Howell Davis’s treasure came from eleven months of psychological warfare along West African trade routes, where he’d disguise himself as legitimate British naval authority to capture vessels without firing shots. You’ll find his most valuable haul was a Dutch prize worth £15,000, supplemented by nearly £2,000 in gold dust from the audacious Gambia Fort raid of June 1719, where he drew pistols during dinner negotiations. His accumulated wealth—gold, ivory, and slave-trade profits—remains partially documented in historical records, though the fate of his plundered riches invites further examination of strategic deception‘s role in Golden Age piracy.
Key Takeaways
- Howell Davis accumulated substantial wealth from raids, including gold, silver, jewelry, and a notable Dutch prize worth £15,000.
- His Gambia Fort raid in June 1719 secured nearly £2,000 in gold dust through deceptive tactics and cunning strategy.
- Davis captured fifteen prizes during his eleven-month career, including vessels laden with ivory, gold dust, and slaves.
- He allegedly stored treasures in secret locations, though distribution among crew members was common practice among pirates.
- His treasure remains subject to speculation and legend, fueling ongoing myths about hidden wealth and treasure hunting lore.
The Master of Deception: How Davis Built His Fortune Through Cunning
How did a Welsh pirate amass considerable wealth in merely eleven months without firing a single cannon shot in most engagements?
You’ll find Davis mastered maritime espionage through calculated deception rather than brute force. His bluffing strategies transformed piracy into psychological warfare—hoisting black flags from lightly armed vessels convinced French warships they faced superior firepower, triggering immediate surrender.
Davis weaponized fear itself, turning empty threats into surrender—his greatest arsenal was the enemy’s imagination, not his cannons.
He’d pose as a legitimate British privateer, deceiving Royal African Company commanders into welcoming dinners where he’d seize hostages for ransom.
At Gambia’s slaving fort, this tactic secured 2,000 pounds in gold.
Portuguese governors provided supplies believing his privateer credentials.
His persuasive tactics extended to his own crew, where Davis successfully negotiated with local authorities to acquire a larger ship that he renamed Saint James, expanding his operational capacity.
Davis’s intelligence and adaptability across social situations enabled him to manipulate authority figures systematically, constructing fortune through cunning rather than conventional naval combat during his brief 1718-1719 career. His operations extended from Coxons Hole in the Caribbean across the Atlantic to terrorize shipping routes near the Cape Verde Islands.
Ships and Plunder: Davis’s Fleet and Most Valuable Captures
Davis’s deceptive tactics required appropriate vessels to execute his schemes effectively, and his choice of ships reflected strategic calculation rather than random opportunity. After the Buck Sloop mutiny near Martinique, you’ll find he systematically upgraded his fleet through strategic exchanges.
The 32-gun Rover replaced Buck, enabling ambitious West African operations that yielded fifteen documented prizes. His 26-gun Saint James flagship facilitated pirate alliances with Olivier Levasseur and Thomas Cocklyn, culminating in naval confrontations off Principe Island. Bartholomew Roberts, who would later become one of history’s most successful pirates, served as third mate under Davis’s command.
The most lucrative hauls included four major English and Dutch vessels loaded with ivory, gold dust, and slaves, plus a Dutch prize worth £15,000. Davis’s two French merchant captures north of Hispaniola demonstrated his signature deception—using the first vessel to approach the second without firing shots, maximizing profit while minimizing resistance. His raid on Gambia’s royal slave fort netted nearly £2,000 after he deceived the commander by posing as a legitimate merchant interested in purchasing slaves.
The Gambia Fort Raid: 2,000 Pounds in Gold Dust
Among Davis’s most audacious exploits, the Gambia Castle raid demonstrated how psychological manipulation could achieve what naval firepower alone could not. You’ll find Davis employed naval tactics that prioritized deception over confrontation, arriving at the Royal African Company fort disguised as a legitimate merchant seeking slaves.
Deception proved more valuable than cannon fire when Davis transformed from merchant to pirate in a single calculated moment.
His strategy unfolded through calculated steps:
- Presenting liquor and accepting the governor’s dinner invitation while dressed as respectable traders
- Drawing pistols during the meal, firing through windows to signal his crew outside
- Securing the garrison without bloodshed by locking soldiers away before they could mount resistance
The operation netted nearly 2,000 pounds in gold dust—wealth extracted from trade networks that enslaved thousands. After seizing the valuables, Davis and his men celebrated with drinks and wenches, turning the conquered fort into a scene of revelry throughout the night. Davis’s pirate alliances grew stronger as willing soldiers joined his crew, rejecting institutional authority for unprecedented autonomy. Like other pirates of this era, Davis’s tactics would later influence figures such as Blackbeard’s operations in Carolina, where deception and strategic positioning proved more valuable than outright naval confrontation.
Trading Routes of West Africa: Where Davis Found His Riches
By the early 18th century, when Davis prowled West African waters, centuries-old trading networks had undergone a fundamental transformation that redirected wealth from interior kingdoms to vulnerable coastal settlements. Portuguese-established factories dotted the coastline since 1445, fundamentally altering trade dynamics that once flowed northward across the Sahara.
You’ll find that coastal routes had surpassed trans-Saharan trails by the 1500s, concentrating gold, ivory, and enslaved people at maritime trading posts. These hubs facilitated cultural exchanges between European merchants and West African kingdoms, creating predictable accumulations of wealth.
Small coastal kingdoms exchanged captives for European firearms, fabrics, and alcohol—the very commodities Davis plundered. Coastal states maintained active involvement with European traders to regulate these profitable trade routes, positioning their rulers as essential intermediaries in the transatlantic commerce system.
Forest kingdoms like Denkyera controlled access routes, making their fortified settlements lucrative targets for opportunistic pirates seeking concentrated riches. The inland empires of Ghana and Mali had previously thrived on gold and salt trade with North Africa, but their prominence had waned as maritime commerce drew wealth to the coast.
The Final Scheme at Principe Island: A Treasure Hunt Cut Short
How could a pirate who’d mastered deception for eleven months fall victim to his own stratagem? Davis’s final treasure hunt at Príncipe Island in June 1719 demonstrates how pirate disguises eventually meet their match.
He’d posed as a Royal Navy hunter, even seizing a French vessel to bolster his ruse before attempting hostage negotiations with the Portuguese governor.
The ambush unfolded with devastating precision:
- Hidden guards emerged from bushes near the harbor
- Davis killed two soldiers with drawn pistols before falling
- Portuguese troops delivered five shots and cut his throat
At twenty-nine, Davis’s career ended where greed exceeded caution. This was the same pirate who had captured at least fifteen ships through cunning and boldness during his brief time on the seas. Bartholomew Roberts immediately assumed command, returning that night to slaughter Príncipe’s male population in vengeance.
The scheme yielded no ransom—only blood and a legendary succession.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happened to Howell Davis’s Treasure After His Death?
You won’t find Davis’s treasure in any blockchain ledger. Historical records reveal no documented treasure burial. Pirate folklore and treasure legends surrounding him lack archival evidence—pirates rarely buried wealth, contrary to romanticized narratives perpetuating freedom-seeking adventurers’ myths.
Did Bartholomew Roberts Recover Any of Davis’s Accumulated Wealth?
Historical records don’t indicate Roberts recovered Davis’s treasure. Pirate legends and treasure legends surrounding their wealth remain separate—Roberts built his own fortune through the Portuguese fleet capture, eclipsing his mentor’s accumulation through independent plunder rather than inheritance.
Where Did Davis Hide His Plunder Between Raids?
You’ll find Davis likely used Welsh coastal coves as his hidden stash, though archival sources don’t specify exact secret locations. He exploited rugged Pembrokeshire harbours between Caribbean raids, relying on local networks who valued autonomy over naval authority.
How Much Total Treasure Did Davis Capture During His Piracy Career?
No records document Davis’s total treasure haul. You’ll find his naval strategies and pirate alliances prioritized quick raids over accounting—capturing 15+ ships yielded ransoms totaling thousands in gold, though exact aggregate values weren’t preserved in archival sources.
Were Any of Davis’s Treasure Caches Ever Discovered?
No verified treasure caches exist—you won’t find Davis’s loot on any treasure map app. Maritime myths persist, but archival sources confirm he shared plunder with crews immediately, leaving no ancient artifacts or hidden hoards for your discovery.
References
- https://www.thepirateking.com/bios/davis_howell.htm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howell_Davis
- https://www.thepiratesrealm.com/Howell Davis.html
- https://goldenageofpiracy.org/pirates/flying-gang/howell-davis
- https://www.thewayofthepirates.com/famous-pirates/howell-davis/
- https://blueloulogan.wordpress.com/2011/07/26/howell-davis-rest-in-peace/
- https://historica.fandom.com/wiki/Howell_Davis
- https://therumration.wordpress.com/2021/05/27/a-pirates-life-howell-davis/
- http://paulinespiratesandprivateers.blogspot.com/2010/02/people-welsh-pirate.html
- https://www.ancient-origins.net/videos/bartholomew-roberts-video-0020340
