William Rous
Encyclopedia
William Rous was a 17th century English privateer in the service of the Providence Island Company
. He was later enlisted by William Jackson
to accompany him on his expedition to the West Indies.
, William Rous was a lieutenant
in the local militia on Providence Island and later became commander of the local garrison Fort Henry. In 1634, while still in second-in-command under Captain William Rudyerd, he was involved in a dispute with the principal smith Thomas Forman and, losing his temper, he struck Forman in the presence of the Governor Philip Bell. Rous was thereafter suspended both from the council table, his offices in militia training and his duties at Fort Henry until he acknowledged his fault. Being dismissed from office would have meant humilitation and disgrace to him as a gentleman
, however agreeing to make public confession of guilt would have caused him even deeper humilitation. Matters were further complicated when Bell attempted to return him to his seat without making a public apology. The Providence Island Company
overruled Bell, adding that he had "acted in an undue manner", although his suspension was not to include his training the militia.
In 1636, he was given a privateering commission and letter of marque
by the PIC. In command of the Blessing, and accompanied by a pinnace
, he and the Expectation had planned to attack Santa Marta
. However, when the Expectation was becalmed, he instead entered the harbor alone on October 20, 1636. The Spanish had been warned of his attack and were prepared for him when he arrived. Losing several men, Rous and the others surrendered after a brief fight and taken overland to Cartagena
where he and his crew were imprisoned. Transported to San Lucar, Spain
, he was eventually released due to the efforts of the English ambassador.
In 1642, he left England to joined William Jackson
as an officer in his privateering expedition to the West Indies. Including privateers such as Samuel Axe
and Lewis Morris, Rous spent the next three years raiding Spanish settlements throughout the Caribbean, including participating the conquest of Jamaica
in 1644.
Providence Island Company
The Providence Company or Providence Island Company was an English chartered company founded in 1629 by a group of Puritans including Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick in order to settle Providence Island, off the Spanish Mosquito Coast of what became Nicaragua.Besides Lord Warwick, among the twenty...
. He was later enlisted by William Jackson
William Jackson (pirate)
William Jackson was an English privateer who, based in Guanaja and Roatan , was in the service of the Providence Island Company from 1639 until around 1641. During that year, he captured a Spanish slave ship at the port of and received a ransom of 8,000 pounds of indigo as well as 2,000...
to accompany him on his expedition to the West Indies.
Biography
A step-nephew of John PymJohn Pym
John Pym was an English parliamentarian, leader of the Long Parliament and a prominent critic of James I and then Charles I.- Early life and education :...
, William Rous was a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the local militia on Providence Island and later became commander of the local garrison Fort Henry. In 1634, while still in second-in-command under Captain William Rudyerd, he was involved in a dispute with the principal smith Thomas Forman and, losing his temper, he struck Forman in the presence of the Governor Philip Bell. Rous was thereafter suspended both from the council table, his offices in militia training and his duties at Fort Henry until he acknowledged his fault. Being dismissed from office would have meant humilitation and disgrace to him as a gentleman
Gentleman
The term gentleman , in its original and strict signification, denoted a well-educated man of good family and distinction, analogous to the Latin generosus...
, however agreeing to make public confession of guilt would have caused him even deeper humilitation. Matters were further complicated when Bell attempted to return him to his seat without making a public apology. The Providence Island Company
Providence Island Company
The Providence Company or Providence Island Company was an English chartered company founded in 1629 by a group of Puritans including Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick in order to settle Providence Island, off the Spanish Mosquito Coast of what became Nicaragua.Besides Lord Warwick, among the twenty...
overruled Bell, adding that he had "acted in an undue manner", although his suspension was not to include his training the militia.
In 1636, he was given a privateering commission and letter of marque
Letter of marque
In the days of fighting sail, a Letter of Marque and Reprisal was a government licence authorizing a person to attack and capture enemy vessels, and bring them before admiralty courts for condemnation and sale...
by the PIC. In command of the Blessing, and accompanied by a pinnace
Pinnace (ship's boat)
As a ship's boat the pinnace is a light boat, propelled by sails or oars, formerly used as a "tender" for guiding merchant and war vessels. In modern parlance, pinnace has come to mean a boat associated with some kind of larger vessel, that doesn't fit under the launch or lifeboat definitions...
, he and the Expectation had planned to attack Santa Marta
Santa Marta
Santa Marta is the capital city of the Colombian department of Magdalena in the Caribbean Region. It was founded in July 29, 1525 by the Spanish conqueror Rodrigo de Bastidas, which makes it the oldest remaining city in Colombia...
. However, when the Expectation was becalmed, he instead entered the harbor alone on October 20, 1636. The Spanish had been warned of his attack and were prepared for him when he arrived. Losing several men, Rous and the others surrendered after a brief fight and taken overland to Cartagena
Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena de Indias , is a large Caribbean beach resort city on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region and capital of Bolívar Department...
where he and his crew were imprisoned. Transported to San Lucar, Spain
Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Sanlúcar de Barrameda is a city in the northwest of Cádiz province, part of the autonomous community of Andalucía in southern Spain. Sanlúcar is located on the left bank at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River opposite the Doñana National Park, 52 km from the provincial capital Cádiz and...
, he was eventually released due to the efforts of the English ambassador.
In 1642, he left England to joined William Jackson
William Jackson (pirate)
William Jackson was an English privateer who, based in Guanaja and Roatan , was in the service of the Providence Island Company from 1639 until around 1641. During that year, he captured a Spanish slave ship at the port of and received a ransom of 8,000 pounds of indigo as well as 2,000...
as an officer in his privateering expedition to the West Indies. Including privateers such as Samuel Axe
Samuel Axe
Samuel Axe was an English privateer in Dutch service during the early 17th century.Serving with English forces in the Netherlands during the Dutch War of Independence, Axe traveled to the British colony of Providence Island, in the western Caribbean Sea, where he assisted in the construction of its...
and Lewis Morris, Rous spent the next three years raiding Spanish settlements throughout the Caribbean, including participating the conquest of Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
in 1644.