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New Providence Island
New Providence Island
Continent North America
Location Bahamas
Interest Nassau
Fort Nassau
Notable inhabitants James Flint
Eleanor Guthrie
Benjamin Hornigold
Charles Vane
Population Pirates
Smugglers
Prostitutes
Affiliation Kingdom of England
Pirates
British Empire
"Is this English soil?"
"It was, once. Now it ain't."
"Whose is it?"
"Ours!
"
John Silver and Logan[src]

New Providence is an island in the Bahamas. From 1706, the island's largest port of Nassau became a haven for pirates. A few legitimate plantation owners, such as Underhill, remain in the interior of the island.

Geography[]

Nassau is the largest port on the island, situated on the northern side of the island. Fort Nassau, an imposing stone fortress, guards the western end of the harbor. Hog Island is just off the coast of Nassau to the northeast of the harbor. Nassau’s harbor is shallow, meaning larger vessels need to anchor farther out. Also located near Nassau is the Wrecks, where numerous ships lay in various states of destruction on the shore. It is home to lunatics and opium addicts. 

In the interior,  there are at least eight large plantations, including the Underhill and Edwards Estates. Each of these estates is home to a large population of slaves. They primarily grow sugarcane and corn. Smaller farms such as the Barlow Estate also exist. There is a small graveyard for those who desire a Christian burial. Other notable locations include an Abandoned House and a secluded Secret Cave in the interior.

Harbour Island is said to be 40 miles away from Nassau. The Maroon Island is a few days away from New Providence by ship. Albinus' Island is easily reachable from Nassau by skiff. 

People[]

Nassau's beach is home to at least a thousand pirates. Legitimate merchants ply their trades in town, such as butchers, appraisers and blacksmiths. Pirates pay for their services just like any other person. Farmers in the interior look down upon the pirates and those who associate with them, eagerly awaiting the day England decides to reassert her rule on the island. They are also devout, Pastor Lambrick leads a large congregation of Puritans, and he frequently preaches against the pirates.  

The pirates, townsfolk and interior farmers are largely English. The interior estates are home to hundreds of African slaves, with well over two hundred on the Underhill Estate alone. Nassau Town is also home to many Africans, many of them freed slaves who joined pirate crews.

History[]

Background[]

The island was originally under Spanish control following Christopher Columbus's discovery of the New World, but the Spanish government showed little interest in developing the island. Nassau, the island's largest town, originally known as Charles Town, was burnt to the ground by the Spanish in 1684. It was rebuilt and renamed Nassau in 1695 by Governor Sir Nicholas Trott, in honour of the Prince of Orange-Nassau who later became William III of England.

In the late 1690s, Henry Avery and his crew arrived on the island and bribed Governor Nicholas Trott to ignore their crimes and allowing them to set up camp on the beach outside Nassau Town in exchange for bribes, beginning the pirate presence on the island. Eventually, Richard Guthrie arrived and began fencing the stolen cargo of the pirates.

Because New Providence's harbour was close to the Florida Strait, it became a nest for pirates and privateers, preying on mainly Spanish shipping returning to Spain with gold, silver, and other riches. The pirates swore off attacking Spanish ships after Spain launched the Rosario raids, where 200 Spanish soldiers invaded and sacked the island. 

The pirate presence only grew due to the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession. In 1705, the Governor of New Providence was Robert Thompson. He accepted bribes from the pirates in exchange for catering to their desires. However, in 1706 his wife and son were killed and he was exiled from the island after demanding more bribe money from Edward Teach, ending the nominal rule the British Empire over the island. Teach, Benjamin Hornigold, Sam Bellamy and Henry Jennings were lauded as the founders and leaders of the Pirate Republic.

Season One[]

Captain Flint and the crew of the Walrus return to the island after the boarding of Parrish's Ship. New recruit John Silver asks Logan if the island is English soil, and the veteran pirate responds that it was once, but not it is theirs. Later at Harbour Island, Captain Francis Hume of the Royal Navy arrives to arrest Richard Guthrie for fencing the plunder of New Providence's pirates.


Places of Interest[]

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