“Black birds tend to like shiny things.” ~ The Bloody Raven
The fourth release of the Black Flag series feature Captain William Moody’s vessel, The Rising Sun, a beautiful coin that is worthy of adding to the treasure booty of the Bloody Raven and her silver armada. I give credit and thanks given to Captain Nyssacat for his valued assistance in securing this most seaworthy piece. ❤️
The Silver Coin
The historical ship itself defies detailed description among surviving records. I presumed Moody had served at some capacity as an English naval enlisted or otherwise but it remains a mystery as if the Admiralty reputed of maintaining accurate records, decided to expunge the case, sheer speculation of course.
What is known about the ship was it’s former name, Resolution of which English ship names carry a historical pedigree. The Rising Sun was outfitted with 36 guns and boasting a crew of 130 souls, thus, easily placing the ship within the Light Frigate category, a category that the Bloody Raven would prefer as her ultimate recreational vehicle. The light frigate has superior speed and maneuverability consistent with her sword style rather than fire power.
Though the coin depicts The Rising Sun in action, it is featured as a square rigged, three-masted ship with two gun decks, suggesting a heaver medium class frigate by the second gun deck.
The English born Pirate Captain William Moody seems only a footnote in the original publication of Captain Charles Johnson’s 1724, “A general History of the Robberies and Murders of the most Pyrates.”. While most biographies line up with some corroborating evidence some simply do not. The two volume book mention the Captain survived his ordeal enough to have made his way to Bermuda and accepting the Governor’s royal pardon.
His short tenure as Captain from 1718 to 1719, Moody’s numerous looting and burning of ships in the Caribbean drew the attention of Governor Robert Johnson in assembling a sizable force to pursue and capture The Rising Sun. The news may have prompted Captain Moody to sail towards the African waters. The decision may have begun the crew’s resentment however the mutiny led by Thomas Cocklyn was in large the response to Moody's treatment of the crew. Moody put down the mutiny and stranded Cocklyn with his 25 followers ashore without their plunder share.
It wasn’t long until the remaining crew took over The Rising Sun and cast Captain Moody with his 12 supporters adrift in the open sea and were eventually presumed lost.
Under acting Captain Levasseur, The Rising Sun returned to retrieve the stranded Cocklyn and his men and the crew elected Cocklyn as the Captain of the Rising Sun.
No further record has been found pertaining to the fate of this ship.
Adding Pirate Silver to my Stack for that big Stormy day!
The #piratesunday tag is the scurvy scheme of Captain @stokjockey for #silvergoldstackers pirates to proudly showcase their shiny booty and plunder for all to see. Landlubbers arrrh… welcomed to participate and be a Pirate at heart so open yer treasure chests an’ show us what booty yea got!
Related Posts
Black Flag; Ching Shih and the Red Flag fleet.
Black Flag; Black Bart and The Royal Fortune.
Black Flag; Blackbeard and The Queen Anne’s Revenge.
Replica Reales by the Golden Spartan.
References
Sources and Readings
Wiki; William Moody Pirate.
Numista; Tuvalu 1 Dollar The Rising Sun.
APMEX; Black Flag The Rising Sun.
