Willem Credo (1663-1733)
Willem Credo was born in Veere in 1663. He was active as a privateer during the 9 year war (The Netherlands were allied with, among others, England and Spain against France, 1688-1697, see also Jean Bart) as well as in the Spanish War of Succesion. He lived and sailed from the city of Middelburg in Zeeland. Between 1689 and 1713 he was active in many areas: West-European Seas, the Mediterranean sea, African Waters and West India. According to several sources in archives he appears to have been quite succesful in this trade. He brought in nearly two hundred prizes.
Accounts of his exploits with his ship the Peerl from 1702 to 1713 can be found in the Dutch newspaper the Amsterdamsche Courant. Credo became something of a celebrity in those years. His actions during the Spanish War of Succession were even praised in a verse published in the Magazine Amsterdamsche Mercuuren of Jan van Gijsen. When the War of Succesion ended Credo retired to a country estate in the city of Alphen aan den Rijn. His son in law, Gerard Bacot, published a little book on his life and exploits on 30 April 1634 shortly after Credo´ death.
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For this text I drew heavily on:
- Prud'Homme van Reine, R.B. + EWvdO
- Kapers op de kust : Nederlandse kaapvaart en piraterij 1500 - 1800 / R.B. Prud'Homme van Reine, E.W. van der Oest. - Vlissingen : ADZ Vlissingen, 1991