The Search for the Pirate Ship “Golden Fleece” and the story of its Captain Joseph Bannister.
The text below is from my notes on an enjoyable book, "Pirate Hunters" by Robert Kurson. It recounts the thrilling adventure of John Chatterton and John Mattera as they set out to discover the shipwreck of the notorious pirate ship "Golden Fleece" and its infamous captain, Joseph Bannister. It takes you on an enthralling journey through the captivating Golden Age of Piracy, providing a detailed account of this fascinating period and of the struggles of a group in the modern era fighting with Mother Nature and bureaucracy to find the ship and the facts behind it and its captain.
During the period from 1650 to 1720, piracy was at its peak. Contrary to popular belief, there were likely no more than 20 pirate ships and less than 2000 men at any given time. By comparison, there were around 80000 legitimate sailors during the same period. The total number of pirate ships that existed during this era was less than 1000, with most being captured, sold, or repurposed.
One of the key reasons behind the success of piracy during this time was the stealth and anonymity of the pirates. Ships were not covered in identifying marks or nameplates, and there were no manifests, bills of lading, or crew records. When pirate ships sank, they did so incognito, and the survivors had no real idea about the location of the sunken vessels and longitude was a guess at best.
Now, let's delve into the story of Joseph Bannister, a man of high stature and respect in the 17th century. He was given the captaincy of the ship Golden Fleece, which was worth a fortune due to its formidable size. Bannister made two crossings a year between London and Jamaica, and each cargo was worth a fortune. However, despite his success as a respected merchant, Bannister surprised everyone by turning rogue, stealing the ship, and becoming a pirate.
It's believed that Bannister turned pirate not for the riches, that he already had, but for the discipline and true democracy that pirate life demanded. The belief that all crew members were equal in decisions and that every vote carried the same weight was a powerful draw. Even captains were held to the same code, making it the ultimate democracy. Bannister likely turned pirate as a way to show what was truly achievable when a full ship of men voted and acted on a decision to carry through to the end.
The final battle of the Golden Fleece happened off Cayo Vigia. While careening, a maneuver where a vessel purposely beaches itself to perform repairs and maintenance to the ship's hull below the waterline, the pirates had been tracked by the Royal Navy. Two navy ships, Drake and Faulcon, apprehended the Fleece and another, smaller pirate vessel, L’Chavale, in the hidden inlet of Cayo Vigia. However, Bannister had laid a formidable defense against such an assault and offloaded cannon and men on both the headlands of the inlet. As soon as the Drake and Foulcon entered, they were surprised by fire. The battle raged for two days, and the Golden Fleece was sunk offshore in 24 feet of water. The Navy retreated, heavily damaged and out of powder and shot. Bannister and the surviving men escaped on the smaller vessel. The Navy and government reports tell us that Bannister was tracked to the Mosquito Coast and captured with a handful of his men. He was then sailed back to Port Royal and hanged from the yardarm aboard the navy ship, in sight of the harbor for all to see as a warning against a life piratical.
However, there is another theory that Joseph Bannister was not hanged and was never caught. The British Navy and Government were desperate to save face and put an end to the whole affair, and the hanged men were some other poor souls who just happened to fit the bill.
Port Royal was the center of trade in the Caribbean during this time. In 1655, England invaded Jamaica and took control from Spain. This gave England a central point of presence in the heart of the Caribbean, strategically placed to attack Spanish shipping and its colonies. However, just a year later, many of the warships that had captured the island had retired, sunk, or returned to England. This left the English Governor, Edward D'Oley, and the Island vulnerable. As a means to mitigate this problem, D’Oley came up with a cunning plan that involved the Island of Tortuga, 300 miles to the northeast. Filled with English, French, and Dutch buccaneers, D'Oley offered a deal. Protect English interests in Jamaica, and you can use Port Royal harbor as a base for your pirating activities. In a short time, Port Royal became the wealthiest town in the new world, with one-quarter of all buildings being either a tavern or a brothel. Sometimes both...
Up until the search for the Golden Fleece, only one confirmed pirate ship had ever been found - the ‘Whydah,’ captained by the pirate Samuel Bellamy. It was lost in a severe storm in 1717 and found off Cape Cod in 1984, recovered by Barry Clifford. This discovery has provided significant insight into the pirate's way of life and has made it possible to learn more about the fascinating era of piracy.
Main Characters.
John Chatterton, John Mattera, Tracy Bowden.
Books to add to library.
Shipwrecks of the western hemisphere. Robert Marx
Buccaneers of America. Alexander Exquemelin
Jamaica 1687. David Buissert, has an account of the final battle of the Golden Fleece