Robert, the Surgeon

   Robert was educated at Cambridge University and received his license from the Royal College of Physicians.  Sailing aboard the merchant ship Great Ann bound for Java he was captured by the crew of Christopher Moody.  Considered a prized crewmen, the pirates strongly encouraged Robert to join the crew of the Defiance, which he wisely chose to do.   Robert’s surgical skills were noteworthy as were his self proclaimed musical skills, although for entirely different reasons.  Robert’s downfall was that he grew fond of the life of a pirate and when he eventually joined the crew of the infamous Bartholomew Roberts; he actually signed the “articles” .

Alpheus, the  Quartermaster

Jamie, the  Carpenter

 

     Jamie, a Catholic, was run out of his home in Edinburgh by the Scottish Presbyterians and King James' troops. Refusing to call himself an Englishman after the Scottish government was abolished he stowed away on a French merchant ship bound for the new world. After three days at sea he was discovered by the ship's first mate, another Scotsman, who persuaded the Captain to put Jamie to work as a carpenter. Two weeks later, off the coast of Carolina, Jamie's ship was captured by Christopher Moody's pirates and Jamie signed on rather than be put to death.

Edward, the Pilot

    "Edward" has a bit of a secret; he's a she. As an indentured servant she stabbed her owner to death after he took liberties with her.  Knowing that a woman aboard a sailing ship is extremely bad luck she disguised her gender as well as possible and took employment as a deckhand on a merchant ship and was captured by pirates almost two years later. Her secret remains, but only because she  is always ready with pistol and sword to defend her "manliness" whenever it is questioned.

Stephen, the Boatswain

   Born to respectable parents 1n the  Virginia  Colony he had the advantage of a genteel education.  As he demonstrated an inclination for a seafaring life he studied navigation and seamanship and became generally known as a gentleman of good reputation. However the British Navigations Acts caused his employer such irritation that they engaged in conspiracies to sink merchant vessels, after clandestinely removing and selling the cargo in order to swindle the underwriters.  Being implicated in the crimes devastated his reputation and facing the gallows, he quit his native country. After hearing of the frequent depredations, robberies, and other acts of hostility of Christopher Moody’s crew, he signed on to harass the Empire that earned his contempt.

James, the Musician

     Miguel, the only son of a wealthy Portuguese land owner, was well liked and respected in his home town, a place that bears his family's name. However, things changed  after a slight indiscretion with the young daughter of a government official. Miguel's father sent his son to live with his Uncle in the Azores but hired assassins soon followed. Miguel fled aboard a slave trader  and after two years was made the Pilot of the vessel. He and the ship's Mate, Bartholomew Roberts, were taken captive by Howell Davis off the coast of Africa.

Jack, the Cooper

    Jack stowed away on a whaling ship out of the Port of Swansea, Gla Morgan County, Wales, when he was 17, hoping to make his fortune in the lucrative whale oil trade. When he was discovered on board it was too late to return to land so Jack was put to work as the cooper's apprentice in order to earn his keep. Ten months later, the whaler was boarded by pirates off the Massachusetts's colony. The pirates found very little of value aboard the ship, but  because of his new skill, and his shear size, Jack was taken and forced to sign on with Christopher Moody's crew.