Mathurin Desmarestz

Mathurin Desmarestz (1653-1700, last name also Demarais) was a French pirate and buccaneer active in the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the Indian Ocean.

Born Isaac Veyret (or Vereil) in 1653, Mathurin Desmaretz was first recorded as one of the leaders of a group of French filibustiers (buccaneers) in 1685. He joined with Edward Davis, Francois Grogniet, Pierre le Picard, and others hoping to intercept the Spanish treasure fleet off Panama. They engaged the fleet that May but were outgunned and outmaneuvered and left with little to show for their efforts. The combined group split up to raid separately, with most of the French contingent following Groginet.

In early 1688 he was quartermaster to Jean Charpin aboard a ship supplied by retired fellow buccaneer Laurens de Graaf. They joined forces with Jean-Baptiste du Casse in early 1689, raiding off Cape Verde before returning to the Caribbean to attack Dutch colonies at Surinam and Berbice. When war broke out against England they assaulted St. Christopher; while leading ground troops their ship was stolen by mutinous English crewmen, led by William Kidd and Robert Culliford. The buccaneers under du Casse broke up in September; Charpin had been replaced by Jean Fantin, who took a brigantine and some of the French troops. Desmarestz purchased a fluyt called La Machine with the help of (Governor of Martinique) and was elected Captain.

He captured a few small ships in late 1689, putting into Guadeloupe in early 1690 to repair and refit, where the impoverished locals were happy to trade for Desmarestz’ food and supplies. He returned to Martinique where he met pirate Étienne Montauban, who left with him when they sailed in June. Blénac was asked to have Desmarestz’ buccaneers return to now-French St. Christopher to help defend it but refused to ask them. In August he captured a treasure-laden 24-gun Spanish frigate from Trinidad, keeping it for his own and renaming it Le Ballestrelle, and giving La Machine to Montauban. They harassed three East India ships before Blénac returned to France.

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