Edward Lowe, born at Westminster, very early began the Trade of Plundering; for if any Child refused him what he had, he must fight him. When he grew bigger, he took to Gaming among Blackshoe Boys upon the Parade, with whom he used to play the Whole Game, as they call it; that is, cheat every Body, and if they refused, they had to fight him.

Ned went to Sea with his eldest Brother, and leaving him in New-England, he worked in a Rigging House, at Boston, for some Time, when not liking that, he returned to England to see his Mother, with whom he did not stay long before he took his Leave of her, for the last Time, as he said, and returned to Boston, where he shipped himself in a Sloop that was bound to the Bay of Honduras; and when he arrived there, he was made Patron of the Boat, to bring the logwood on board to lade the ship; where he differing with the Captain about the hurry of taking the logwood on board, Lowe takes up a loaden Musquet, and fired at him; then putting off the Boat, he, with twelve of his companions, goes to sea. Next day they met a small vessel, which they took, made a Black Flag, and declared War against all the world. From hence they proceed to the Island of the Grand Caimanes, where they met with George Lowther, who took him under his protection as an ally, without any formal Treaty; which Lowe readily agreed to. But parting with Lowther on the 28th of May, as we have already given in an Account in Lowther’s Life, Lowe took a Vessel belonging to Amboy, which he plundered, and then stood away to the South East, by which he avoided two Sloops which the Governor had sent to take him from Rhode Island.

July the 12th, he sailed into the Harbour of Port Rosemary, where he found 13 small vessels at anchor, whom he told they would have no quarters if they resisted; which so frightened the Masters of the vessels, that they all yielded. Out of them he took whatever he wanted, keeping for his own Use a Schooner of 80 Tons, on board of which he put 10 Carriage Guns, and 50 men, and named her the Fancy making himself Captain, and appointing Charles Harris Captain of the Brigantine. Making up a complement of 80 men out of the vessels, some by force, and others by their own inclinations, he sailed away from Mablehead, and soon after he met two Sloops bound for Boston, with provisions for the garrison; but there being an officer and soldiers on board, he thought it the safest way, after some small resistance, to let them go on about their business.

They then steered for the Leeward Islands; but in their voyage met with such a hurricane, as had not been known in the memory of man. After the storm was over, they got safe to one of the small Islands of the Carribees, and there refitted their vessels as well as they could. As soon as the Brigantine was ready, they took a short cruise, leaving the Schooner in the harbour till their return; which had not been many days at sea, before she met a ship that had lost all her masts, on board of which they went, and took, in money and goods, to the value of 1000l. Upon this success, the Brigantine returned to the Schooner, which being then ready to sail, they agreed to go to the Azores, or Western Islands, where Lowe took a French Ship of 32 Guns, and in St. Michael’s Road, he took several sail that were lying there, without firing a gun. Being in great want of water, he sent to the Governor of St. Michael’s for a Supply, promising upon that Condition, to release the Ships he had taken, otherwise to burn them all; which the Governor, for the sake of the Ships, agreed to. Thereupon he released six, keeping only the Rose Pink, of which he took the Command.

The Pirates took several of the Guns out of the ships, and mounted them on board the Rose. Lowe ordered the Schooner to lie in the Fare between St. Michael’s and St. Mary’s, where he met with Captain Carter in the Wright Galley; who, defending himself, they cut and mangled him and his Men in a barbarous manner; after which, they were for burning the ship, but contented themselves with cutting her cable, rigging, and sails to pieces, and so left her to the mercy of the seas. From hence they sailed to the Island of Maderas, where they took a fishing boat, with two old men and a boy in her, one of whom they sent ashore, demanding a boat of water, otherwise they would kill the old man, which being complied with, the old man was discharged. From hence they sailed to the Canaries, and thence continued their course for the Cape de Verde Islands, where they took a ship called the Liverpool Merchant, from which they took 300 gallons of brandy, two guns and carriages, besides six of the men, and then obliged them to go to the Isle of May. They also took two Portugueze ships bound to Brazil, and three Sloops from St. Thomas’s bound to Curaso: All of which they plundered, and let them go, except one Sloop, by which they heard that two Gallies were expected at the Western Islands. Her they manned, and sent in Quest of these Ships whilst they careened the Rose at Cape de Verde; but the Sloop missing the prey, was reduced to great want of water and provisions, so that they ventured to go ashore St. Michael’s, and pass for Traders; where, being suspected by the Governor, they were conducted into the Castle, and provided for as long as they lived.

Lowe’s ship was overset a-careening, so that he was reduced to his old Schooner, aboard of which there went about an hundred as bold rogues as ever was hanged, and sailed to the West-Indies, where they took a rich Portugueze ship bound Home from Bahia, putting to the torture several of the men, who confest the Captain flung into the sea a bag of 11000 Moidores. This made Lowe swear a thousand oaths; and after cutting off his lips, he murdered him and all his Crew, being 36 men.

After this, they cruised to the Northward, and took several Vessels and then steered for the Bay of Honduras, where they took Five English Sloops, and a Pink, and a Spaniard of 6 Guns and 70 men, whom they killed every man; which being done they rummaged the Spanish Ship, bringing all the booty on board their own vessel.

In the next cruise, between the Leeward Islands and the Main, they took two Snows from Jamaica to Liverpool, and just after a Ship called the Amsterdam Merchant, the Captain thereof he slit his Nose, cut his Ears off, and then plundered the ship and let her go. Afterwards he took a Sloop bound to Amboy, of whose Men he tied lighted matches between the fingers, which burnt the flesh off the bones, and afterwards set them ashore in an uninhabited part of the country, as also other ships which fell a prey to those villains.

One of His Majesty’s Men-of-War called the Greyhound, of 20 guns and 120 men, hearing of their barbarous actions, went in search of them and, seeing the Pirates, allowed Lowe to chase them at first, till they were in readiness to engage him, and when he was within gunshot, tacked about and stood towards him. The Pirates edged away under the Man-of-War’s stern, making a running fight for about two hours. But little wind happening, the Pirates gained from her; thereupon the Greyhound left off firing, and turned all her hands to her oars, and came up with them, when the fight was renewed with a brisk fire on both sides, till the Ranger’s main-yard was shot down; upon which, the Greyhound pressing close, Lowe bore away and left his consort, who seeing the cowardice of his Commadore, and that there was no possibility of escaping, called out for quarters.

Lowe’s conduct in this engagement shewed him to be a cowardly villain; for had he fought half as briskly as Harris, the Man-of-War could never have taken either of them. The Greyhound carried her Prize to Rhode-Island, which was looked upon to be of such signal Service to the Colony, that in Council they resolved to compliment Peter Sulgard Captain, with the Freedom of their Corporation. They secured the prisoners under a strong guard in Jail, till a Court of Vice-Admiralty could be held for their Trials, which was on the 10th of July at Newport, lasting three Days. The Judges were William Dummer, Esq; Lieutenant Governor of the Massachusets, President; Nathaniel Payne, Esq; John Lechmore, Esq; Surveyor General; John Valentine, Esq; Advocate General; Samuel Cranston, Governor of Rhode Island; John Menzies, Esq; Judge of the Admiralty; Richard Ward, Esq; Registrar; and Mr. Jahleet Brinton, Provost Marshal. Robert Auchmuta, Esq, was appointed by the Court, Counsel for the prisoners here under mentioned.

Charles Harris, Captain, William Blads, Daniel Hyde, Thomas Powel, jun., Stephen Munden, Thomas Hugget, William Read, Peter Kneeves, James Brinkley, Joseph Sound, William Shutfield, Edward Eaton, John Brown, Edward Lawson, Owen Rice, John Tomkins, John Fitzgerald, Abraham Lacy, Thomas Linester, Francis Leyton, John Walters, Quarter-master, William Jones, Charles Church, Thomas Hazel, and John Bright, who were all executed the 19th of July, 1723, near Newport in Rhode Island; but John Brown and Patrick Cunningham were recommended to Mercy.

The eight following were found Not Guilty; John Wilson, Henry Barnes, Thomas Jones, Joseph Switzer, Thomas Mumper, Indian, John Hencher, Doctor, John Fletcher, and Thomas Child.

Instead of working repentance in Lowe, this deliverance made him ten times worse, vowing revenge upon all they should meet with for the future, which they executed upon Nathan Skiff, Master of a Whale-fishing Sloop, whom they whipt naked about the deck, and then cut off his ears, making his torture their sport. At length being weary thereof, they shot him through the head, and sunk his vessel. Some days after, he took a fishing boat off of Black Island, and only cut off the master’s head; but next day taking two Whale Boats near Rhode Island, he brutally killed one of the masters and cut off the ears of the other. From hence he went to Newfoundland, where he took 23 French Vessels, and mann’d one of them of 22 Guns with pirates; after which, they took and plundered 18 ships, some of which they destroyed.

The latter end of July, Lowe took a large ship called the Merry Christmas, and mounted her with 34 Guns, on which he goes aboard, taking the title of Admiral, and sails to the Western Islands, where he took a Brigantine manned with English and Portugueze, the Latter of whom he hanged.

Afterwards Lowe went to the Coast of Guinea, but nothing happened till he came to Sierra Leon, in Africa, when he met with the Delight, which he took, mounting her with 16 Guns, and 60 men, appointing Spriggs Captain, and from whom two days after he separated.

In January after, he took a Ship called Squirrel, but what came of him afterwards we cannot tell.