Pirate Captain William Fly Last update 13th January 2002

Ships Sailed (flag not known)

• Elizabeth (snow out of Bristol) gained by mutiny

Ships captured

• John and Hannah, sloop, on the Carolina coast. First captured ship
• John and Betty
• sloop off Delaware Bay
• fishing boat 22 June 1726
• schooner 23 June 1726

 

Crewmen

• Atkinson. Captured mate, he thwarted the pirates and eventually mutineed, capturing Fly and his own freedom.
• Benbrooke, James - taken from sloop
• Cole, Samuel. Hanged at Boston, 12th July 1726
• Condick, George. Ships cook. Convicted at Boston, 12th July 1726 but pardoned
• Cundon, Morrice
• Fitzherbert, John
• Greenville, Henry. Hanged at Boston, 12th July 1726
• Hill, Henry
• Mitchel, Alexander
• Winthrop, Thomas
• At the time of his capture, the forced men outnumbered the genuine pirates 5 to 1.

 

Died by

• Hanging at Boston, 17th July 1726

 

History

Ignorant of seamans skills, William Fly was noted for his cruelty and profanity. Joining a slaver bound for Africa, the Elizabeth, he led a mutiny. They killed the captain and mate, cutting the captain's hand off as he clung to the rails. Cruising of North Carolina, he captured several ships and prisoners, including a Mr Atkinson, the mate of a sloop. While cruising, Atkinson purposefully mis-navigated the pirates past Martha's Vineyard. Fly threatened to shoot him, but Atkinson pretended greater rogueish pirate behaviour and was spared. One day, while the majority of the crew were away chasing a prize in another sloop, Atkinson led a mutiny, taking the Elizabeth. When Fly returned, he was captured by Atkinson and taken to Boston, where he was hung