Jersey Pirates
Although today Jersey is more known as a tax-haven than a staging point for rape, loot and pillages, during the 17th Century the Island was a hotbed of piracy.
General de Caterest who served simultaneously as both Jersey's Bailiff and Lieutenant Governor at various times was able to experience this first hand in 1628 when the ship he was on was captured by Spanish 'Privateers" out of Dunkirk. The money and supplies he'd been carrying to restock Jersy's castles were taken and he himself was only released after paying a hefty ransom which respectively left him so destitute he considered entering the service of the Dutch.
The General's experience, while harrowing, was nothing compared to the fate of sailors captured by Barbary pirates, who would often be sold at African slave markets. Collections were often held in Jersey to buy the freedom of captured sailors such as Richard Dumaresq, whose bothers and sisters were able to raise enough funds for his ransom. Their laudable efforts are eclipsed by the one Nicolas Effort who was sent to Algiers in 1638 to track down captured seamen. Despite Algiers' fearsome reputation as a den of pirates at the time Effort managed to return with no less than 17 men, including his own brother. A grateful States of Jersey rewarded Effart by freeing him from all militia and civil service duties.
By 1643 De Carteret has returned to Jersey and persuaded the States to swear him in as both Bailiff and Lieutenant Governor. His first priority was to invade and capture Guernsey but after the people of Jersey proved less than enthusiastic, he turned to piracy.
Starting small, De Carteret had a fast sailing galley built for him as the nearby French port of St. Malo. The galley had 3 mounted bronze cannons and could hold a crew of 35. De Carteret and his motley crew had more joy with the next ship they captured: a brand new barge laden down with leather goods. this ship was outfitted as a Privateer and captured a Yarmouth collier in turn. This process was repeated a number of times until De Carteret had his own private armada.
Although he called this privateering. legally his actions were technically piracy. In order to be considered a privateer with the authority to search and plunder enemy vessels, a Commander of a private ship must possess "letters of Marque". granting him authority.
As a staunch Royalist, De Carteret had no trouble correcting this legal snag. In December 1644 King Charles appointed him "Vice Admiral of Jersey with jurisdiction over ships, men, whales and rigs. This incorporated all captured vessels into the Royal Navy and also helped overcome the final legal obstacle facing De Carteret.
In order to protect merchants, international Maritime law stated that is a Privateer captured an enemy vessel, they must return with it to their own port of registration. There is a specially convened "Admiralty Court" which would decide if the capture was a 'good and lawful prize". In De Carteret's case, he only used his own vessels for privateering, ensuring that they would return to Jersey with their prize. As Vice-Admiral, he also had the authority to sway proceedings in his favour each time. This allowed him to amass a large amount of money, as captured cargo was sold off in France. Some of the loot brought into St. Aubin's Bay included beaver hats and snuff bound four Southhampton Fair, a cargo of paving stones, oranges and lemons and even some Guernsey stockings.
These activities were extremely unpopular with locals, particularly given that very few of De Carteret's crew were from Jersey. of his Royal captains three were English, three were Dutch another 3 were French, and another 2 were "ostenders"/
A De Carteret brought in more foreign troops to protect the Island from invasion by Cromwell's forces, Jersey people complained about veg, eggs, poultry and even cattle being plundered from these farms. Once the Commonwealth invaded and imposed military rule, wholesale piracy stopped although militarised privateers known as "picaroons" continued to be a thorn in the side for all those crossing the Channel. This ultimately petered out in the 18th Century after the Royal Navy established a storage presence; Jersey's proud pirate legacy now lives on only in the mind of historians and those illegally download music and film
.
Nathan Jordan
Jersey Channel Islands
The General's experience, while harrowing, was nothing compared to the fate of sailors captured by Barbary pirates, who would often be sold at African slave markets. Collections were often held in Jersey to buy the freedom of captured sailors such as Richard Dumaresq, whose bothers and sisters were able to raise enough funds for his ransom. Their laudable efforts are eclipsed by the one Nicolas Effort who was sent to Algiers in 1638 to track down captured seamen. Despite Algiers' fearsome reputation as a den of pirates at the time Effort managed to return with no less than 17 men, including his own brother. A grateful States of Jersey rewarded Effart by freeing him from all militia and civil service duties.
By 1643 De Carteret has returned to Jersey and persuaded the States to swear him in as both Bailiff and Lieutenant Governor. His first priority was to invade and capture Guernsey but after the people of Jersey proved less than enthusiastic, he turned to piracy.
Starting small, De Carteret had a fast sailing galley built for him as the nearby French port of St. Malo. The galley had 3 mounted bronze cannons and could hold a crew of 35. De Carteret and his motley crew had more joy with the next ship they captured: a brand new barge laden down with leather goods. this ship was outfitted as a Privateer and captured a Yarmouth collier in turn. This process was repeated a number of times until De Carteret had his own private armada.
Although he called this privateering. legally his actions were technically piracy. In order to be considered a privateer with the authority to search and plunder enemy vessels, a Commander of a private ship must possess "letters of Marque". granting him authority.
As a staunch Royalist, De Carteret had no trouble correcting this legal snag. In December 1644 King Charles appointed him "Vice Admiral of Jersey with jurisdiction over ships, men, whales and rigs. This incorporated all captured vessels into the Royal Navy and also helped overcome the final legal obstacle facing De Carteret.
In order to protect merchants, international Maritime law stated that is a Privateer captured an enemy vessel, they must return with it to their own port of registration. There is a specially convened "Admiralty Court" which would decide if the capture was a 'good and lawful prize". In De Carteret's case, he only used his own vessels for privateering, ensuring that they would return to Jersey with their prize. As Vice-Admiral, he also had the authority to sway proceedings in his favour each time. This allowed him to amass a large amount of money, as captured cargo was sold off in France. Some of the loot brought into St. Aubin's Bay included beaver hats and snuff bound four Southhampton Fair, a cargo of paving stones, oranges and lemons and even some Guernsey stockings.
These activities were extremely unpopular with locals, particularly given that very few of De Carteret's crew were from Jersey. of his Royal captains three were English, three were Dutch another 3 were French, and another 2 were "ostenders"/
A De Carteret brought in more foreign troops to protect the Island from invasion by Cromwell's forces, Jersey people complained about veg, eggs, poultry and even cattle being plundered from these farms. Once the Commonwealth invaded and imposed military rule, wholesale piracy stopped although militarised privateers known as "picaroons" continued to be a thorn in the side for all those crossing the Channel. This ultimately petered out in the 18th Century after the Royal Navy established a storage presence; Jersey's proud pirate legacy now lives on only in the mind of historians and those illegally download music and film
.
Nathan Jordan
Jersey Channel Islands
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