John Thomas, a Welsh pirate of Jamaica.

The unfortunate Mr Thomas may have been one of the famous party marooned and left to starve by Blackbeared (Captain Teach).

He's known to have been a crewman of the Royal James, with Captain Thomas (aka Stede Bonnet) the master.

History has only recorded the exploits of the captain of the vessel, alas John Thomas
seems to have been an ordinary seaman. However, the master, Major Stede Bonnet
is well documented.

The history of this pirate is both interesting and unique. He was not brought up to the seafaring life; in fact, before he took to piracy, he had already retired from the Army, with the rank of Major. He owned substantial landed property in Barbados, lived in a fine house, was married, and much respected by the quality and gentry of that island.

His first ship was 'The Revenge' which he actually bought with his own money! It seems likely John Thomas served aboard right from the start since he was one of the crew famously marooned by Blackbeared, events detailed later in this document.

Bonnet scored some success even though he knew very little of maritime life and necessities, his crew understood this and paid him little respect. By chance he and Blackbeared met up. Realising Bonnet had lost the respect of his crew, Teach claimed the Revenge as his own, the crew too! Bonnet was removed from command of the Revenge and a Lieutenant Richards put there in his place.

At about this time England and France allied against Spain, both the French and British were keen to stamp their authority on the region and pardons were offered to pirates wishing to go straight.

It was Teach's bad luck to run into some British ships about now. Being cornered and out gunned he surrendered, claiming he was seeking a pardon after all and would take a privateers warrant to go in search of the Spanish if tendered. Unbelievably, his offer was accepted! Thus his crew, Bonnet and John Thomas too became legal seafarers again.

Bonnet went his own way, gaining a commission from the French governor at St. Thomas's Island to seek pirate and Spanish vessels. Meanwhile Blackbeared, with John Thomas in tow returned to piracy and famously wrecked his fleet, all bar his own ship leaving most of the crew marooned on a desert island. John Thomas was almost certainly in this party which was saved by the return of the hapless Stede Bonnet. Having saved the men and equipped with a new ship the Royal James they set off in search of Teach, looking for revenge but failed to track him down. As time passed they eventually returned to their old ways of piracy.

Eventually Bonnet and his crew were caught by Colonel William Rhet who had been commissioned by the Council of South Carolina for that purpose.

The trial of Stede Bonnet and his crew began on October 28th, 1718, at Charleston, and continued till November 12th, the Judge being Nicholas Trot. Bonnet was found guilty and condemned to be hanged. Judge Trot made a speech of overwhelming length to the condemned, full of Biblical quotations, to each of which the learned magistrate gave chapter and verse. In November, 1718, the gallant, if unfortunate, Major was hanged at White Point, Charleston along with his crew, one John Thomas and all.

Apart from the unusual cause for his turning pirate, Bonnet is interesting as being almost the only case known, otherwise than in books of romance, of a pirate making his prisoners walk the plank.

connection: John Thomas was known to be a Welshman.


Related information...
      Henry Morgan, Buccaneers, Freebooters and Pirates.
      David Williams, Buccaneers, Freebooters and Pirates.
      the Hump Murray, Wrong side of the law.
      John Callice, Buccaneers, Freebooters and Pirates.
      Black Bart, Buccaneers, Freebooters and Pirates.
Are you related to John Thomas? Or maybe you have a special interest?
Let us know, add a comment to this listing right now!

What would you like to do now?
Click on any of the following options...

• Add your own comment?
• Add an interesting link?
• Request a 'keep me posted'?
• Find out more about these features?

Go back to the previous page?