Nathaniel North (abt. 1671 - abt. 1716)

Born about 1671 in Bermuda

Died about 1716 at about age 45 in Madagascar

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Biography

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Nathaniel North was born about 1671.^{[citation needed]}

Uncertain Parents

He was born in Bermuda, a sawyer, and the son of a sawyer.^[1][2]

There was an older Nathaniel North living on Bermuda in 1660 who was a sawyer and may be our Nathaniel’s father.^[3] The Bermuda economy was in the transition from agricultural to ship building and trading, so sawyer was a relatively common occupation.

According to tradition, an older Nathaniel came to Bermuda from England between 1662 and 1666 with his brothers Edward and Samuel and they each settled in different tribes. ^[4][5] It is possible that a trio of North brothers with these names arrived even earlier, as an Edward North and Samuel North appear in the 1645 petition of Reverend Nathaniel White^[6] and even earlier, on 25 Sep 1634 a Richard North was born to Nathaniel North.^[7]

Various Norths, probably of his father’s generation, where living on Bermuda or involved in its administration from the 1660s.^[3]

• Index for Nathaniel, Samuel, and Christian here.
• Propery owned or occupied 1663 in Bermuda here and here for Nathaniel, Edward, and Samuel in Tucker’s Town, Hog Bay, Smith’s and Sandy’s.
• Nathaniell occupying a parcel in 1663 here.
• 1660 levy mentions Nath North sawing joices here.
• Lord Chief Justice North present in White Hall 14 Nov 1679 with Prince Rupert to hear concerns of Bermuda inhabitants (possibly Sir Francis "1st Earl of Guilford" North) here.
• Goody North (Goody was sometimes used in place of Good Wife) almost accused of witchcraft 4 May 1653 here.
• Christian North in section of index dedicated to witches here.
• Christian North accused and acquitted of witchcraft 15 Dec 1668 here.
• Another passage of Christian the widow being cleared of witchcraft 13 Dec 1668 here.

A contemporary Caption Edward North commanded the Bermuda sloop William and Martha. They were attacked off Rum Key, boarded, beaten, and tortured by the pirate Captain Vane commanding the Ranger 14 Apr 1718. Three hours earlier, Vane had done the same to Captain Nathaniel Catling and the Bermuda sloop Diamond, also setting it on fire.^[8]

Verrill Synopsis

The following is a synopsis of Nathaniel North’s sketch from “The Real Story of the Pirate”^[1] (stories may be embellished and provide no citations). This is a briefer synopsis than the more extensive one that follows.

Captain Nathaniel North of Bermuda, like his father, was a sawyer by trade. He shipped as a cook to Barbados were the sloop was to be fitted for privateering. Upon arrival, he was pressed by officers of the frigate Reserve at the age of 17. He escaped at Jamaica and shipped on a sugar lighter for two years as a deck hand. He joined a privateer and on his second cruise, was again seized by a British press gang, escaped again, joined another privateer, only to pressed a third time on the frigate Assistance.

He worked his way to Curacao and shipped on a Dutch vessel trading along South America, then on a Spanish privateer to Newfoundland preying on the French. After their captain died, Nathaniel and the crew transferred to the Pelican, sailing to the West Indies, Africa, the Cape of Good Hope, and the East Indies to prey on the Moors.

Moorish prizes were scarce, so they kidnapped and ransomed the king of Johanna, sailed to Augustin, picked up Williams, and headed for the Red Sea. They rejoined Culliford, took some Moorish ships, lost their mast in a hurricane on the way to Madagascar and made way under jury masts to St Mary’s. Here they met Burgess and sailed the Straits of Malacca to Madagascar.

On arriving, they meet a British fleet under Commodore Littleton who was offering pardons to pirates agreeable to his terms. Culliford, Shivers, many of the crew, and Nathaniel accepted, but Nathaniel was suspicious. He took a small boat and a few men to row to Madagascar, but it capsized and all were lost, except for Nathaniel, who managed to swim ashore and joined a pirate settlement about six miles distant.

Here he joined another pirate vessel that was part of the taking of the Speaker and was made quartermaster by Bowen. They sailed the Indian Ocean and on the way back to Madagascar, Bowen and about 40 men went ashore. Nathaniel was made Captain by the remaining crew and they continued on to Madagascar. Their Moorish prisoners were left on board and stole the vessel. Nathaniel and the crew settled on Madagascar, building huts, gardens, and settling disputes among the locals. They joined in battle with a friendly tribe against another neighboring tribe, took three thousand prisoners, and forced allegiance from nearby tribes.

After several years, Halsey made port and offered Nathaniel command of a captured brigantine. Nathaniel accepted but was more of a slaver than a pirate. He traveled to Mascarhenas, made his confessions to the Catholic priests, and arranged to have his children educated by the church. He agreed to return to his settlement and never leave the island. On the way back, he heard of shipwrecked Frenchmen, detoured, and found only one survivor, returning home with him.

His men were on the verge of war with the natives, but Nathaniel pacified both sides. He left four months later on a trading voyage, heard of depredations by the Arabs, landed and burned an Arab town, taking prisoners.

Enemies bribed the natives and Nathaniel was murdered in his own bed. His men carried on a war with the natives that lasted seven years.

Woodward Synopsis

The bulk of the following is a synopsis from Woodword’s “History of the Pyrates” Vol 2.^[2] which contains a “surprising” level of detail. Due to its length, it is divided into sections based primarily on the name of ships Nathaniel crewed or commanded. Everything that follows is from Woodward unless explicitly cited.

Reserve

At the age of 17 or 18, Nathaniel shipped out as a cook aboard a newly built sloop bound for Barbados where it was to be fitted as a privateer. But on the way, they took Santa Vdas, loaded with salt. At Barbados they were pressed into service of the British Man of War Reserve. The master appealed to the governor and all were cleared except Nathaniel, neglected due to his youth.

The Reserve sailed to her station in Jamaica and there Nathaniel escaped and joined onto a sugar drover for about two years.

Next he joined a privateer. They had at least two successful cruises.

He then joined a trading brigantine under Captain Reesby. They were also privateering, so made half wages and equal shares of any prizes taken. They sailed for the Spanish coast, but took no prizes, and were forced to return by a Spanish Guarda la Costa. On return to Jamaica, two French privateer sloops mistook them for merely traders. One was a former Jamaican privateer, the Paradox. The ships were taken by Reesby, but he lost 10 of his crew, with 7 more wounded. They re-provisioned and sailed to Port Royal. After refitting, they made a second voyage to sell 300 slaves and bale goods.

Mary

Nathaniel continued as a privateer without Reesby. While ashore in Jamaica, Nathaniel was again pressed, this time aboard the Man of War Mary. They sailed the Spanish coast and returned to Jamaica. Hearing they were to be bound for England, Nathaniel and 3 others attempted to swim ashore, were captured, and whipped. His second escape, however, was successful.

Neptune

He joined with the privateer sloop Neptune, commanded by Captain Lycence, Lieutenant of the Reserve. Captain Moses of the Reserve joined them as a “diversion” while his ship was in for repairs. On commission of the Governor, they cruised off Hispaniola where they encountered a French Letter of Mart Merchant Man having 18 guns and 118 men that had the day before engaged the Man of War Swan and “shook her off”. The Neptune attacked, Lycence was killed and Moses wounded. Moses order Nathaniel to the helm. The French Captain was killed as his ship was being boarded. The Neptune had 10 men killed and 20 wounded, the French 50 killed and wounded. The Neptune returned to Jamaica with their prize, which turned out to be the English Crown, built in Bristol. The owners sued for half the ship and cargo and won a third.

Assistance

Nathaniel continued privateering with Moses, but while ashore was yet again pressed, this time to the English Man of War Assistance. On Captain Moses’s recommendation, he was treated well and made a crew member. When the Assistance was ordered to England, Nathaniel “took his leave”.

He joined aboard another privateer. After several trips, taking two English prizes that resulted in suit and loss of some the prize value, and the press active in Jamaica, Nathaniel sailed to Carusoe with the Dutch, then with the Spanish in a trader to the coast of New Spain several times. On the last trip, they were chased ashore by two French sloops, one commanded by the Dutchman Lawrence. Their own ship was scavenged and they were taken aboard the French sloops and put to work. The sloops took another small sloop. The prisoners were put aboard the smaller ship and returned to Curaso.

Barca Longa

Nathaniel returned to Jamaica, went aboard the Spanish Barca Longa under Captain Lovering, cruised the West Indies a few months, then to the Banks off Newfoundland. They met a Man of War and their commission was renewed for six months. They captured a French ketch that was disguised as Spanish and had evaded the Man of War.

Pelican

They returned to cruising and encountered the French Letter of Mart Merchant Man Pelican with 18 guns, built in Bristol, and carrying fish. She was taken on the second boarding attempt and brought to the port where the captured ketch lay.

They returned to sea and found a French fly-boat of 800 tons and 18 guns in St Mary’s bay. This they captured and returned to the port where the other two prizes waited. With their fleet of 4 ships, they set out for Rhode Island.

Once there, they had their prizes condemned. There was legal difficulty in settling the Pelican when the owners sued, but they hired a lawyer and settled. Captain Lovering died there and the crew purchased the Pelican and broke up the Barca Longa. They received a commission of 18 months to 2 years good for as far South as the Line.

The Pelican was fitted for a long voyage and took on wood-hooped casks, iron being in short supply. They set out for the East Indies, rounding the Cape of Good Hope in June, and arriving at St Augustine’s Bay Madagascar in August. It was too late in the season to continue on to the East Indies, so they stayed and took on provisions and fresh water. They went to Johanna for new clothes and to replace provisions that had been poorly salted and were spoiling. They planned to capture and ransom the king of Johanna, but being unfamiliar with the waters, the master declined and instead they cruised the islands.

They landed at Comaro and took the town, but there was little of value. They went to Mayotta and took in a marooned Frenchman who had been supported by the king. Indebted, he was reluctant to help in the taking of the town, but had little choice. They surrounded the court, killed the king’s son, and captured the king on the invented pretense that he had poisoned the supplies of their sister ship. Returning to the ship with their hostage, they left a party to guard their prisoners of the town. Neighboring villagers attempted to free those on land, but were driven off by grapeshot from the ship. The king was ransomed for silver chains and provisions and was made to swear them an oath of allegiance. After a few weeks, they departed for St Augustine, bringing 20 captured as slaves.

“In 1701, the inevitable occurred. Frustrated of prizes elsewhere, the pirate captain North led a plundering expedition against Ngadzidja and Mayotte capturing the sultan of the latter and holding him to ransom.”^[9]

There was sickness among the crew and they went ashore to make huts and recover. The captain and 30 of the crew died there. The worm eaten wooden hoops of their casks were failing. Their cooper gathered materials from the woods and managed to repair the casks, making them water tight. In gratitude, he was made Captain and Nathaniel made Quarter Master. They recruited several stragglers from the island, David Williams among them, that brought their company to 105 men. They agreed to a free ship, equal shares for everyone, and set off for the mouth of the Red Seas.

On arrival, they encountered two ships. The 40 gun frigate Mocha commanded by Gulliford had earlier been employed by the East India Company under Captain Stout. The other was the 16 gun Soldada under Captain Shivers. They agreed to a 3 way split of prizes taken by any over the following two months. Wood, water, and some of the crew, including David Williams, were transferred from the Pelican to the Mocha.

After about 10 days, they spotted a large Moorish ship. The Soldada reached her first and boarded. The Moors surrendered before the Pelican could board. Valuables were split between the Soldada and Mocha. The Pelican was excluded and ordered to depart or be sunk. The prize was taken to Malabar, where prisoners and horses were put ashore and the Soldada sunk, then to the island of St Mary’s off Madagascar where the Moorish ship was eventually sunk.

Another account of the taking of this vessel and subsequent voyage to St Mary’s is given in the deposition of Theophilus Turner and dates the event to the end of September 1698. Neither Nathaniel nor the Pelican are mentioned.^[10]

Dolphin

Meanwhile, the Pelican spotted another Moorish ship. A long unsuccessful chase ensued. Discouraged, they considered scuttling the Pelican, but cooled off and headed for the coast of Malabar. They captured a Moorish vessel, took the valuables, and released her. A second captured vessel they kept, mounted 26 guns, and named Dolphin. A third prize was sold at the same coast. The Pelican was set adrift.

They set out for Madagascar, but lost their masts in a hurricane near the island of Mascarenas. They rigged jury masts and made St Mary’s for repair. Already there was Gulliford, Shiver, their prize, and several merchant ships, one of which was the Pembroke, under Samuel Burges. The captain of the Dolphin and some of the crew returned home on the merchant ships. The remaining crew chose Samuel Inles, an inhabitant of the island, as the new captain of the Dolphin.

Refitted, the Dolphin set out for the straits of Malacca, capturing several small valued Moorish vessels. Nathaniel was aboard one of the captured vessels and was separated from the rest by bad weather. The Moor merchant of the vessel showed Nathaniel the secret pass to a small island where they took shelter and replenished water. In gratitude, Nathaniel had the ship released to the merchant after rejoining his companions.

They set out for Nicobar near Achen and encountered a Dane ship which they plundered. They continued on to Madagascar. A month after arrival, 3 English Men of War arrived: Captain Littleton of the Anglesea, Captain White of the Hastings, and Captain Rumsey of the Lizard. The fleet beached and burned the Dolphin. Commodore Littleton had pardons for those men willing to take them. Gulliford, Shivers, Nathaniel, and others of the crews accepted and returned home with merchants, except Nathaniel. He was suspicious that the date for the pardons had already expired. Most of the crews had departed St Mary’s where the warships lay, when Nathaniel and some of the crew slipped out in a longboat from the Dolphin to the mainland. The boat overturned in a squall and only Nathaniel and a native woman survived, swimming to shore.

Once ashore, another native woman clothed and guided him 16 miles to a home of some of his comrades. He was acquainted with a native prince and lived a year with him until the arrival of Captain Fourgette.

Speaker

He accompanied Fourgette, sailing around the North end to the West side to Methelage. Here they surprised the Speaker. After the death of Captain George Booth, Nathaniel was chosen as Quarter Master by Bowen.

Speedy Return

He cruised next as Quarter Master in the Speedy Return, taken from Captain Drummond. On the way to the Red Sea, they stopped at the island of Mayotta, consorted with Captain Howard, continued to Augustine for food, intending to meet Captain Bowen in 2 months as planned. They missed the meeting, returned to Mayotta for information on his whereabouts, learned he had left, and set out after him for the highlands of St. John’s where they intended to ambush the Moors from Macoa.

On the way, they encountered a storm which damaged their stern. They threw their guns overboard, except for 2 in the hold, to keep from foundering, and were swept into the Gulf of Persian. Here they took several small vessels and scavenged them to repair their ship. They pursued a fishing boat to learn of where to replenish their water, but it fled and all but one drowned. The survivor guided them to a landing place with a poor well that improved as the tide rose. He was rewarded, told to render service to any ship that gave the sign they showed him, and he would be treated well.

They cruised the Gulf for days in case their consort ship had also be blow that way. Not finder her, they set out for the rendezvous on St John’s near Surat. After landing, the spotted a tall ship and set out for the chase. However the other ship did not run and turned out to be their consort the Prosperous, which had missed the storm and been in the area 10 days.

Captain Howard helped reprovision them and they agreed to an extension of 2 months on their agreement to equally share all prizes taken. After sailing 2 weeks, they spotted 7 tall sails of the Moors of Mocoa and started the chase. The Speedy Return took the first vessel with little damage and the Prosperous took another still at anchor.

The Speedy Return took her prize to the coast of Malabar to await the arrival of the Prosperous. The Prosperous arrived without her prize, having already disposed of her. They split their shares, burnt the Speedy Return, sunk the Prosperous, and joined aboard the Moorish prize.

They cruised the coast, took several more prizes, and made land at Cachine. Merchants, goldsmiths, and Dutchmen came aboard to trade sequins, gold coin, and Spanish dollars. Forges were set up on board to make buttons, buckles, or anything else required.

After restoring their stores, they set off for Madagascar. They stopped at North-West Harbor on Mauritius to gather wood and water. Some were poisoned from eating Red Snapper. Locals told them the cure was to drink strong liquor. 4 died and the rest recovered. They made repairs to the ship and in the 3 months, the Governor requested that they leave before the expected arrival of the Dutch East India men.

Their next stop along the way was at Don Mascarenas. They took on hogs, goat, sheep, fowl, and sea turtle. Captain Bowen took 40 men ashore who wished to give up piracy and return home. After 3 months there, Bowen became ill, died, and was buried. Nathaniel was chosen Captain when Bowen went ashore.

Captain North then continued on for Madagascar. They arrived at Cape Dolphin at the South end to take on refreshments. A strong wind forced them off anchor, leaving behind 30 men and a boat. He traveled up the East side and stopped at Ambonavoula, settling in ashore. He privately told the Moorish prisoners kept on board that if they wanted to see home again, to take the ship at night and take advantage of the evening breeze. The crew had planned to haul her up the beach and strip her anyway. When the angry crew informed him in the morning of the missing ship, he told them it was their own fault for not leaving sufficient guard.

They settled in among the natives, cleared land for crops, and tried to keep the peace among the various tribes. Nathaniel was sometimes asked to settle disputes and was successful by his fairness.

Perhaps 5 years later, Captain Halsey arrived from an unsuccessful voyage with a brigantine. Nathaniel was asked by the crew to replace Halsey, but he declined. But in need of money for new clothing, Nathaniel and some of his men joined with Halsey to cruise the 2 ships. A storm separated them and both attempted a return to Madagascar, Halsey made to Ambonavoula, and Nathaniel to Maratan. The brigantine was very worm eaten and North beached her.

They were greeted by the King who was at war with his brother. While the King was away fighting, Nathaniel befriended the King’s sister. During the next year, with help from the King, they built a 15 ton ship and sailed it up the Manangaro River 30 leagues to the north. They met some of his men in a boat belonging to the Scotch ship Neptune and transported their goods back to Ambonavoula where Nathaniel had a woman and 3 children.

The Sloop

Later, they built a sloop and Nathaniel took it to Antonguil, purchased 90 slaves, and picked up a Scotchman, George Crookshank. They sailed to Mascarenas, sold the slaves, and left Crookshank the Neptune. Nathaniel arranged presents for the Governor to have his children educated by the priests.

On the way back to Ambonavoula, he heard a French ship had left some men stranded, so he detoured, found only one still alive, and brought him along. On his return, war was about to break out between his men and the natives, but this was soon resolved.

After 4 months, he set out in his sloop for Antonguil to buy slaves, but found fewer than he wanted and returned to the settlement. The season was wrong for a trip to Mascarenas with his children, so he traveled to Methelage on the West side of the island to trade for SamSams. From there he went to Johanna, Mayotta, and back to Madagascar, but unable to pass the North end due to a strong current, returned to the West side of Mayotta at the port of Sorez. Here an English crew had been sold into slavery to the Arabs, and Nathaniel and his men took their revenge, burning a town.

He returned to Madagascar and learned his men at Ambonavoula were at war with the natives. Nathaniel purchased 30 slaves, augmented his crew, and returned to Ambonavoula. The natives offered to bargain for peace. Instead, Nathaniel burnt villages and took prisoners. The natives again sought a peace and 4 months after his return, Nathaniel agreed.

Enemy tribes turned a neighboring tribe against Nathaniel and he was murdered in his bed. His will directed that a young man with initials J B, should take his children to Mascarenas for their education. However, the crew detained J B, burnt the sloop, and commenced a 7 year war to avenge Nathaniel and secure all the surrounding areas.

He died about 1716 in Madagascar.^{[citation needed]}

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Verrill, A. Hyatt (Alpheus Hyatt), 1871-1954. The Real Story of the Pirate. New York: D. Appleton and company, 1923 pp 237-242
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} The History of the Pyrates, containing the lives of Captain Misson [and others] ... and their several crews. Intermix'd with a description of Magadoxa in Ethiopia ... taken from Captain Beavis's Journal. London, Printed and sold by T. Woodward [1728] here
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Lefroy, J. H. (John Henry), Sir, 1817-1890. Memorials of the Discovery And Early Settlement of the Bermudas Or Somers Islands, 1515-1685 [i.e. 1511-1687]. London: Longmans, Green, and co., 1877-79. here.
4. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010.
   Original data: Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2012.
   Source Citation: Place: Bermuda; Year: 1662-1666; Page Number: 139
   Source Bibliography: MERCER, JULIA E. Bermuda Settlers of the 17th Century: Genealogical Notes from Bermuda. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1982. 276p.
   Ancestry Record pili354 #679612
5. ↑ Source Bibliography: Mercer, Julia E, “Bermuda Settlers of the 17th Century: Genealogical Notes from Bermuda”, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore 1982. p 139
6. ↑ Hollis Hallett, C. F. E. (Clara Frances Edith), “Early Bermuda records, 1619-1826 : a guide to the parish and clergy registers with some assessment lists and petitions”, Juniperhill Press, Bermuda, 1991 p 40
7. ↑ Hollis Hallett, C. F. E. (Clara Frances Edith), “Early Bermuda records, 1619-1826 : a guide to the parish and clergy registers with some assessment lists and petitions”, Juniperhill Press, Bermuda, 1991 p 12
8. ↑ Forbes, Keith Archibald, Bermuda’s History from 1505 to 1799, bermuda-online.org
9. ↑ Newitt, Malyn (1983). "The Comoro Islands in Indian Ocean Trade before the 19th Century". Cahiers d'Études Africaines. EHESS. 23 (89): 158. doi:10.3406/cea.1983.2260. JSTOR 4391844 p 158
   Citing: Grandidier, A & G, eds. 1903-20, “Collection des ouvrages anciens concernant Madagascar (Paris: Comite de Madagascar)”, 9 vol.; III: 560-561
10. ↑ Jameson, J. Franklin (John Franklin), 1859-1937, and National Society of the Colonial Dames of America. Privateering And Piracy In the Colonial Period: Illustrative Documents. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1923. p 201

See Also:

• Wikipedia contributors, "Nathaniel North," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nathaniel_North&oldid=982463091 (accessed February 21, 2021).