Q&A

Was woodes Rogers a real person?

Was woodes Rogers a real person?

Woodes Rogers (c. 1679 – 15 July 1732) was an English sea captain, privateer and from 1718, the first Royal Governor of the Bahamas. He is known as the captain of the vessel that rescued marooned Alexander Selkirk, whose plight is generally believed to have inspired Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe.

What happened to woodes Rogers face?

Spanish vessels were few and far between. Woodes Rogers suffered personal disaster when his brother, a member of the expedition, was killed in a skirmish with the Spanish. He himself was wounded, with a musket ball lodged in the roof of his mouth, which he carried until the expedition again reached England.

Where is woodes Rogers statue located?

Nassau
In front of the British Colonial Hilton in Nassau is a statue of Woodes Rogers, the first Royal Governor of the Bahamas.

When did woodes Rogers come to Nassau?

On February 6, 1718, Rogers was o cially appointed Captain – General and Governor in Chief in and over the Bahama Islands by King George I. Thus he became the first Royal Governor of The Bahamas. Rogers arrived at Nassau on July 26, 1718.

What type of ships did pirates prefer and why?

Sloops were the most common choice during Golden Age of Pirates during the 16th and 17th century for sailing around the Caribbean and crossing the Atlantic. These were commonly built in Caribbean and were easily adapted for pirate antics.

What caused the loyalists to come to the Bahamas?

Britain offered them refuge in Canada or they could go to the Bahamas. There were many qualities which made the Bahamas attractive to the Loyalists. Settling on relatively uninhabited islands would give the Loyalists unfettered access to all the untapped resources the land offered.

Did the Spanish invade Nassau?

The Raid on Nassau, on the Bahamian island of New Providence, was a privately raised Franco-Spanish expedition against the English taking place in October 1703, during the War of the Spanish Succession; it was a Franco-Spanish victory, leading to Nassau’s brief occupation, then its destruction.

What kind of jobs did slaves in the Bahamas have?

Many slaves were employed as fishermen. They accompanied their masters, perhaps hunting the precious turtle. Others worked in their master’s home, looking after children, cooking meals, waiting at table, washing and cleaning. Others worked on farms or plantations, growing food or cotton.

Where did slaves in the Bahamas come from?

Most Africans brought to The Bahamas were West African. Slaves came from West Central Africa (3,967 Africans), the Bight of Biafra (1,751 Africans), Sierra Leone (1,187 Africans), the Bight of Benin (1,044 Africans), the Windward Coast (1,030 Africans), Senegambia (806 Africans) and from the Gold Coast (484 Africans).

What did Woodes Rogers do in the Bahamas?

Rogers gained reputation and the English government appointed him to a much more dangerous task . In 1717 Rogers was officially appointed as the royal governor of the Bahamas . That region of the Caribbean was totally overwhelmed by pirates. The local governors were corrupted. They were paid well to turn blink-eye to the pirate’s actions.

Why was the port of Nassau in the Bahamas destroyed?

Established around 1670 as a commercial port, Nassau was overrun by lawless, seafaring men. Years later, Nassau was destroyed twice—once by Spanish troops, the other time by French and Spanish navies. Soon after, pirates began looting the heavily laden cargo ships.

What did Woodes Rogers do as a privateer?

During the period between 1708 and 1711 he was assigned to lead a privateering expedition with two ships, the “Duke” and the “Duchess”. Authorized by a group of Bristol merchants, Woodes’ crew were supposed to harass the Spanish colonies throughout the coasts of Pacific.

Why did Woodes Rogers stock his ships with limes?

Rogers stocked his ships with limes to fend off scurvy, a practice not universally accepted at that time. After the ships reached the Pacific Ocean, their provisions of limes were exhausted and seven men died of the vitamin deficiency disease.