One of two flags reported to have been flown by Black Sam Bellamy, known as the Robin hood of pirates, by Thomas Blanket, one of the eight pirates on trial after the wreck of the Whydah in a storm. It was a flag that seems to have been common to members of the Flying Gang of Nassau and was possibly flown before Bellamy captured the Whydah. “They spread a large black Flag, with a death‘s Head and Bones a-cross.” The Trials of Eight Persons Indicted for Piracy, Boston 1718.
This flag is believed to have been flown by Ned Lowe and his consorts, Charles Harris of the 8-gun sloop the Ranger and Francis Spriggs, Lowe’s ex-quartermaster, of the schooner the Delight. Charles Harris was captured by Peter Solgard of HMS Greyhound in June 1723. Spriggs fate is uncertain, but some believe he was marooned together with Ned Lowe. “Black Ensign with a white Skeleton in the middle of it, with a Dart in One Hand striking a bleeding Heart, and in the other an Hourglass.” – Captain Johnson, A General History of the Pyrates.
One of the most blood-thirsty pirates active in the Caribbean, in the Azores, and along the coast of North America. He was active between 1721 and 1724, his fate being disputed by historians. The above flag was used by the notorious Edward Lowe from July 1723 during the time he called himself admiral and is taken from a description by Charles Johnson in A General History of the Pyrates – “… and hoists a black Flag, with the Figure of Death in red, at the Main-topmast Head …”