Piracy
This collection of material dates back to the heyday of British pirates – the 1600s to the early 1700s. It includes records of infamous pirates such as William Kidd, detailing his privateering commission, and leading up to his indictment. There are also some records of more recent piracy from around the world.
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Captain William Kidd: indictment for piracy and murder, 1701
Letter from Captain William Kidd requesting release from close confinement
Captain William Kidd's privateering commission, 1695
Pass from the Quedah Merchant, a ship taken as prize by Captain William Kidd, 1698
Letter from the Earl of Bellomont in Boston, luring Captain William Kidd into custody, 1698
Last surviving letter from Robert Collover, 1699
Sentence of death for fifteen crew of Bartholomew Roberts, Cape Coast, 1722
Commission for Admiral Henry Morgan, Jamaica council, 1670
Three ducats minted in Holland, 1758, 1778, 1780; intercepted Dutch papers, 1780-1783
List of pirates arraigned on 24 July 1618
The trials of John Rackam, Mary Read and Anne Bonny (and others) for piracy, 1720
Attacks against Chinese pirates by aircraft of HMS Eagle, 1934-1935
