The Governor's Council of Nassau was formed of six officers from Woodes Rogers’ staff and six influential merchants of New Providence Island in order to advise him as well as giving the people of the island a meaningful say in important matters.
History[]
Season Three[]
After Governor Woodes Rogers solidifies his control over Nassau and New Providence Island, he attempts to form a council made up of 12 members, six from the ranks of his staff and six merchants native to the island, in order to show the residents of Nassau that they have a meaningful say in their futures.
Eleanor approaches Max in order to receive her blessing on the appointees to the council. However, Max is angered that she was excluded due to her dealings with the pirates. Max threatens that if she stays silent or opposes the new regime, it will sow the seeds of distrust amongst the merchants of Nassau.
Max then approaches Rogers and offers to buy her way on the council with her share of the Urca de Lima gems. Rogers agrees, however Mrs. Hudson reveals that she is a spy for the Casa de Contratación, a Spanish governmental agency. She tells him that they know about the exchanges of gold for gems, and demand their return to Havana along with the rest of the gold. However, Max is able to remain on the council.
The council consists of Rogers as its head, along with Eleanor as a special advisor to him. Among the six drawn from Rogers’ staff, Commodore Peter Chamberlain, Rogers’ military commander, Mr. Soames, and other Royal Navy and British Army officers are included. Also on the council are colonists who came to New Providence with Governor Rogers.
Featherstone has Idelle get information about Jack Rackham from Major Andrews, a noted member of Rogers’ inner circle who frequents the Inn.
After Rogers falls ill after the pirates ambush his caravan and abscond with Jack Rackham and the remaining cache of gems, he is confined to his bed by Dr. Marcus. He takes a meeting of his senior counselors in his bedchamber to discuss the theft of the gems. Mr. Soames advocates for focusing their efforts on preparing for a Spanish invasion should Benjamin Hornigold be unsuccessful in retrieving the cache. Rogers is determined to avoid that, and says that if Hornigold fails they will redouble their efforts. When Eleanor Guthrie, the former de factor ruler of the Pirate Republic now serving as a special advisor to Rogers arrives, he says that the council will answer to her while he convalesces.
After the assassination of Captain Throckmorton, a notable former pirate turned Rogers supporter, and the defeat of Rogers’ forces at the Battle of the Maroon Island, Rogers declares martial law on Nassau Town. He has Max convey to the rest of his council, including Mrs. Mapleton, Rawls, Frasier and other influential citizens the letter that was left for them, which declares war on Rogers’ forces, signed by the pirate king, Long John Silver.
Season Four[]
As a result of the departure of the majority of Rogers’ military forces, Commodore Chamberlain is replaced by Captain Berringer, the most senior remaining officer. The council takes shelter in the vaults below Fort Nassau during the Invasion of Nassau. After the pirates are routed, Rogers orders Berringer to inform the council that he’ll return to the fort once Nassau Town is secure. Later that night, they are able to return to town.
After Max is arrested by Berringer, Eleanor Rogers tries to get him to release her, saying that as the most influential member of his council, he relies upon her to maintain control of the street. Berringer retorts that when Rogers returns, he will have no issue explaining to him that the most influential member of his council was discovered conspiring with their enemies and he took action to stop it.
As Max’s contacts with the Pirate Resistance, Featherstone and Idelle also work to secure Max’s release out of gratitude for her not ratting them out to Berringer. Featherstone meets with Frasier in the Inn. He says he does not make the request lightly, but after all that Max has done for Frasier and the Governor's Council, it seems like they owe her back. Frasier responds that the charges brought against her are of the highest order, and that the law is being adhered to. He asks what standing they have to challenge it. Featherstone responds that people are angry at the soldiers, Berringer and even at Governor Rogers. Featherstone says that if the council won't resist the captain, maybe the people will find some way of resisting this offense in ways that Frasier will not like. Frasier refuses Featherstone and tells him not to send for him again.
Just prior to the Fall of Nassau, Eleanor realizes that Berringer’s actions are only turning the people against them and it will soon reach a boiling point. She orders Lieutenant Utley to round up as many men, supplies, as well as a list of names that includes the council and bring them to the fort. After the battle, Dooley arrives at the Governor’s Mansion, which has become the headquarters of Silver, Flint and Madi’s faction of the resistance. They ask him what news from the beach he has learned. He answers that the Governor’s Council and several dozen soldiers managed to secure themselves in the fort, among them Eleanor, who has taken charge.
Sometime after the Sack of Nassau, Rogers returns to his mansion late at night to find the council chamber empty save for Mr. Soames, who explains that they waited an hour before disbanding. Rogers is dismissive, replying that council meetings will not solve their problems. As Rogers leaves, Soames tells him the council is losing faith in him, that they see the problems in rebuilding the colony and the dangers if they fail. Soames says that they are growing more and more skeptical that Rogers does not have a solution, but Soames is more afraid that they will learn what Rogers’ solution actually is. Soames admits that he knows Rogers plans on ransoming Madi to Flint with the gems as payment. Soames angrily asks Rogers if he truly believed that no one, including Soames, would not find out about the deal when Rogers has pursued it so recklessly. Rogers calmly tells Soames that Eleanor made the deal, and he is simply collecting. Soames reminds him that the pirates are gone from Nassau, as are the threat they presented, but Rogers insists that the threat they pose has never been greater and they seek to uproot all of civilization. Soames yells at Rogers that defending civilization is not his responsibility, restoring stable profits too Nassau is and if Rogers men, who already doubt him, see pirates and war return to the island, they will mutiny. Rogers takes all this in silently before retiring.
Mrs. Hudson, becoming afraid of the path that Rogers seems intent on following after Eleanor’s death during the Spanish invasion and wanting to return to her children in England, approaches Mrs. Mapleton. She explains this to Mapleton, and offers to pass inside information to Mapleton, who was excluded from the council. Mapleton is initially dismissive until Hudson tells her that she can help her get back on the council. Hudson explains how she knows that Eleanor had previously turned to Mapleton for help in preventing Nassau from descending into chaos. She offers to pass information from inside Rogers’ office to Mapleton in order to help Mapleton maneuver her way back onto the council, so that there is someone willing to challenge Rogers.
After the Battle at Skeleton Island, Rogers is defeated. Featherstone becomes the next governor, inheriting the remaining members of the council, who accept his rule.
Members[]
Head[]
- Governor Woodes Rogers
- Governor Augustus Featherstone
From Woodes Rogers’ staff[]
- Commodore Peter Chamberlain (called back to England)
- Major Andrews (called back to England)
- Captain Berringer (Chamberlain’s replacement; deceased)
- Lieutenant Perkins (called back to England)
From Nassau[]
- Mrs. Mapleton (excluded then reinstated)
Other[]
- Eleanor Guthrie (as a special advisor to Rogers)
Note[]
- It is somewhat unclear who the exact members are of the Council as much of the language on the show is vague. While several of these characters are clearly on the council, others are close advisors often associated with phrases like “inner circle.”