Were there Pirates in New Castle?

Coastal towns along the Delaware Bay and River were exposed to attacks from ships on the water.

Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division

Piracy and Maritime Trade

Pirates have attacked ships at sea since ancient times. Wherever maritime trade developed, the practice of attacking vessels to steal goods and capture people emerged alongside it. When European nations began regular trade between Europe and the American continent, piracy followed American shores as well.

Pirate Activity in the Delaware Bay

Although other regions are more strongly associated with piracy, Delaware experienced its share of pirate activity. The Delaware Bay and Delaware River provided critical access to Pennsylvania and western New Jersey for trade in furs and supplies, drawing merchants and traders, but also attracting pirates.

Privateers and the Blurred Line with Piracy

During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, European powers were frequently at war. In these conflicts, nations sometimes authorized privately owned ships to attack enemy vessels at sea. These ships sailed by “privateers” were paid through the spoils they captured. In practice, however, some privateers attacked ships regardless of nationality, and others continued raiding even after wars ended. Pirates carried out similar activities but without official authorization. At times, pirates and privateers were difficult to distinguish.

Expanding Colonial Trade and Conflict

Trade with the American colonies expanded rapidly as European powers sought to increase their territory and wealth in what they called the New World. Privateers played a role in protecting national interests, but also blurred the line between legal warfare and outright piracy.

Many pirates and privateers were based in the Bahamas, the Carolinas, or the Caribbean, but they frequently traveled north to raid ships along the eastern seaboard. Pirates and privateers sometimes lured Delaware River pilot boats, small vessels that guided larger ships safely through river channels, by flying friendly flags. After capturing a pilot boat, they used it to deceive and capture additional ships.

Blackbeard was one of several notorious pirates active along the coastline.

Library of Congress

Blackbeard and Local Legend

Along the Delaware coast, French and Spanish ships, both pirate and privateer, often hid near shore or sailed into the bay and upriver. Some colonists engaged in trade with pirates, despite the risk of arrest, because such dealings could be profitable. The notorious Captain Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, began his career as a privateer based in Jamaica before turning to piracy. Although his activities were centered mainly in the Carolinas, Blackbeard was reputed to have visited taverns along the waterfront in and near Philadelphia and Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, bringing him very close to New Castle.

Early Defensive Measures

By the early eighteenth century, concern about pirate activity along the Delaware River and around Philadelphia was growing. The governor of Pennsylvania requested that a defensive ship be stationed on the river, but the request was denied. Instead, fortifications were constructed and used for a time in New Castle to help protect the town and areas farther upriver.

In 1717, a Spanish privateer captured a pilot boat and raided plantations near Bombay Hook, south of New Castle. That same year, piracy had become so disruptive to trade that King George I of England issued a general pardon to pirates who surrendered within a specified period. The hope was that pirates and rogue privateers would abandon their activities and resume lawful lives. The proclamation met with limited success.

Pirate Attacks Disrupt Trade

According to reports in the Pennsylvania Gazette, pirate attacks in July of 1722 were so frequent on the Delaware River that trade was effectively halted for about a week.

In 1748, a Spanish ship, with men from many nationalities, was commanded by Don Vincent Lopez sailed up the Delaware Bay after capturing a pilot boat and entered the Delaware River. Lopez intended to seize a large merchant ship anchored at New Castle and then pillage the town and other settlements upriver. An English sailor, who claimed he had been pressed into involuntary service, escaped and warned New Castle in advance. As the Spanish ship approached, it flew English colors in an attempt to appear friendly. Thanks to the warning, cannons from New Castle and the targeted merchant ship opened fire. As the vessel retreated, it changed its flags to Spanish colors, and New Castle was spared.

Rise of Colonial Privateers

Over time, Philadelphia became an important base for American privateers. Advertisements seeking crew members for privateer ships regularly appeared in local newspapers. As the number of American privateers increased, security in the Delaware River and Bay improved. By 1757, Spain was protesting heavy losses caused by these colonial privateers.

During the French and Indian War (1745–1763), French privateers were active along much of the East Coast. In response, The Battery at what is now Battery Park was constructed to help protect New Castle and inland settlements from attack. Fortifications and the growing presence of colonial privateers helped secure the region.

The Decline of Piracy in the Region

By the second half of the eighteenth century, the threat from pirates and foreign privateers along the Delaware River had largely faded.

Historic Benchmarks

This article is part of a series titled Historic Benchmarks: New Castle and the Making of a Nation which was created in partnership with the Delaware250, New Castle Historical Society, Old New Castle Outdoor Recreation Coalition, the City of New Castle, and The Trustees of the New Common.

References

Meek, J. (2025). New Castle History and Archeology Project. Retrieved from New Castle History and Archeology Project: https://www.nc-chap.org/

Mervine, W. M. (1908). Pirates and Privateers in the Delaware Bay and River. The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, 459-470.

Morgan, M. (2005). Pirates & Patriots: Tales of the Delaware Coast. New York, NY: Algora Publishing.

Sharp, A. (2019, June 19). Piracy in Delaware: The 1747 attack on New Castle County. Retrieved from Delaware Online: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/life/2019/06/19/piracy-delaware-1747-attack-new-castle-county/1489132001/

(1725) Blackbeard the Pirate. , 1725. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2007677050/.