Robert Culliford - Escape and New Adventures

Escape and New Adventures

In spring, 1696, Culliford and some of his comrades escaped and made their way to Bombay, where they signed aboard the East India Company ketch Josiah. In Madras they commandeered the ship, returned to piracy, and sailed for the Bay of Bengal.

Near the Nicobar Islands, the crew retook the ship and marooned him. He was rescued by Ralph Stout, captain of the Mocha. When Stout was killed in 1697, Culliford became captain. He then pursued the British ship Dorill. But the Dorill opened fire and cut off the Mocha's main mast. Culliford retreated to St. Mary's Island (Île Sainte-Marie) off eastern Madagascar, plundering ships along the way. At Saint Mary's, Culliford plundered a French ship with £ 2,000 worth of cargo.

Meanwhile, William Kidd, hunting Pirates, found Culliford at St. Mary's Island (Île Sainte-Marie). While plotting to capture Culliford's ship most of Kidd's crew (who had grown angry with their captain) abandoned Kidd and signed on with Culliford. Culliford and his new crew then set off in late June, 1698 leaving Kidd and his ransacked ship to fend for themselves on St. Mary's Island.

Shortly after departing Saint Mary's Island, Culliford met up with Dirk Chivers. They joined forces and captured the Great Mohammed in the Red Sea in September 1698. The Great Mohammed carried £ 130,000 in cash. While returning to Saint Mary's Island they plundered another ship in February 1699. While at Saint Mary's Island, four British warships arrived. The pirates were offered a royal pardon, which Culliford accepted.

There, he was arrested, and taken to the Marshalsea prison on August 1, 1700. He was tried for piracy of the Great Mohammed and his pardon was ruled invalid. He was saved from hanging, because he was needed in Samuel Burgess' trial. Following the trial, Culliford disappeared from record, and rumor has it that he next served on a naval ship after which he disappears from the records like another famous pirate Henry Every.