Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE AGE OF PIRACY
The Taíno and Caribs may have lived in peace on the Virgin Islands for another 15 years be-
fore the Spanish (who were establishing colonies to the west on Puerto Rico and Hispaniola)
began raiding the Lesser Antilles for slaves. Rather than endure the wrath of Spain, the In-
dians who remained in the Virgin Islands fled south. Although the Virgins were abandoned
by the Indians before the mid-16th century, few Spaniards tried to colonize the islands.
Off-the-Beaten-Path Historic Sites
» Estate Catherineburg Sugar Mill, St John
» Copper Mine National Park, Virgin Gorda
» Lower Estate Sugar Works Museum, Tortola
» Cinnamon Bay Archaeological Dig, St John
» Mt Healthy National Park, Tortola
The islands of the Caribbean remained under Spanish control until the English defeated
the Spanish Armada in 1588. In the aftermath of the destruction of the Spanish Navy, Eng-
land, France and Holland were quick to issue letters of marque to mariners. These letters
appointed the 'privateers' agents of the crown and gave them the rights to explore, claim
territory and protect their claims in the name of the country that employed them. The letter
of marque also gave the privateers rights to destroy or seize enemy shipping. One king's pri-
vateer was every other king's pirate.
By 1595 the famous English privateers Sir Francis Drake and Jack Hawkins were using
the Virgin Islands as a staging ground for attacks on Puerto Rico and Spanish shipping. In
the wake of Drake and Hawkins came French corsairs and Dutch freebooters as well. All
knew that the Virgin Islands had some of the most secure and unattended harbors in the West
Indies. Places such as Sopers Hole at the West End of Tortola and The Bight at Norman Is-
land are legendary pirates' dens.
Blackbeard (Edward Teach) was operating in the Virgin Islands before 1720, as were a
collection of other rascals including Henry Morgan and 'Calico' Jack Rackham with his fe-
male consorts and partners in plunder, Anne Bonny and Mary Read.
