The Good Ship Whydah's Untimely End

"I am a Free Prince and I have as much authority
to make war on thewhole world as he who has a hundred sail of ships at sea and an army of 100,000
men in the field; and this my conscience tells me."
Pirate Captain Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy

The Whydah is the only pirate ship found off the Cape Cod coast. The Whydah, one of the most advanced ships of her day, started life as a slave ship. Centuries-old Cape Cod tradition has it that Sam Bellamy, her captain came to Cape Cod from England after the War of Spanish Succession leaving behind a wife and child. Here he met and fell in love with the beautiful 15 year old Maria Hallett.

Her parents wanted something better for her than a footless sea man, however, and forbade the two to wed. Bellamy then took a crew to the West Indies to search for a sunken treasure ship-and a fortune with which to marry Maria. Treasure-hunting is, however, easier said than done. Legend has it that Bellamy turned pirate after the expedition failed, rather than return to his Maria with empty hands. During his absence Maria gave birth to their child who died soon thereafter. But Maria remained steadfast.

Like many pirates of the early 18th-century, he was motivated by a spirit of revolt against political, social, and economic oppression. He and his crew considered themselves rebels rather than robbers, and called themselves "Robin Hood's Men"--after the famous English outlaw of the Middle Ages. This spirit is reflected in the pirates' "constitution"--known as "The Articles". These democratic rules included surprisingly modern elements of "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity".

Bellamy captured of The Whydah Galley, a homeward-bound English slaver off the coast of Cuba. It was the pinnacle of Bellamy's career. According to court testimony, this vessel had 20-30,000 pounds sterling in silver and gold aboard as well as ivory and indigo.. Given that an honest sailor's pay for a month was perhaps two pounds sterling, this was an immense fortune for the men in Bellamy's
pirate fleet.

He transferred his command to the Whydah after her capture, giving the Whydah's former captain and crew his boat, The Sultana. He, of course, kept all of the Whydah's plunder. Bellamy continued his pirating ways. However, longing for Maria, he soon turned the bow of his new flagship northward.

Almost within reach of Maria on April 26, 1717, Bellamy was sailing along the outer shore of Cape Cod at night when a storm sank the Whydah. The Whydah was top heavy and highly susceptible to the driving winds blowing her ever closer to the shore. Amid scenes of mayhem the Whydah capsized, breaking her back with a heart-rendering crack.

Bellamy was 29 years old and he and his men had taken over fifty ships in the span of a little more than a year. Only two men survived the natural holocaust. One was an Indian pilot who quickly disappeared into the mists of history, the other Thomas Davis, a Welsh carpenter, whose vivid account of the shipwreck was preserved and passed from generation to generation through Cape Cod folklore.

Many have been captured by the Sam Bellamy and Maria Hallett legend. One is Janet Elaine Smith who wrote a book called "House Call to the Past."

The main character is Dr. Angus McPherson is an obstetrician living in Brewster, Mass. in the year 1992. As a violent storm rages outside, one of his patients calls to inform him that she has gone into labor. "Dr. Angus" began his trip to the hospital. However, en route he spies a man, running toward his car from a pasture, frantically waving him down. Angus braves the storm to meet the man half way. John Hallett begs Angus to help his daughter, Maria, who is at his home in the middle of a difficult delivery.

Knowing his other patient would be fine, Angus agrees. In no time at all, Dr. Angus realizes he has crossed an invisible barrier and entered the past. He saves Maria's life, and that of her baby boy. Yet before he could leave to recross the pasture and return to 1992, he learns that a council meeting was forming to declare Maria a witch and to kill her. Angus can't explain the strong feelings he has for Maria after such a brief time, but to save her again Angus decides to remain in 1713 and marry her.

Maria marries the doctor to save herself, but fully expects to leave him when Black Sam finally returns for her. Angus is just as determined to earn Maria's love, so she would never leave him. The town quickly trusts the new doctor. Learning to trust Maria, an accused witch, is harder. And Maria does nothing to help matters. Maria is only sixteen, and very wilfull. You'll have to read the book if you want to find out what happens.

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The Untimely End of the Good Ship Whydah