| Pirates of Massacre Island |
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| Early 1700's rendition of Biloxi |
| Who were the pirates responsible for the raid on Dauphin Island during September 9th-11th in the year 1712? The historical record at present is quite vague. The incident occured during the reign of Queen Anne in a conflict know as "Queen Anne's War" or "The War of the Spanish Succession". This raid may have been the act of English privateers, rather than pirates. At the current time, information is seriously lacking. The replies from historical societies are nonexistant. I have only been able to scrap together a few short paragraphs on the incident from sources on the net. The following information was posted from a decendent of a colonist who lived on Dauphin Island (Massacre Island) when the raid occured- "An English pirate ship anchored off Port Dauphin on 9 September flying a French ensign. Two boatloads of pirates came ashore, luring two French officials aboard. The pirates later returned to pillage the town, loot, and burn stores. Resistance started after a lone voyageur returning to the island shot a looting pirate. Several townsfolk including Guillory, Graveline, Blondel, and Renaud fired on pirates who returned to their ship. The vessel was commanded by an individual who formerly visited Dauphin Isle on a ship from Martinique. The next day, the ship moved northward and pirates attempted another landing, which was repulsed. The pirate brigantine then moved off." The archaeological record does show that portions of the colony was burned to the ground in the attack. I have not been able as of yet to piece together an exact timeline of the raid from the standpoint of the pirates from colonial records or accounts by pirates. So, the research continues. Will post more information as it comes to light. Yours, &c. Mike |
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| English brigantine from the early 1700's. A ship of this type may have carried English pirates from Martinique to attack Dauphin Island (Massacre Island). |
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