Memorials › Andreas or Andrew D Rocha or Roach
Andreas or Andrew D Rocha or Roach
1794 – 1848
| Birth | 1794 |
| Death | 1848 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205463440 |
Bio
-PROFILES IN PILLAGE Galveston Pirateers 1816-1822 by Bill Doree(UNK-),page 70-71: ANDRES ROCHA (also referred to as Andrew Roach, Andreas Roche or Roch)- Born in Italy in 1794, Rocha probably got his feet wet while sailing with privateers in the Caribbean.Not much is known about this Italian mariner until he showed up on the Texas coast around the time of the first James Long expedition to Texas in 1819.One report stated that he served as commander of the schooner TEXAS with Jose Felix Trepalacios and Ben Milam as charter agents for a voyage from Galveston Vera Cruz in August of 1821.Another report had him in command of a "large black ship" in Galveston Bay in December, 1821. Sometime in the spring of 1822,Roach sailed his vessel to the Yucatan where he hoped to find an easy prey to ravage. Instead he found a US naval ship in hot pursuit. Roach tried to outsail his adversary but failed. His ship and crew were escorted to New Orleans to stand trial for piracy. Roach, fearing for his life, sent a dispatch to Jose Trespalacios, now the acting Governor at San Antonio, and pleaded for his old friend to come to his rescue. At least, he remonstrated,"you must tell American officials that you gave me the commission to cruise for the Mexican republic." It is possible that the Governor did come to Roach's aid. At any rate,Roach and his ship and crew were released for a lack of evidence. No sooner did he gain his freedom, this dumb Italian sailed his vessel again on a raiding excursion to the Yucatan. This time he was successful in the capture of some loot as well as some Spanish prisoners. He brought the prisoners to Galveston Bay where he subjected them to slave labor in building a house for Roach in the Atascosita region. But three of the Spaniards escaped and reported their harsh treatment to Governor Trespalacios at San Antonio. There is no evidence that Roach was ever punished for his inhumane treatment of the prisoners. After settling down near Anahuac,Roach married Sally Taylor and retired as a mariner. He and his family removed to Matamoros in 1832. Although there is no proof that Roach sailed under either Aury or Laffite, he is listed herein due to his raids out of Galveston Bay in 1821 and 1822. ---
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