Richard Worley
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Richard Worley (d. February 17, 1719) was an English pirate who was active in the Caribbean Sea and the east coast of the American colonies during the early 18th century. He is credited as one of the earliest pirates to fly the first version of the skull and crossbones pirate flag.
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[edit] Early career
Little of Worley's early life is known. He is first recorded leaving New York with a small boat and a crew of eight men hoping to make their fortune in the so-called Golden Age of Piracy. However, their first prize resulted in the capture of household goods from a ship in the Delaware River (which technically was burglary as, according to maritime law, it did not take place in the open water).
Their second prize brought better luck as, upon capturing a sloop bound for Philadelphia, Worley also gained four additional crew members. As they made their way to the Bahamas, however, King George I issued a royal proclamation for the capture and execution of pirates who chose not to accept a royal pardon from the British government. Although the 24-gun warship HMS Phoenix was sent out after Worley, he and his crew were able to evade capture.
[edit] Sailing the Spanish Main
After six weeks off the Bahamas, during which time he captured a brigantine and a sloop as well as additional guns and crew members, he began flying his official colors of a flag with the skull and crossbones. It was during this time that the crew agreed upon a set of articles, which included a vow to fight to the death rather than surrender to authorities.
[edit] Capture and execution
Worley soon prepared to make his return to the colonies, where others such as Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet were enjoying success off Virginia and the Carolinas. However, after pulling into port to refit his fleet, the governor of Virginia was informed of their presence and sent between two and four warships against him.
As they reached the mouth of Jamestown harbor, Worley encountered the warships and moved against them, mistaking the ships for merchant vessels. Attempting to block the harbor, he inadvertently trapped his own ship, which was easily disabled by cannon fire. The pirates refused to surrender however, and, as colonial militia boarded the ship, all of the crew were killed (with the exception of Worley and another man who were seriously injured in the fighting).
Concerned he might die before standing trial, Worley was sentenced to death the day following his capture and was hanged on February 17, 1719. However, another account claims Worley and several others were killed in the fighting with 25 of his crew members being hanged in Charleston, South Carolina.
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