George Cusack facts for kids

George Cusack (died 18 January 1675) was an Irish pirate. He was active in northern Europe and the West Indies during the late 1600s.

Who Was George Cusack?

George Cusack started his life at sea as a gunner and sailor. However, he often got into trouble for trying to take over ships. These actions led him to be imprisoned in Marshalsea prison for a time.

Early Adventures

After being released from prison in 1668, Cusack traveled to Cadiz in Spain. There, he joined a ship called the Hopewell from Tangier as a gunner. Soon after, he and some friends took control of the ship. They left the ship's officers in a small rowboat.

They renamed their new ship the Valiant Prince. Cusack then made a captured merchant create fake documents for the ship. He also wrote down rules for his crew, which he called his "Obligations." These were like a pirate code. He threw out the old captain's papers to hide that he was now a pirate. He even threw the ship's Bible overboard! He told his crew, "You Cowards, what do you think to go to Heaven and do such Actions as these? No, I will make you Officers in Hell under me."

A New Ship and Rules

Cusack and his crew sailed to the Leeward Islands. They tried to capture several small ships. But they were caught while on land and ended up in prison in Barbados. They managed to escape and then captured a larger ship. It was a 250-ton, 28-gun frigate that they named Flying Devil.

They sailed this ship up the East Coast of the United States. Later, they left the Flying Devil and sailed back to England in smaller boats.

Privateer and Pirate

Cusack then became a privateer for the Kingdom of England. A privateer was a sailor who had official permission from the government to attack enemy ships. He served during the Anglo-Dutch Wars, which were conflicts between England and the Netherlands. During this time, he captured several Dutch ships.

When these wars ended in 1674, Cusack got a fake French permission. He used it to attack Spanish and Dutch ships. He kept a small crew and often forced other sailors, like his surgeon Jacob Marrelly, to join him.

With only 23 men, he captured a large cargo ship from Norway. It was a 500-ton vessel called Saint Anne, sailing from London under Captain Shorter. Cusack and his pirates put the Saint Anne's crew onto a small boat they had captured earlier. They left them without any supplies and set them adrift.

The End of His Journey

Cusack and his men sailed to Aberdeen to sell the Saint Anne. They claimed it was a Dutch ship they had found empty. They hid its real paperwork to cover up their crime. However, the crew they had left adrift were rescued by another ship. They were taken back to Norfolk and spread the news of Cusack's piracy. Because of this, the Saint Anne was seized in Aberdeen.

Cusack and his men heard about this. They avoided Aberdeen and sailed up the Thames River to Lee to clean their ship. They spent their stolen money in nearby towns. The towns were happy to get the money, but this also revealed their location. Local law enforcement and two armed ships, led by Colonel Kennedy, chased them. They captured Cusack and his crew and sent them back to Marshalsea prison.

Cusack told the Admiralty court, which handles sea crimes, that he had official permission. When challenged, he tried to say his invalid permission was a mistake. The court pointed out that even if it was valid, no permission would allow him to rob an English ship. He was found guilty. George Cusack was put to death on 18 January 1675. Thirteen of his crew were also executed, but the rest were set free because they had been forced to join him.

Pirate Rules

George Cusack's pirate code, or "Articles," are very rare. They are one of the few pirate rules from the 1600s and 1700s that we still have today. Only two complete sets from the 1600s exist, and Cusack's is one of them.

His rules stated that his crew agreed to take over ships and their cargo. They would also attack or sink any ships they met, except for English ones. Everyone who joined them would get a share of the ship and its cargo. They also promised to live and die with Cusack and his lieutenant in their pirate plans. Cusack referred to these rules as the "Lawes of Pleron."

See Also

• Rolls of Oléron – These were old rules from the 1100s about how sailors should act. Cusack called them the "Lawes of Pleron," and they might have been the basis for his pirate rules.
• Jean Charpin – A French pirate from the 1600s whose pirate rules have also been saved.