New Providence – Nassau and the end of the pirate era in 1718
After early Spanish control, English settlers arrived on New Providence in 1666. Their town, Charles-Town, was attacked repeatedly and destroyed in a Spanish raid in 1684. It was rebuilt in 1695 under Governor Nicholas Trott and renamed Nassau, but after further attacks the island became a base for pirates – by 1713 they outnumbered the law-abiding inhabitants. The turning point came in 1718, when Governor Woodes Rogers arrived and offered pardons to pirates who gave up their ways.
From these turbulent beginnings, New Providence grew into the heart of the Bahamas. Today it is home to the capital Nassau and to nearly three quarters of the country’s population. Do you have island stories, family history or local legends to tell? Share them with the community!