Thomas Woolerly
Thomas Woolerly[a] (fl. 1683–1687) was a pirate and privateer active in the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean.
History
[edit | edit source]Woolerly set out from Boston in 1683 alongside Christopher Goffe and Thomas Henley, headed for the Red Sea to plunder Arab and Malabar ships.[1] By 1684 they had returned to the Caribbean, where Goffe and Henley appeared with a Dutch prize ship.[2] Henley was arrested after they were declared to be pirates, despite having a privateering commission from Governor Lilburne of the Bahamas, but was soon released.[3]
In May 1687 Woolerly sailed to New Providence with Goffe aboard in a 40-gun Dutch East India vessel, but they were accused of piracy and refused permission to resupply, though Woolerly also had a commission from Lilburne.[4] Woolerly sailed away, purchasing a small ship and burning the Dutch vessel near Andrew's Island before dividing his pirated loot and leaving the area.[5] Governor Molesworth of Jamaica dispatched HMS Drake in August to capture Woolerly; Drake detoured to search for a pirate named Bear and consequently missed Woolerly, who was suspected to have returned to New England.[2] Woolerly subsequently vanished along with his treasure.[4]
See also
[edit | edit source]- Pirate Round – later name for the voyage from America to the coast of Africa, then to the Indian Ocean via Madagascar, a route refined by pirate Thomas Tew.
Notes
[edit | edit source]- ^ First name sometimes given as William, last name occasionally Woolery, Wooley, Wollerly or Woollervy.
References
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