Jack Rackham’s Crew was formed from the remnants of that of Edward Teach. Rackham led them in taking over Woodes Rogers’ brigantine, the Lion.
History[]
Background[]
The crew of Edward Teach was formed when he returned to Nassau after an eight year retirement. It also included the crew of Charles Vane, which had originally consisted of roughly 40 Baymen and 20 pirates. After the British Conquest of Nassau and the sacrifice of their schooner as a fireship that aided in the escape of the Pirate Fleet, they joined Teach’s service directly. They continued to serve under Teach after Vane joined Flint.[1]
Season Four[]
During the Boarding of the Lion, the crew had managed to corner Woodes Rogers aboard the Lion. Despite the battle seemingly going their way, their vanguard was caught in a trap sprung by Rogers, who successfully captured both Teach and Anne Bonny. Jack Rackham, left in command of the Revenge, surrendered to save their lives. However, Rogers keelhauled Teach and imprisoned the remaining 42 pirates aboard the Lion, which was towed by the Revenge as they sailed back to Nassau.
After learning about the Fall of Nassau to the pirates, Rogers ordered his subordinate, Lieutenant Kendrick, to sail the Lion to Port Royal with a skeleton crew so that they could be tried and hanged. Instead, he forced Jack to choose members of his crew to fight against Mr. Milton, a hulking Redcoat, lest Anne be thrown into the ring. After a dozen or so were killed, Anne decided to volunteer, and was able to throw the pirates the keys to their shackles. The pirates then freed themselves and killed the Redcoat crew.[2]
The crew sails back to Nassau, but unsure of whether or not the harbor is safe to enter they sail to the southern mistake. They are mistaken for Kofi arriving with the cache of gems to exchange for the surrender of the British holdouts Fort Nassau, a deal arranged by Eleanor Guthrie. Thus, Eleanor, Flint and Madi are shocked when they find Rackham and his men on the beach. Flint goes to speak with him, and briefs him on the deal he made with Eleanor. Jack warns him that Rogers will never accept the deal, and will never allow himself to be defeated by the likes of them.[3]
Eventually, Eleanor decides to return to the fort, taking Flint with her and Madi and her guards follow. After a while, Max arrives, hoping to find Eleanor. She informs the crew about the Spanish invasion currently underway, and Rackham leads them back to the ship. They then rendezvous with the Walrus, which Featherstone had led in escaping the harbor before the Spanish arrived. The two agree to wait for survivors on the southern coast.
Flint, Long John Silver and Julius lead their remaining men to the waiting ships after fighting multiple skirmishes with the Spanish forces, during which Eleanor and Madi are killed. After the captains meet, they agree to sail to the Maroon Island to regroup. However, Max convinces Rackham to sail north and try to enlist the aid of Eleanor's grandparents in Philadelphia in defeating Rogers.[4]
In Philadelphia, the crew is admitted entry to the port after paying a number of fees. Jack and Featherstone go ashore. Featherstone goes to find a doctor for the recovering Anne, and Jack goes to the Charles Grace Library. Inside, he finds Joseph Guthrie discussing business with several colleagues. Jack begs for a private audience but Joseph rebuffs him. Jack explains that Eleanor has died as a result of a Spanish invasion of New Providence Island invited by Governor Woodes Rogers. Jack proposes that to avenge Eleanor, Joseph buy Rogers' considerable debts and force him to default, which would result in his imprisonment. Meanwhile, Joseph could also buy all of Nassau's valuable commercial real estate cheaply due to their current state of ruin. Jack offers the chance for Joseph to own the island, and be able to shape the regime that rules it. Joseph refuses, saying that Richard and Eleanor were no kin of his and brought shame upon their family. Afterwards however, Joseph's wife Marion approaches Jack, and Jack learns that Marion is truly the brains behind the business. That night, Jack returns with Max and the three hammer out a deal. However, as a condition of the deal, Jack must kill Captain Flint. He departs Philadelphia, leaving Max, Anne and Idelle behind.[5]
The crew sails to the Maroon Island where they learn that Flint and Silver have departed with the cache of gems, intending to exchange it for Madi's life. They then travel to Nassau, where they learn from Mrs. Mapleton that the exchange is take place at Skeleton Island. In order to get to the near mythical island, they enlist the aid of Mr. McCoy, an elderly sailor and the last surviving member of the crew of Henry Avery.[6]
The crew, with McCoy's help, sail to Skeleton Island. However, McCoy dies of a heart attack en route, but Featherstone is able to lead them the rest of the way.[7] They arrive just in time to see the aftermath of the Burning of the Walrus. Rackham orders the crew to make ready to take on survivors while Rogers sails away. Featherstone, knowing Rackham intends to fight Rogers, says they should simply put Flint "in a sack," sail back to Philadelphia and let Mrs. Guthrie and her lawyers deal with Rogers. Rackham insists on defeating Rogers personally, and says if the way to do that is to rescue Madi then they will rescue her.
Once aboard, Rackham asks Flint and Silver if Rogers has the cache. Flint answers that it is in the ground and will only come out when Madi is safe, Governor Rogers defeated whereupon they will resume the war to which they all committed. Rackham asks is Rogers is fleeing or seeking room to continue their fight, and Flint answers the latter. He also suggests they confer privately in the great cabin. There, Flint and Silver ask Rackham why he left them. Rackham explains that he sought the aid of Joseph Guthrie in defeating Rogers, but was rebuffed, and Anne Bonny remained in the city to be tended to. Before he leaves, Flint warns Jack that they will have to forsake the use of their great guns in battle, so as not to risk injury to Madi, and that afterward the war will resume and they will change the world.
As they sail out of the river mouth, the Eurydice begins sailing straight at them and Flint realizes Rogers means to ram them. Despite his efforts to steer them out of the way, the collision is unavoidable and Flint warns the crew to brace for impact. After they are rammed, taking fire from the Eurydice's bow swivel guns as they are, Rogers' Redcoats take to the gunwales and begin firing their muskets at the pirates, who are forced to take cover. Flint tells Rackham to prepare to lead their men over the stern to board the Eurydice at the helm after he turns them around. Flint and two men then begin climbing the tangled rigging. Flint cuts a cable pinning their foremast to the Eurydice's, allowing the current to push the ships alongside, while the other two men attack Billy Bones and the Redcoat snipers in the foremast. With the ships alongside, the pirates board after Ellers fires a swivel gun. A fierce battle then ensues. Flint and Billy duel atop the Eurydice's foremast, which ends with Flint kicking Billy into the water. Silver cuts his way belowdecks and finds Madi alive in the hold. Meanwhile, Rackham seeks out Rogers but is unable to best him until Flint arrives and the two are able to subdue Rogers, at which point their crew has killed or captured all of Rogers' men.
Rogers and his surviving men are put belowdecks, while the crew's leadership discuss their next steps. It is decided that Augustus Featherstone will take Madi and most of his crew back to the Maroon Island aboard the Eurydice. Meanwhile, Rackham, and a crew composed mainly of former Walrus men remain behind while Flint and Silver go ashore to recover the cache. However, Flint is instead apprehended and sent to Savannah, to live out his days with Thomas Hamilton. They then return to the Maroon Island and tell the assembled pirates and Maroons that Flint decided to retire from the war effort, and offer them Woodes Rogers' Treaty, promising pardons and freedom for all of them if they lay down their arms. While Madi is furious, the pirate captains and Maroon chiefs ratify the treaty.
Afterwards, they go to Philadelphia and inform Marion Guthrie of what has happened. Despite not killing Flint, her one condition, she is satisfied by their explanations and forces Rogers to default, landing him in prison. Featherstone is then installed as the new Governor of New Providence Island, with Max as the power behind the throne. Piracy is officially outlawed, but Featherstone allows Rackham to discreetly continue the practice in order to drive up prices for Nassau's merchants. "Mark" Read travels to Nassau in order to join Rackham's crew after hearing of this, and is accepted. Before they set sail, Rackham is shown his new flag, which he is disappointed by, and a recovered Anne Bonny orders them to get underway.[8]
Members[]
- Jack Rackham, captain
- Anne Bonny
- Augustus Featherstone, quartermaster (formerly)
- Ellers
- James
- Mr. McCoy (deceased)
- Mary “Mark” Read
Walrus men[]
- James Flint, former captain
- John Silver, former quartermaster
- Israel Hands
- Ben Gunn
- Tom Morgan
- Obi