The Sack of Baltimore
Despite the aggressive O'Driscoll influence, a group of English
settlers arrived in Baltimore in 1607, having fled from south
west England, where piracy was punished by hanging - perhaps
they felt safer in a place which appeared to condone it! In
1609 the double-dealing Sir Fineen leased the harbour to Sir
Thomas Crooke, who attempted to organise the newcomers. However,
Sir Fineen also owed money to Sir Walter Coppinger, another
large landowner, and Sir Walter claimed the harbour in lieu
of the debt.
The infamous Sack of Baltimore took place whilst the arguing
was continuing, on June 20th 1631. Algerian pirates were guided
into the harbour by a Dungarvan man, Hackett. The Algerians
killed two people and took over a hundred away with them as
slaves to North Africa.
Baltimore hit its lowest point after the Sack when, it is
said, many people moved up river to Skibbereen, where they
felt less exposed to the vagaries of piracy.
Thereafter, Baltimore became important only as a rotten borough,
returning two seats to the English Parliament. Lord Carbery,
in whose gift these seats were, received £15,000 when
they were abolished following the Act of Union.
Poem 'The Sack of Baltimore'
by Thomas Davis.
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