Pirate Captain George Lowther Last update 30th March 2002

Ships Sailed

• Gambia Castle, rename to Happy Delivery
• Small sloop captured near St Christopher
• Joined up with Edward Low
• Added a sloop under Charles Harris, a sloop under Edward Low and a small sloop used as a tender
• While careening in Port Mayo, they were attacked by indians, the Delivery being burnt
• He took command of the largest sloop and named her Ranger. She has 10 cannon and 8 swivel guns. All other ships were abandoned
• Split up with Low
• Ranger severly damaged by Amy in a gun battle, running aground. She was repaired over many months and set to sail early 1723.
• She was reported to have 7 guns and twenty men on the 5th July 1723
• She was reported to have 10 guns on 23rd September 1723
• Careened early October 1723 near Tortuga, where she was captuerd by the armed sloop Eagle under Captain Moore, and 23 of the crew taken prisoner where they were . The Happy Delivery was handed over as a legal prize to the Eagle by the Governor of the Spanish town Comena

 

Ships Captured

• Gambia Castle - captured by mutiny, owned by the Royal Africa Company. Renamed Happy Delivery
• Charles, a brigantine under James Douglass 20th June 1721
• Several captures
• Spanish pirate, whose 2 ships were pundered and burnt, the crew put in row boats
• Small sloop captured near St Christopher,and added to his complement.
• Met up with Edward Low in a small vessel in the Greater Caymans. December 1721
• Captured the Greyhound under Benjamin Edwards, 200 tons from Boston, burning her 10th January 1722. Capt Edwards was born 15th Dec 1685 in Essex, England and died 1751 in Boston. In a shipping manifest of 19th Nov 1718, she was listed as plantation built, registered 5th June 1718, 110 tons, 6 guns and 14 crew. She was bound for Antigua carrying boards, staves, shingles and fish.
• Seven vessels from Boston, all burned
• Sloop under Captain Ayres from Connecticut looted and burned
• Sloop under Captain Hamilton from jamaica captured and given to Charles Harris
• Sloop from Virginia captured, but given back to captain
• Sloop from Newport, Rhode Island captured, and pressed into service under Edward Low
• Captured brigantine under master Payne, sinking her early May 1722 at Discade Island, West Indies
• Captured the brigantine Rebecca from Charlestown in Massechusett's Bay, under a James Flucker
• Split up with Edward Low, who took the briganitne and 44 crew, 2 cannon and 4 swivel guns. 28th May 1722 He kept 44 crew, plus the remaining ordinance
• 3 or 4 fishing vessels off New York
• Mary Galley under Peter King 2nd June 1722
• New York sloop under Thomas Noxon
• Sloop captured in Bay of Honduras before 8th July 1722
• Possibly Little Joseph under Captain Hargrave three times during this time near the Capes of the Chesapeake.
• Amy, under Captain Gwatkins, near Carolina ran Lowther a ground in a gun battle, but retired when the captain was killed
• Swift, schooner from Boston under John Hood 18th June 1723 on the journey to New Foundland
• Several small catches along New Foundland of no consequence
• John & Elizabeth, a Boston brigantine under Richard Stanny 5th July 1723
• Joined up with Low and cruised of Fayal, in the Western Islands causing terror to shipping
• Cruised around the Gyuionea Coast then the West Indies, where he split up with Low again
• Princess, under Captain Wickstead

 

Crewmen

• All hanged at St Kitts/St Christophers on the 11th March 1722 except where noted. Two of those condemned were reprieved, but are unnamed.
• Atwell, Christopher. Forced from the Greyhound 10th Jan 1722. Fate unknown
• Candor, Ralph, tried at St Kitts but acquitted
• Churchill, John
• Deloe/Delve, Jonathon served on the Happy Delivery, originally from the Swift
• Freeborn, Matthew
• Granger, Roger, tried at St Kitts but acquitted
• Harris, Charles. Forced from the Greyhound 10th Jan 1722 He was the second mate.
• Hunter, Andrew, formerly of the Swift
• Hunter, Henry, formerly of the Swift, not captured and taken to St Kitts
• Kendale, Ralph, from Sunderland, County Durham, a forced man from the John & Elizabeth
• Levercott, Samuel
• Lewis, Nicholas
• Lindsay, David. Forced from the Greyhound 10th Jan 1722. Fate unknown
• Mackdonald, Edward. Served on the Happy Delivery
• Rich, Robert. Forced to join Edward Low when he was given the Rebecca
• Shaw, John
• Smith, henry. Forced from the Greyhound 10th Jan 1722. Fate unknown
• Spriggs, Farris Farrington. Served with Lowther for some time before taking up with Edward Low
• Sweetser, Joseph. Forced to join Low when the Rebecca was captured
• Watson, Henry, from Dover, a forced man from the John & Elizabeth
• West, Richard
• White, Robert
• Willis, Joseph (might be Robert). Forced from the Greyhound 10th Jan 1722. Fate unknown
• Willis, Robert. Forced to sail with Edward Low for a time. Tried at St Kitts, but acquitted

 

Ships Articles

1. The captain is to have two full shares, the master is to have one share and a half, the doctor, mate, gunner and botswaine one share and a quarter
2. He that shall be found guilty of taking up any unlawful weapon on board the privateer, or prize by us taken, so as to strike or abuse another, in any regard, shall suffer what punishment the captain and majority of the company shall think fit
3. He that shall be found guilty of cowardice, in the time of engagement, shall suffer what punishment the captain and majority of the company shall think fit
4. If any gold, jewels, silver etc be found on board any prize or prizes, to the value of a piece of eight, and the finder do not deliver it to the quarter master, in the space of 24 hours, shall suffer what punishment the captain and majority of the company shall think fit
5. He tht is found guilty of gambling or defrauding another to the value of a shilling shall suffer what punishment the captain and majority of the company shall think fit
6. He that shall have the misfortune to lose a limb, in time of engagement, shall have the sum of 150 pounds sterling, and remain with the company as long as he sees fit
7. Good quarters to be given where called for
8. The first man to spy a ship shall have the best pistol or small arm on her

Died by

• Took his own life when his ship was captured by merchants while careening. He was left alone on the deserted island, and was found in a subsequent search dead with a pistol beside him.

History