Adrian Claver

Adrian Claver (fl. 1704–1705, last name occasionally Clavar) was a Dutch privateer based out of New England during Queen Anne's War. He sailed alongside other prominent privateers such as John Halsey, Regnier Tongrelow, and Thomas Penniston. Commanding the 18-gun ship Castel del Rey, Claver raided Spanish shipping off Havana in 1704 before accepting a commission to defend New York against the French privateer Captain Davy, though he failed to capture his target. In March 1705 with Halsey and Penniston he raided Spanish ships off Caracas. Claver was relieved of command of Castel del Rey by the ships owners in late 1705 and nothing further is known of him.

History Claver captained the 18-gun, 120-man Dutch West India Company ship Castel del Rey. In September 1703 a “Capt. Henry Claver of the Dutch privateer Castle Roy” was made to post bond before sailing from New York, promising that he would not take debtors aboard. This may have been Adrian Claver and the Castel del Rey, as a record from the following month mentions “Capt. Adrian Claver of the ship Castle Roy.”

He sailed to the Caribbean in early 1704 to raid Spanish shipping off Havana. Claver's crew refused to fight until the colonies offered a reward. Though he never caught Davy, the city's councilmen agreed to pay for Claver's provisions and supplies. In August 1705 he was back in New York with a Spanish prize ship, along with de Wint and Penniston, as well as privateers Willoughby and Gincks.

Claver's subsequent activities are not recorded. Merchant, pirate, and privateer Otto Van Tuyl convinced the Castel del Rey’s owners to put him in charge in late 1705. That December Van Tuyl set sail alongside Tongrelow and Penniston but was killed when he wrecked the Castel del Rey upon trying to leave the harbor in fierce winter weather. not 1705, and variously put Claver, Van Tuyl, or a Captain Troup in command; period accounts confirm it was lost in 1705. Most accounts list it with Van Tuyl in charge, though at least one claims Claver was still aboard.