John Quelch

John Quelch

In 1703, John Quelch set off on the Privateer,
Charles but shortly after leaving the dock, tossed
the captain overboard and headed to the South
Atlantic, on the account. Not long afterwards he
came upon a Portuguese gold ship and robbed her.
He wasn't concerned that Portugal and England
were at peace at the time. Shortly there after he
was brought back to Maine and entertained the
locals by being hanged and buried between the
tides.

His flag is sometimes considered the first known
jolly roger, despite the fact that Avery's flag was
probably flown before his. It features an "anatomy"
with hour glass and pierced heart. The theme was
later borrowed by Blackbeard and Bartholomew
"Black Bart" Roberts