 William Snelgrave, one of their captives, reported that they “chose Cocklyn for their commander because of his brutality, being determined they said, never again to have a gentleman commander such as Moody was.”

Soon met by Howell Davis near the Sierra Leone River, the group captured a number of vessels in quick succession, including Snelgrave's "Bird Galley".The pirates exchanged ships several times, each keeping best of the lot, finally leaving the captured snow "Bristol" to Snelgrave and his crew.Snelgrave had been fond of Davis, who protected him, but was wary of the cruelty of Cocklyn, having witnessed him caning his own sailors and torturing captives and slaves.