| Boston | |
 | |
| Continent | North America |
| Location | Massachusetts |
| Notable inhabitants | Joseph Guthrie Marion Guthrie Richard Guthrie |
| Population | British citizens
Slaves |
| Affiliation | British Empire |
Boston, founded on Shawmut Peninsula in 1630 by colonists from England, is one of the oldest cities in the New World. Its port serves as an important trading post for ships.
History[]
Background[]
Boston is the headquarters of the Guthrie Trading Company. When Richard Guthrie first moved to Nassau, he brought Guthrie supply ships with him, who would transport the pirates’ plunder in sugar barrels[1].
Benjamin Hornigold took his prized chair from a ship off the coast of Boston[2].
Season One[]
While the Walrus crew plunders Parrish’s Ship, the HMS Scarborough is spotted on the horizon. Gates marks that the Scarborough ports in Boston, to which Flint glibly replies “not today she doesn’t.” After escaping Harbour Island with a wounded Richard Guthrie, Flint tells Billy that soon news of Richard’s arrest will reach the customs houses of Charles Town, New York and eventually Boston. Flint believes that soon Nassau will be unable to sell to any legitimate market in the Americas[3].
Flint informs Eleanor Guthrie and Mr. Scott of Richard’s arrest. Mr. Scott is dismayed by the news and by Flint’s nonchalant attitude towards it. Scott reminds him that once news spreads, the Guthrie operation in Nassau will no longer be viable. Richard’s ships, if not already impounded, will be on their way to Boston.[1]
Eleanor tries to convince her father that he has no choice but to help her. She says his two options are help her or flee to Boston and beg his father and brothers for sanctuary. She adds that they might save him from execution, but would not spare him their scorn. Richard will once again be on the outside of the inner workings of the business as he had been before he moved his family to Nassau[2].
Eleanor agrees to procure 12-pounder cannons from Dyfed Bryson, captain of the largest of the Guthrie supply ships. Mr. Scott makes Eleanor promise not to take them by force, for that would be a direct move against the Guthrie Trading Company and an affront to Joseph Guthrie and his interests in Boston. Richard tells Miranda that he is sure Eleanor will not inform Bryson of Richard’s arrest, for that would force Bryson to liquidate the Guthrie’s holdings in Nassau and return to Boston a failure. At the meeting with Bryson, Bryson is shocked that Richard would permit a move against a state asset, the Spanish treasure galleon Urca de Lima. Bryson is suspicious, reminding Richard of the low regard Richard’s family in Boston holds him. Richard returns to Miranda and tells her he wants to help her. He tells her he could help find a life for herself in Boston, which is far more forgiving than London[4].
Richard Guthrie stands in front of the warehouse and announces to the pirates on the street that a warrant has been placed for his arrest, and his family in Boston learned. They ordered Captain Bryson to liquidate their holdings in Nassau, but Richard convinced him to leave behind the contents of the warehouse. He says that to all those owed credit or whose goods are held on consignment, Richard leaves it to Eleanor to see them made whole. While the Andromache sails away under hot pursuit from Flint on the Walrus, Bryson tells Hayes that he intends to deliver all 70 plates of Chinese porcelain in the hold to Boston unharmed. He then orders Hayes to pack more straw in the chest[5].
Billy reads Mrs. Barlow’s letter to a magistrate in Massachusetts Bay Colony requesting a pardon for Flint. Billy tells Gates about the letter but Gates chooses to ignore it for the time being[6].
After Flint returns to Nassau, he rides to the Barlow Estate. There, he and Miranda argue about the letter. Miranda insists that there is a life for them in Boston, a peaceful and happy one[7].
Gates reveals to Flint that he is leading a mutiny against him. The other ringleaders want to see Flint dead, but Gates reveals that he won’t let that happen. He wants to head back to Nassau, where he will secret away Flint and Mrs. Barlow and they will accept the pardon in Nassau[8].
Season Two[]
While they wait for dinner in Charles Town, Flint tells Miranda the story of how he came up with the name “Flint.” His grandfather who raised him was a deckhand on a privateer off the coast of Massachusetts. One night he alone on the late watch while the ship was at anchor in the Boston Harbor. While at the watch, he sees a man climb out of the water and on to the ship. His grandfather thought about ringing the bell, but curiosity got the better of him. The stranger approached his grandfather and asked for a little rum. The man said he had fled his fishing trawler after being accused of killing another man. When asked his name, the stranger said he was Mr. Flint. The stranger never said if he was guilty or not, or why he chose that ship, he just sat there. Eventually he asked Flint’s grandfather for more rum from below. Flint’s grandfather went to fetch it and when he returned, the stranger was gone. Flint’s grandfather was in Boston for another month and never heard anything about a killing or a fugitive at large[9].
Season Four[]
Flint believes that if they recruit enough slaves from Barbados, the Pirate-Maroon alliance will have enough men to sack Boston. Marion Guthrie tells Max that she used to dream about Eleanor arriving in Boston, and Marion would walk along the Charles River with her and teach her about the things a woman can do in the world[10].
Residents[]
Quotes[]
"Boston is quite a different animal from London. More forgiving of one's past in a general sense." - Richard Guthrie in IV.