Pirates: Authentic to the Thankgiving Story Last modified on 2009-09-13 00:05:53 GMT. 0 comments. Top. First, when the Mayflower sailed in 1620 the Pilgrims had cause to pray for safe passage without interception by Algerian Corsairs, also known as Barbary Coast Pirates. The Algerian pirates were known for slave trading in white European Christians. Second, [...]