# Read Elding

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**Read Elding** ([fl.](/source/Fl.) 1665–1700s) was a [mixed British and African](/source/Mulatto) [Barbadian](/source/Barbadians) who served as acting [Governor of The Bahamas](/source/Governor_of_The_Bahamas) from 1699 to 1701.

## Biography

Born near Speightstown, [Barbados](/source/Barbados), Elding traveled or moved to [Boston](/source/Boston) in 1695 and married Hannah Pemberton. Hannah was the granddaughter of James Pemberton, a founder of South Church in Boston. The couple had children, among them a daughter named Hannah, born in [The Bahamas](/source/The_Bahamas) and sent to Boston, and three sons: Edward, Read (b. 1697) and John. Hannah married Samuel Miller, who was in his life elected [constable](/source/Constable) like his father Alexander. The Millers were related to [Benning Wentworth](/source/Benning_Wentworth). From Elding's sons, his lineage is traced to families in the area of [Buxton, Maine](/source/Buxton,_Maine).[1]

In 1699, Elding was appointed by Governor [Nicholas Webb](/source/Nicholas_Webb_(governor)) to lead a fleet of five ships against pirate Kelly. He did not capture the pirate, but returned to [Nassau](/source/Nassau,_Bahamas) with the *Bahama Merchant* from Boston. The ship's captain claimed Elding and his associates stole it and abandoned the crew. Elding left for [New Castle, Delaware](/source/New_Castle,_Delaware) and returned when Webb made him [deputy governor](/source/Deputy_governor)[2] before his death on [New Providence](/source/New_Providence).[3] He replaced the [vice admiral judge](/source/Vice_admiralty_court) with a man named Dalton and appointed his brother-in-law Parker who was one of [Henry Avery](/source/Henry_Avery)'s men [marshals](/source/Marshals).[4] Elding was popular and fought piracy, notably having [Hendrick van Hoven](/source/Hendrick_van_Hoven) hanged in October 1699.[2] He also banned correspondance with the [Scots at Darién](/source/Darien_scheme) and complained of [Danish activity](/source/Danish_West_Indies).[5] In 1701, [Elias Haskett](/source/Elias_Haskett), who was dissatisfied with the state of affairs, became governor. In reaction to Haskett and newly appointed vice admiral judge Thomas Walker's corruption, Elding, [customs officer](/source/Customs_officer) John Graves, [Ellis Lightwood](/source/Ellis_Lightwood), and [attorney general](/source/Law_officers_of_the_Crown) John Warren led a revolt. In October 1701, Haskett imprisoned Elding on grounds of piracy, seeking a bribe. Warren led a mob that freed Elding and imprisoned Haskett and Walker, with Lightwood being made governor. Haskett was stripped of his allegedly ill-gotten possessions and sent to New York City. In London he attempted to indict the men of piracy, but the cases fell through. During the [Raid on Nassau](/source/Raid_on_Nassau), Lightwood was taken to [Saint-Domingue](/source/Saint-Domingue), Walker fled to the [Abaco Islands](/source/Abaco_Islands) near [Walker's Cay](/source/Walker's_Cay), and Elding to the [Out Islands](/source/Out_Islands);[6] he was known to have still been in The Bahamas during the 1730s.[7]

## Sources

1. Valdes y Cocom, Mario de. ["Famous Families | FRONTLINE"](https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/secret/famous/elding.html). *www.pbs.org*. PBS.

1. (Craton 1992–1998, p. 106)

1. (Zuidhoek 2022, p. 272)

1. (Hanna 2015, p. 192)

1. (Barber 2014, p. 39)

1. (Craton 1992–1998, pp. 106–107)

1. (Craton 1992–1998, p. 107)

**Bibliography**

- Barber, Sarah (2014). *The disputatious Caribbean : the West Indies in the seventeenth century*. [Basingstoke]: Palgrave Macmillan New York. ISBN 978-1-137-48001-9. – via [SpringerLink](/source/SpringerLink)
- Craton, Michael (1992–1998). *Islanders in the stream: A History of the Bahamian People*. Athens: University of Georgia Press. ISBN 9780820342733.
- Hanna, Mark G. (2015). *Pirate nests and the rise of the British Empire, 1570-1740*. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 9781469617961.
- Zuidhoek, Arne (2022). *The Pirate Encyclopedia The Pirate's Way.*. Piraí: [Brill](/source/Brill_Publishers). ISBN 9789004515673.

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