Charles Towne must have seemed like easy plunder for pyrates. Why would I say something like that? Well, my hearties, because you may know about Blackbeard’s blockade of Charles Towne in 1718, but I’ll wager that you don’t know about the other pyrate blockades. Aye, our beloved Blackbeard was NOT the only pyrate to challenge this port royal! Get your grog, here we go!
Charles Vane
I’m not a brave enough pyrate to accuse Charles Vane of FOMO – Fear of Missing Out – but, I’m struggling to find ONE good reason for Vane to have attempted a blockade of Charles Towne in August of 1718.
Nevertheless, he did. Attempt a blockade, that is. In August 1718, which was just three months (give or take a few days) after Blackbeard had wowed the world with a five-day blockade of the city. Blackbeard allegedly wanted a medicine chest, but, what did Vane want?
Unlike Blackbeard, Vane did not have a singular demand for the city. In fact, he made no demands at all. He and another sloop, (captained by a pyrate named Yeats), lingered just outside of the harbor, capturing ships as they pleased and terrorizing as they did so.
I suspect that Vane, being a very passionate pyrate, absolutely LOVED that Blackbeard had completely shut down Charles Towne and, in doing so, shook the entire Eastern seaboard with raw, pyrate flavored terror. After being run out of Nassau and still hating King George with every fiber of his Jacobite being, Vane, no doubt, relished in wreaking havoc upon the British colonies. Charles Towne belonged to Vane (and Yeats) for less than a week.
Sidenote: I couldn’t find an exact count of days in the plunder!
Vane and Yeats had to scurry on off because a pyrate hunter named Rhett had been dispatched to either kill or capture them. Vane was able to outrun Rhett and get away, but another pyrate, Stede Bonnet, wasn’t so lucky.
Sidenote: After abandoning his chase of Vane, Rhett turned his hunt to Bonnet. It wasn’t long before Bonnet was caught, arrested, and brought back to Charles Towne for trial. Bonnet and his surviving crew were held at Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon on East Bay St. and later hanged. The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon on E. Bay St. is where Under the Black Flag is being held!
So, Vane did escape and I would call his blockade a success, aye? He might not have gotten a medicine chest for all his trouble, but he did escape with his life and ship intact, so, savvy!
Who’s next? Well, indeed there was more pyrate action in Charles Towne! We still need to plunder the (attempted) blockades of Richard Worley and none other than the notorious Edward (Ned) Low!
Until next time, fair winds!
Virginia Chandler 