Thomas Cocklyn
Jeremiah Cocklyn, better known by the name Thomas Cocklyn[a] (fl. 1717–1719), was an English pirate known primarily for his association with Howell Davis, Olivier Levasseur, Richard Taylor, and William Moody.
History
Cocklyn was among the hundreds of pirates who accepted a
Soon met by Howell Davis near the Sierra Leone River, the group captured a number of vessels in quick succession, including Snelgrave's Bird Galley.[3] The pirates exchanged ships several times, each keeping best of the lot, finally leaving the captured snow Bristol to Snelgrave and his crew.[b] Snelgrave had been fond of Davis, who protected him, but was wary of the cruelty of Cocklyn, having witnessed him caning his own sailors[2] and torturing captives and slaves.[3] Cocklyn and his 25 men took Snelgrave's Bird, renaming it Windham Galley.[c] This showed the Jacobite sympathies of Cocklyn and Levasseur, both of whom named their ships (Windham Galley and Duke of Ormond, respectively) after prominent supporters of the exiled James Stuart.[4]
The three captains eventually quarrelled and went their separate ways.[1] Cocklyn continued his piracies off the African coast through 1719, operating alongside Richard Taylor. By 1720 he was at Madagascar; at least one source reported that Cocklyn died there, with captaincy of his recently captured ship Victory going to Richard Taylor, who afterwards sailed with Levasseur, Edward England, and Jasper Seagar.[5][self-published source?] Another source reports that Cocklyn was hanged for piracy.[1]
See also
- Paulsgrave Williams - Former pirate captain, later Levasseur's quartermaster; he had earlier sailed with Samuel Bellamy, who had also sailed with Levasseur in early 1717.
Further reading
- Snelgrave, William. "A new account of some parts of Guinea, and the slave-trade". London: P. Knapton, 1734.
Notes
- ^ Last name occasionally spelled Cocklin. His first name is nearly always listed as “Thomas” in later books, but eyewitness accounts and trial documents make clear that his actual given name was Jeremiah.
- ^ Snelgrave later wrote a lengthy and detailed recollection of his captivity and further voyages.
- ^ Cocklyn later renamed it Speedwell, later Courage, and possibly other names as well, leading to some confusion regarding which of the captains had which ship at any one time, and whether they were the original ships or renamed prizes.
References
- ^ a b c Gosse, Philip (1924). The Pirates' Who's Who by Philip Gosse. New York: Burt Franklin. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ a b c Grey, Charles (1933). Pirates of the eastern seas (1618-1723): a lurid page of history. London: S. Low, Marston & co., ltd. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ ISBN 9781845132095. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
- S2CID 162372700.
- ]