Brigstock Weaver (pirate)

[corsair91]

Brigstock Weaver (pirate)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigstock_Weaver

English pirate active in the Caribbean.
He is best known for his association with fellow pirates
Thomas Anstis and Bartholomew Roberts.

Weaver had been first mate of the Mary and Martha
when they were captured near Saint Kitts in 1720 by
Bartholomew Roberts and Montigny la Palisse,
who burned the ship and forced the crew to sign their Articles.

Weaver joined Anstis as first mate.
Bartholomew Roberts made Anstis Captain of the Good Fortune.
Anstis then changed Ships.
Weaver was the next Captain of the Good Fortune.

Weaver continued piracy throughout 1722,
looting over fifty ships from the Caribbean to Newfoundland.

Weaver made his way back to Bristol, England after the death
of Anstis.

Weaver was recognised by the Captain of a ship he'd helped raid
while serving under Anstis.
Tried in London for piracy in May 1725, and sentenced to hang.

Weaver pleaded he was forced into Piracy, other crewmen
confirmed his story.
The Admiralty Court reprieved and eventually pardoned Weaver.

Weaver died aged over 80 years old.

[fleetp]

He was made captain of a ship, looted 50 ships, but claimed he was forced into piracy.
I find it hard to believe that a court bought that story.

[corsair91]

Ooops!, I plundered a Ship Again x 50


Courts apparently allowed the pleading of forced into Piracy
especially if there was useable evidence out of it,
such as eyewitness testimony which was required to pass a
death sentence.

Good Witnesses, such as The ship's doctor William Parker
(who had also been captured and forced aboard)
who confirmed Weaver's Story also helped.

Money changing hands could well also have been a factor,
as richer pirates generally seemed to have an increased chance
of a pardon. Poorer Pirates tended to be made an example off.

Weaver's own testimony naturally minimized his role in
piracy and emphasized the fact that he had been forced aboard.

Pirate articles would have something such as:

If any Man shall offer to run away, or keep any Secret from
the Company, he shall be marooned with one Bottle of Powder,
one Bottle of Water, one small Arm, and Shot.

The ways out of Piracy were typically Death, Injury or Capture
(possibly leading to death).
Only a few were ever able, with enough money to live quietly
somewhere under an assumed name, to hide from both the
Law & other Pirates.