Joseph Wheeler

Joseph Wheeler (fl. 1696-1698) was a pirate active in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. He is best known for sailing alongside Dirk Chivers and Robert Culliford.

History

In 1696 Robert Colley took over captaincy of the 18-gun Pelican from the late Captain Lovering in Rhode Island. Ignoring his commission to return to Jamaica, he sailed for Madagascar to attack Moorish ships in the Red Sea. Aboard were Nathaniel North and Joseph Wheeler. After cruising against the Moors, Colley returned to Ile Saint Marie in early 1698 to divide their plunder; Wheeler's share amounted to over two thousand pieces of eight. While ashore Colley and thirty of the crew fell ill and died. The remaining crew couldn’t return to sea because the Pelican’s water barrels were all rotten. Wheeler was the ship’s cooper (barrel-maker and carpenter); with the help of local natives he repaired the ship’s water casks, and the grateful crew in return elected him Captain. North was chosen as the ship’s quartermaster. The three captains agreed to sail together and split any prizes taken. After repairing damage to their masts sustained in a hurricane, they put into Madagascar again. Culliford and Chivers were there with the captured Great Mohammed, along with Samuel Burgess, who was on a trading run from New York. Wheeler and several crewmen left the Dolphin and returned to New York with Burgess. Nathaniel North and the remaining crew returned to piracy in the Dolphin, electing Samuel Inless as captain. Wheeler was arrested and tried for piracy but was ultimately acquitted.