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Francis SpriggsEnglish pirate
Country:
 Great Britain |
Biography of Francis Spriggs
Early Life and Career
Francis Spriggs was an English pirate who sailed alongside George Lowther and Edward Low in the early 1720s. He operated mainly in the Caribbean and the Bay of Honduras. Little is known about Spriggs' early life, but he was first mentioned in historical records as the commander of Edward Low's boarding party. It is believed that Spriggs joined Low's crew after serving under George Lowther. However, Spriggs did not intend to work under Low for long. After seizing a 12-gun military ship called the 'Squirel' (later renamed 'Delight'), Spriggs had a falling out with Edward and deserted under the cover of night, taking the ship with him.
Solo Career
After parting ways with Low, Spriggs began his solo career as a pirate. On January 28, 1725, he attacked a slave ship sailing from Rhode Island under the command of Richard Duffie. The pirates also captured a Portuguese vessel en route and plundered its cargo. As a cruel form of entertainment, Spriggs' crew forced the captured sailors to run around the ship's deck while being prodded with sharp objects. After the amusement ended, the pirates set the ship on fire and sent the crew on their way.
Encounters and Escapes
In early 1724, while sailing in the waters of New England, Spriggs and his crew learned of the death of King George I. They briefly discussed the possibility of seeking royal amnesty but failed to come to an agreement. In early April, Spriggs and his companions entertained themselves with a new batch of prisoners on the island of Roatan, the largest island in the Bay of Honduras. The captured sailors were left on the shore, enduring harsh conditions and barely any food. Eventually, after replenishing their supplies and refitting their ship, Spriggs set sail once again.
Despite successful encounters, Spriggs had to flee from a French warship on one occasion. However, the French sailors failed to catch up with the pirates, and Spriggs soon returned to the Bay of Honduras. For some time, the pirates continued to attack peaceful vessels, subjecting their captives to brutal treatment. This continued until an unsuccessful encounter with two British warships, the 'HMS Diamond' and 'HMS Spence'. Spriggs managed to escape again and captured a dozen more ships before his next encounter with military vessels.
Later Life and Fate
Little is known about Spriggs' later life. In April 1725, reports indicated that he was still instilling fear in the surrounding waters. There are records suggesting that Spriggs continued his piracy in 1726, with rumors circulating that he was marooned on a deserted island along with his former captain, Edward Low. The 'Post Boy' newspaper on June 25, 1726 (the only surviving original issue of this newspaper), reported that Spriggs carelessly crossed paths with the Spaniards. It is presumed that he seized a Spanish ship in the Bay of Honduras, which led to him being pursued by Spanish military forces. This time, luck was not on Spriggs' side. Most of his crew was captured, and Spriggs, along with Low, was marooned on a deserted island. From this point forward, there is no reliable information about Spriggs in later sources. It is likely that his career came to an end around 1725-1727.
