Preface
Roberto Cofresi (El Pirata Cofresi) has in recent times been accorded a larger than life symbol of opression vs. greed. Where the oppressed struggle against the powerful greedy in order to better themsleves and others. El Pirata Cofresi was eventually captured and executed for crimes commited. The Spanish Army under orders from the Spanish Crown in Spain ended the life of this fugitive by firing squad. What follows is not a judgment of why we should or shouldn't honor this individual, but only that as a public we should keep recorded history in perspective and not necessarily bow to popular lore meant to glorify the actions of a rather ruthless individual for the sake of business and profit. There are many fine business establishments that use the name in their promotions. It is afterall a popular name with historic crendentilas. This restatement of historical facts is in no way intended to change perspectives. It is meant only to educate and show locals and visitors alike that Puertorican history also has its less than ideal reality. We as any other island or country in the world do not have a spotless history. The short and bloody life of Cofresi the Pirate (El Pirata Cofresi) is one of those times.

Roberto Cofresi, born in Cabo Rojo Puerto Rico (Vital Statistics)
Roberto Cofresi was born during turbulent times. The Spanish Crown was losing influence and dominion over its colonies in the new world, including islands in the Spanish Caribbean which included Puerto Rico. Cofresi was born to a German father in 1791 in what is now known as the Municipality of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Though the young Cofresi was born to a family of wealth and pocessions he became disenfranchised and acquired a disdain for Spanish rule and other powerful forces around him. His birth name actually 'Kupferschein', from German parents. But the Spaniards had a tough time saying, yet alone writing the name; so it got renamed and recorded to a more easier 'Cofresi' by the authorities.

In modern times many have made 'El Pirata Cofresi' stand out as a self-styled Caribbean 'Robin Hood' who stole from the rich in order to give to the poor. But according to historical facts he was nothing of the sort. As an often vicious and ruthless pirate Roberto Cofresi used his ship, the Ana - a very fast schooner, as a base to launch his takeover and sacking of merchant ships of different flags (US and European), that traveled merchant routes in the Caribbean Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea. Once a ship was taken, Cofresi's orders were fulfilled quickly and without mercy against sailors of the captured ships and the ship itself.

A bloody take-over in the Atlantic
An example of the senseless viciousness and slaughter of innocents was recorded when he captured and boarded a Danish merchant ship that was moving goods from New York to the island of St. Thomas (east of Puerto Rico). Upon sighting the ship Cofresi proceeded to head toward it, and calmy told his men to ready their knifes and machetes in preparation for their bloody task ahead. Cofresi himself started sharpening his own boarding hatchet. The captain of the doomed ship at first thought that the fast approaching ship was benign, and ordered to unfurl the Danish flag as a friendly courtesy. Cofresi instead unfurled his own black pirate flag.

The Ana fired her cannons and scored a direct hit. By the time the crew of the Danish ship prepared for a reload of their muskets they were already being boarded by Cofresi and his pirates. Cofresi, with hatchet in hand, quickly dispatched the captain while his men started the slaughter of the crew with knives and machetes. None of the victims were prepared for the carnage that followed. Survivors tried to hide in the ships holds, but were quickly found and also dispatched to heir deaths. The ship was searched for valuables and later slowly sunk by Cofresi's men, who bored holes into her hull below the water line.

On to other victims
The Ana then set sail for Naguabo Puerto Rico, Cofresi's new home base after being forced out of Cabo Rojo. He most probably stopped at Vieques Island (part of Puerto Rico) to hide the loot taken from the Danish ship, and other ships. Commerce for the Island of St. Thomas, an American colony; was paralized due to the depredations of Pirate Cofresi and his men. The American goverment dispatched US Navy ships to the Atlantic in order to search and destroy the pirate ship. Cofresi became aware of this and abandoned preying on merchant ships using waters in the Atlantic. He instead moved his 'operations' to Caribbean waters and closer to home.

El Pirata Cofresi had previously established a reputation as a ruthless and dangerous pirate of the high seas who used Mona and later Vieques Islands to hide his stolen treasure. Once in 1824 he was captured by the government of the Dominican Republic, and sentenced to 6 years in prison. He quickly escaped from prison, fled back to Puerto Rico and hid in what is now known as the Municipality of Naguabo, where he transfered loot storage operations to Vieques. He and his men were identified in various acts of robbery, piracy, and murder against fellow Puertoricans and in the Caribbean waters.

A trap is set
An intricate plan was developed by the governments of Spain and the United States to once and for all rid the region of this menace, which was causing much loss of life and wreaking havoc with commerce for many island countries in the region. The Spaniards and the Americans formed an alliance led by Captains don Jose de Torres (Spanish Crown), and Garret S. Pendergast of the American Navy. They formed a team, along with cooperation from the Mayor of Ponce Puerto Rico, whose mission was to capture and remove this particular pirate from the region. This plan included the use of Naval and ground operations designed to ensnare, entrap and destroy this menace. A specialized American navy ship was chosen for this mission, led by a very capable and experienced American captain.

The Navy warship with its crew of 23 American sailors, quickly lined up parallel to the Ana, and fired a full salvo of cannon and rifle fire at the Ana and her crew, which quickly disabled the ship while killing a few pirates in the process. Pirate Cofresi was also injured in this assault. Cofresi proceeded to flee to shore while his ship was sinking. He managed to skuttle the Ana off the coast of Guayama, just east of Ponce. He rapidly got off his ship and ordered his remaining crew to disperse. Units of the Royal Spanish Army had developed a ground net and were already prepared for this eventuality. There were firefights between elements of the Ponce police, the Spanish Army, and various groups of pirates. These skirmishes caused the deaths of many of the pirates. The group led by Cofresi was cornered, causing further non-lethal injuries to Cofresi himself. El Pirata Cofresi was finally captured by the Spanish government.

Trial and execution
After Cofresi had recovered sufficiently from his wounds, he was transported to Fort San Felipe del Morro with 10 of his surviving men. After a brief trial by the Royal Spanish Court, Mr. Cofresi (formerly El Pirata Cofresi), and his remaining men were sentenced to death by firing squad. The sentenced was carried out on March 29th, 1825 by a detachment of the Grenada Regiment reporting to the Royal Spanish Army at Fort San Felipe del Morro. His body was placed on public display for 24 hours as ordered by the court. The 31 year old Roberto Cofresi was buried in the Cemetery of Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzi, now known as the Old San Juan Cemetery. This closed the chapter of piracy in its extreme form for the waters surrounding Puerto Rico and neighboring islands.

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