A coin discovery in Rhode Island in the United States astounds scientists. The find is new evidence that pirates were in the American colonies in the 17th century. Parts of the United States were at this time colonized by Great Britain.
The pirates allegedly fled to the American colonies to avoid punishment for cruel crimes they committed elsewhere in the world, the news agency writes ap.
– Rape and torture
According to researchers, a discovery of coins with Arabic inscriptions will prove that it was owned by the pirate Henry Every. Every is said to have sought refuge in New England in the United States in the late 17th century, before eventually traveling to Ireland.
– Everyone was undoubtedly fleeing to the colonies, historian Jim Bailey tells the AP.
According to historians, in 1695, Every and his fellow pirates allegedly tortured and killed male passengers aboard an Indian ship on a pilgrimage. Several women are also said to have been raped.
The pirates would then rob the passengers, before continuing on to the Bahamas. The newly found coin is said to be the same coin Every allegedly stole aboard the ship.
– The most important discovery of the last 100 years
Bailey calls the evidence “overwhelming and indisputable.” Previously 26 similar coins were found and most of them were found in New England. None of the coins can be dated after the looting of the Indian ship.
Crimes on the ship in 1695 meant that the British King William III offered a large reward to catch the pirates.
– There’s no way he was in the Bahamas to sit on the beach and get a tan while he waited to be caught, Every’s Bayley says.
Historian says Every went to New England after going to the Bahamas. He is said to have spent a month on the run in the colonies. While there he is said to have considered starting a new life in the colonies or returning to Ireland. Everyone ultimately ended up choosing the latter.
– CLEAR EVIDENCE: Historian Jim Bailey believes he’s found clear evidence that pirates were on the run in the American colonies in the 17th century. Photo: AP / Steven Senne / NTB
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– It can not be true
The new find and evidence amazes coin expert Steve Album.
– When I first heard about it, I was like, “wait a minute, that can’t be true,” Album tells AP.
Surprising discovery
Previously, researchers only knew that Every sailed to Ireland in 1696, but Every was not known to be in the American colonies before traveling to Ireland. While the pirates were on the run in the British colonies, Every and the other pirates are said to have used the money they stole from the Indian ship to defray expenses during their escape.
