 Fleeing from Jamaica after being charged with murder, Baldridge sailed to Madagascar and, by 1690, had established a base of operations on the island of St. Mary's.By the following year, Baldridge controlled the inland waterway into St. Mary's having established a virtual stronghold overlooking the island harbor as well as protecting the settlements' warehouses.After he had subdued the local tribes, native chieftains would be forced to pay Baldridge to mediate between warring tribes.