The first account of Richard Worley to his delving into the idea of piracy and no valid information can be located of his birthplace of early years but the closest estimate was 1686. A small crew of shipmates commandeers a boat with the intention of not treasure but simple domestic items that were listed more as robbery as the event was within sight of land in 1718. At the time another pirate of Edward Teach had been plundering in the region their hope was he would be blamed for these thefts. As they seemed to escape without detection it was then the second attempt was more successful by plundering a vessel that was destined for Philadelphia and later another better ship which was taken as the new craft. With the new issue from King George I that all who would not accept his terms the sentence was arrest and death and with a warship closing in escaped in the night.
With yet another ship secured and a larger crew, he began to use the flag of piracy and with a unanimous decision never to surrender and chose death instead. He now sailed with another pirate of John Cole and together hope to plunder and gain wealth but fate would have it the union would not last long. With the capture of more ships the governor of South Carolina charged more vessels to capture him and yet again he escaped but luck was not on the side of Cole as he was seized still with prisoners down in the hold of the ship. Worley finally landed in the Bahamas with a more powerful ship proved to be an attraction for some looking to join and with his final group set to paper a variation of their pirate code of conduct. The fate of Worley was sealed and in Charles Town Harbor was surrounded by four warships and finally were boarded and fought to no avail being outnumbered he was now injured and some of his crew now arrested and sentenced to death which was carried out in 1719 in less than a year from his first pirate adventure.
• Carolina Marine Group
• Golden Age of Piracy
• Howold
• Pelejar
• PeoplePill
• Piracy in Mediterranean
• Pirates and Privateers
• Pirate's Cove
• South Carolina Encyclopedia
• Stronghold Nation