Christopher Moody
Christopher Moody[lower-alpha 1] (1694–1722) was an 18th-century pirate who held a policy of no quarter (no sparing of lives). He was a member of Bartholomew Roberts' crew.[2] He may have engaged in piracy off the coast of North and South Carolina sometime between 1713 and 1718.[2] After he was captured he was hanged at Cape Coast Castle in Cabo Corso, Ghana (now Cape Coast, Ghana) with other former members of Roberts' crew such as Thomas Sutton.[3]
Moody is largely remembered for his distinct Jolly Roger flag. Instead of the traditional white on black, Moody's Jolly Roger is gold on red. It also has an hourglass with wings, to express to his victims that their time to live was flying away. In the middle is a white arm holding a dagger.[2][4] In addition, blood-red pennants were often tied to the ship's mainmast to show deadly intent.[2]
While popularly attributed to Christopher Moody, the flag may have been another pirate's, or may have been fictional: the flag had been described in the 18th century, but first record of its being attributed to Moody appeared in 1923.[5]
Notes
- ↑ Christopher Moody should not be confused with the unrelated pirate William Moody, who operated around the same time period and in some of the same areas. There is much confusion regarding the two (and other pirates named Moody), and events attributed to one may have been perpetrated by the other.[1]
References
- ↑ Fox, E. T. (2014). Pirates in Their Own Words. Raleigh NC: Lulu.com. ISBN 9781291943993. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 "Christopher Moody". Jolly Roger. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
- ↑ Johnson, Captain Charles (1724). A GENERAL HISTORY OF THE PYRATES. London: T. Warner. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ↑ "Christopher Moody". CRW Flags. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
- ↑ "Pirate Flags". Pirate Mythology. Retrieved 2008-01-08.