Colonial Virginia's War Against Piracy

The Governor & the Buccaneer

Jeremy R. Moss

• Publisher: The History Press
• Year: 2022
• Topic: History
• eBook ISBN:
  9781439675144
• Subtopic: Early American History
• Index: History

The story of a high stakes rivalry between Governor Francis Nicholson and pirate captain Louis Guittar.

Governor Francis Nicholson of Virginia was a proven pirate-hunter and enforcer. By the spring of 1700, his concerns about pirate activity in the Chesapeake Bay and rivers of Virginia were at a fever pitch. Nicholson was unimpressed with the HMS Essex Prize and its commander, John Aldred, who had been tasked with keeping colonial shores safe from smuggling. The HMS Shoreham was sent to Virginia to secure the area from the scourge of piracy, and its arrival brought some relief. Then, the arrival of the ship La Paix, commanded by buccaneer captain Louis Guittar, brought Nicholson on high alert and ready for action.

Author Jeremy Moss tells the stories of Nicholson and Guittar through their fateful battle on the Lynnhaven Bay.

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Half Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• 1. “I Know How to Govern”
• 2. “A Remarkably Seasoned Military Officer and Colonial Administrator”
• 3. “Profligate Men and Their Barbarous Actions”
• 4. “Hues and Cryes Were Raised Throughout the Colony”
• 5. “I am Kidd”
• 6. “Most Expedient Manner for Trying Pirates”
• 7. “The Occupations of Cow-Killing and Cruising”
• 8. “Engaged with Them as Their Captain”
• 9. “You May Have Seven or Eight Pounds a Month, if You can Take It”
• 10. “Their Designe Was for Taking Any Shipp”
• 11. “A Rather Unremarkable Sunday”
• 12. “In Readiness with Their Arms and Ammunition”
• 13. “Broil! Broil! Broil!”
• 14. “The Pirate Struck His Bloody Colors”
• 15. “Must I Be Hanged that Can Speake All Languages?”
• 16. “Nothing but Extraordinary Means Can Remedy This Great Evil”
• Epilogue
• Notes
• About the Authors