When
Nathaniel Bacon rebelled against
Virginia colonial officials in 1676, Larimore sided with the Virginia loyalists under Governor
William Berkeley. He ferried troops and fought in and around
Newport News in his ship
Rebecca, which was captured by Bacon’s rebels then recaptured and returned to Larimore. He then used the
Rebecca – with extra cannon added by the rebels – to capture the rebels’ remaining ships, helping lead the loyalists to victory. In 1702 he was commissioned as a privateer by Governor
Joseph Dudley of
Boston to sail against the French, and took at least five French ships. Dudley commissioned Larimore again in 1703, this time to lead a unit of foot soldiers to help defend
Jamaica against the Spanish. His soldiers suffered from disease and went unpaid, shuffled around the Caribbean and as far north as
Newfoundland before being returned to Boston that November. By late 1706 Larimore had been returned to New England and again placed under arrest, “suspected of very ill designs and practices.” ==See also==