Maria Lindsey Cobham: Pirate Queen of Canada

The ship was painted jet black from stem to stern.

She was a rare female figure in a predominantly male pirate community, known as Canada's 'pirate queen.'

They settled in an isolated hideout and conducted raids primarily on French ships.

<p>In wartime, privateers were licensed to attack; in peacetime, governments often ignored continued piracy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They killed everyone on the captured ships to eliminate any witnesses.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Maria Lindsey is accused of poisoning an entire crew, sewing sailors into gunny sacks, and using captured sailors for target practice.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Conlin suggests that the Cobhams likely operated as 'wreckers', a more ruthless but smaller-scale form of piracy that targeted distressed vessels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Plymouth served as the meeting point for Maria and Eric, where they formed a partnership in piracy, escaping their previous grim lives.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Cobhams hijacked a merchant ship near Bristol, stealing 40,000 pounds sterling in valuables.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They targeted the Gulf of St. Lawrence due to its rich supply routes and vulnerability with minimal pirate presence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The sloop had a shallow draft of only eight feet, allowing it to access shallower waters where larger ships could not follow.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Maria Cobham uniquely wore a British naval officer's coat, which she took from a captured officer, making it her trademark and symbol of her defiance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Maria Cobham eventually died under mysterious circumstances, believed to have poisoned herself with laudanum, possibly due to remorse.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The couple decided to stop their pirating activities after becoming fabulously wealthy and tired of living on the run.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Maria's children were horrified by the disclosures of their parents' pirate past and reportedly bought and burned every copy of the book to suppress it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

A period of intense pirate activity spanning from approximately 1650 to 1720, characterized by widespread piracy and a blurring of lines between legitimate privateering and lawless piracy.

A person licensed by a government to attack enemy ships during wartime. The line between privateers and pirates was often blurry, especially during peacetime.

A black flag often used by pirates to signal their intent to attack and to instill fear in their victims. Typically, the flag features a skull and crossbones.

Maria Lindsey Cobham, a ruthless pirate captain, was a rare example of a woman commanding a pirate crew. She operated in Newfoundland during the latter half of the 18th century.

The Cobhams' tactics differed from traditional pirates by eliminating all crew members on captured ships to ensure no witnesses survived. They were known for their brutality and ruthlessness.

A type of pirate who preys on ships in distress, looting their wreckage and murdering survivors.

The area where pirates hid their ships and repaired them. It was a sandy beach where the ship could be beached at high tide.

A lucrative trade route that connected Newfoundland, England, and Mediterranean countries. It involved transporting salt fish, furs, wine, olive oil, and dried fruits.

A famous pair of pirates who were known for their ruthless exploits in the 18th century. They were a couple, Maria Lindsey and Eric Cobham.

The pirates' preferred method of taking over ships. They would overwhelm the merchant crew with sheer numbers, leaving them no choice but to surrender.

Maria Lindsey Cobham was an infamous pirate captain who operated in Newfoundland during the late 18th century, known for her ruthlessness and leadership of a crew of mostly defectors from the Royal Navy.

Maria Lindsey Cobham's crew was primarily made up of former Royal Navy sailors who had been press-ganged into service and often faced harsh conditions. Many joined her crew as a means to escape the harsh treatment and poor conditions on Royal Navy ships.

Maria Lindsey Cobham and her husband Eric Cobham ultimately gave up their life of piracy and retired to France, where they transitioned to a wealthy lifestyle as landowners and members of the French gentry.

Maria Lindsey Cobham's legacy is shrouded in mystery, as her story is based on fragmented historical accounts. She is believed to have been the only female pirate captain to have terrorized Atlantic Canada and her exploits have been passed down through generations of seafarers.

Although Maria Lindsey Cobham's life of piracy is well-documented, her death remains shrouded in mystery. There's speculation that she may have committed suicide due to remorse, but the exact cause and circumstances surrounding her death are unclear.