Boston History Timeline

Captain Edwards battles Pirates in the Caribbean

Captain Edwards' chosen career, though exciting, also involved great risk. On January 10, 1722, he was aboard the Greyhound, and one day out from the coast of Honduras with a cargo of logwood, when the lookout spotted a ship he could not identify. As the mysterious vessel drew closer, it ran up a black flag having a skeleton on it and fired a gun as a signal for the Greyhound to halt and be boarded. Captain Edwards ordered "all hands on deck" and prepared to defend his ship. The pirate ship gave the Greyhound a broadside of eight guns which Captain Edwards bravely returned. The battle raged at long distance for an hour. The stubborn Captain eventually realized that he was out-gunned by a heavily-manned vessel. Fearing what too strong a resistance might mean for his crew, Captain Edwards reluctantly ordered his ensign struck and decided to take his chances with the pirates face to face.

Two boatloads of armed men came aboard the Greyhound to rifle it for any valuables. The Captain soon learned that he had been battling the 250 ton Happy Delivery with a crew of 90 men commanded by the ruthless pirate George Lowther. The Greyhound, like most New England logwood vessels, had limited opportunity for trade, and the pirates found little of value as they searched the ship. Their resulting anger was taken out on Captain Edwards and his crew. Two mariners were tied up to the mainmast and lashed. Other members of the crew were beaten and cut in a cruel manner. All were brought aboard the pirate ship and the Greyhound was set on fire. Five of her mariners were forced to join the pirate crew while Captain Edwards, the remainder of his men, and other captors were put on another logwood vessel and allowed to make their way back to Boston. Their ordeal was mentioned in the May 7, 1722 issue of the Boston News-Letter, and later in two books.

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