Giles Shelley

Shelley commanded the 4-gun or 6-gun vessel Nassau[a] on supply runs between New York and the pirate trading posts of Madagascar, including Ile Ste.-Marie.

He delivered goods in demand by pirates such as gunpowder and alcohol, returning with slaves as well as merchandise stolen from East India Company ships.

Backed by New York merchants such as Stephen Delancey, the voyages were immensely profitable: a pipe of Madeira wine bought for £19 in the American colonies sold for £300 on Madagascar.

[2] Despite not engaging in direct piracy of his own, Shelley's trips were not always safe: in 1696 pirates who had come aboard posing as merchants robbed the Nassau.

For the return trip in December he took aboard over fifty pirates who wanted to retire in New England, each of which paid for their passage in captured gold.

[5] Culliford sent a treasure chest back with Shelley along with a letter addressed to the widow of one of his crew, explaining that the gold was her late husband's share of their loot.