; surrender or fight. Knowing that they are no match for the pirates, the crew of Rhode Island sailors raise a white flag and surrender. When Williams makes his way onto the ship, the men he interacts with are different from the ones Thomas Paine or Thomas Tew would’ve come across. They are not men from some far off foreign nation but Instead other Rhode Islanders or at the very least other Americans just like Williams. They could be neighbors, former business partners, or perhaps even distant relatives. By choosing to attack this vessel, these pirates are not only threatening Rhode Islander’s burgeoning seaborne economy but also putting local citizens in danger as well. Voyages out to sea during the 18th century are dangerous enough on their own so the last thing the sailors' families want to hear about are pirates adding yet another layer of risk to their journeys as well. And so, as these types of attacks on local vessels become more commonplace every year, these once beloved seafaring criminals become a group of despised outcasts that the colonists want destroyed. Well, luckily for the Americans, the British government has also developed a renewed sense of hatred for pirates like Paulsgrave Williams so they’ve begun devoting more resources to capturing or killing as many as possible. With Rhode Island and other American colonies no longer willing to harbor pirates and royal authorities making an increased effort to capture these criminals, American pirates find it increasingly difficult to hide and the Golden Age of Piracy begins to unravel. In just a ten year period, over 400 pirates are hanged for their crimes and even Paulsgrave Williams decides to surrender under an act of grace given by the King. And while that allows Williams to avoid the gallows, not all pirates will choose the same path, leading many more to be executed by royal authorities. One of the largest apprehensions of pirates takes place near Block Island and will be an event that plays a pivotal role in bringing us to the end of Rhode Island’s connection with piracy.
It’s June of 1723 and while the warm summer sky and calm ocean waters set the stage for a relaxing day at sea, Captain Peter Solgard is having no such experience. With the guns from his ship firing cannonballs across the Atlantic waters, he nervously waits to see whether or not they will strike one of the two pirate ships in front of him. One of those ships is known as The Fortune and it's captained by one of the most notorious pirates in the new world, Edward Lowe. After learning that Lowe was heading for Block Island, the people of Newport called on Captain Solgard for help. Solgard happily complied with the Rhode Islander’s request and now finds himself at battle with these extremely dangerous men. In the midst of fighting, the British Captain believes he’s identified Lowe’s ship so he orders his men to direct all of their firepower in that direction. With cannonball after cannonball sent flying towards what Solgard believes to be The Fortune, he eventually watches the vessel’s mainsail get blown to pieces. Realizing they can no longer defend themselves, the pirates wave a white flag and surrender. As Solgard makes his way towards his opponent's ship, he allows the other pirate crew to escape. Unfortunately, when he arrives at the vessel, he realizes that it’s not the Fortune he’s captured but the other ship in Lowe’s crew, meaning that Lowe has just escaped. Solgard attempts to pursue Lowe but eventually realizes the chase is hopeless and returns to Newport. When he arrives, local citizens are disappointed to see that Lowe hasn’t been captured so they decide to take their anger out on the other pirates instead. They’re actions will not only demonstrate just how differently the colonists have grown to view pirates but will also end up being the largest mass execution in Rhode Island history.
Only about a quarter of a mile east of Goat Island, on the western shores of Newport, is a piece of land sticking out into the harbor. That land is known as Gravelly Point and it’s about to play a symbolic role in the Golden Age of Piracy. Making their way towards the gallows on gravelly point are the 26 pirates who were captured by Captain Solgard a month earlier. After a speedy trial, these men have been found guilty of piracy and are about to suffer the consequences. As the men hang their heads in sorrow, local citizens stare at them with eyes of disapproval. While it was just a few decades ago when these types of criminals were welcomed into Rhode Island’s most prosperous city, that’s no longer the case. Ever since these seaborne criminals have made the conscious decision to raid American ships, the pirates are now seen as a disease that must be eliminated. After walking up the gallows wooden stairs the group of men turn towards the silent crowd of onlookers while a noose is wrapped around their necks. Blowing in the wind behind them is their ship’s flag or as pirates have been known to call it their “jolly roger”. It's meant to remind the crowd about the punishment one is bound to suffer if they are caught committing acts of piracy. Then, right around noon, Reverend Nathaniel Clap stands beside the criminals and recites a sermon that encourages the pirates to repent their sins. As some of the men begin to weep and pray to god for mercy, the crowd inches closer to the gallows as they know the execution is about to take place. Upon the Reverend finishing his sermon, a few of the pirates share a few last minute words with the crowd, most of them stating how they regret their decisions and how all who are watching should avoid making the same mistakes they have made. Then, finally, with the pirate’s heads resting against the noose around their necks, the signal is given and the board of wood below their feet is removed. As their bodies drop, gravity pulls the rope tighter around their necks and their legs begin to kick in a hopeless attempt to keep them alive, a movement known as the hempen jig. With the men slowly dying in front of the crowd, a loud gasp can be heard coming from some of the onlookers while others turn their heads away from the haunting scene. Shortly after the hanging, the men are shipped over to Goat Island and laid to rest. The execution that took place that July day in 1723 not only ended the life of 26 pirates but also symbolically represented the end of an era in Rhode Island history. By the end of the decade, “The Golden Age'' of piracy comes to an end and the men who committed themselves to such a life are largely eliminated from Rhode Island. Never again are pirates like Thomas Paine welcomed in the colony as if they were modern day celebrities. No longer are men at local taverns willing to entertain tales of plunder that were once shared by men like Thomas Tew and many others. Overtime, the Colony that was once known to be a “great receptacle” for these types of individuals eventually becomes void of their presence entirely. And now, we are left with nothing more than hidden reminders of their presence. While Thomas Paine’s house still stands in Jamestown today, no marker describes its association with Paine or the fact that it once housed the treasure of one of history's most notorious pirates. And although Paine’s contribution to the founding of the Trinity Church is represented by a plaque with his name on it, it makes no mention of the acts of crime he once committed. One of the few items we have reminding us of these individuals is a short paragraph on a warn out historical marker located at Gravelly Point. The dirt and scratches covering up the words on the marker symbolizes the challenge one has in finding any type of reminder of the vile criminals that once walked freely throughout the streets of Newport. And while their lives are not one to be admired, no one can deny the fact that they played a unique role in Rhode Island history. From Jamestown’s Thomas Paine to Newport’s Thomas Tew, the various pirates coming out of America’s smallest colony undeniably had a significant, albeit short-lived impact on life around Narragansett Bay. And therefore, one cannot leave out their names and the crimes they committed when telling others about the story of Rhode Island.