Demographics: Privateer

Description

Privateers were persons and ships given authority to take ships and shipments by a government.  The Dutch, English, and even some colonies issued privateering papers to manipulate trade.   The line between Pirate and Privateer became a bit blurry in some cases, but in general, having a directive from some higher authority made a person a Privateer instead of a Pirate.

Several ships that frequented New Netherland were privateers including the La Garce.

For more information see:  https://encyclopedia.nahc-mapping.org/object/ships-privateer