Historian Links Thomas Jones to Henry Every Pirate Heist

New historical research suggests that Thomas Jones, the colonial-era landowner whose name became synonymous with Jones Beach, New York, helped notorious English pirate Captain Henry Every escape authorities after a 1695 raid on an Indian royal treasure ship. Amateur historian James Bailey uncovered documents linking Jones to the operation and its aftermath.

The findings could establish a connection between a prominent New York historical figure and one of piracy's largest recorded robberies. Bailey says Jones played a significant role in helping Every and his crew disappear after stealing tens of millions of dollars in gold and silver from the Ganj-i-Sawai.

"You have millions of visitors and generations of New Yorkers going to this beach. Nobody knew that he was actually a major player in arguably the biggest heist in the history of piracy," Bailey said.

According to Bailey, depositions from Every's associates indicate that Jones served as a getaway driver, helping the pirates avoid capture. The documents also suggest that Jones became a target of colonial authorities investigating the robbery.

The attack involved torture, killings and sexual violence against people aboard the royal vessel. The incident triggered international outrage and what historians consider the first worldwide manhunt. Several members of the crew were captured and executed, while Every and numerous associates disappeared.

Bailey's research also sheds light on Jones' subsequent rise as a wealthy businessman and landowner on Long Island. John Hanc, author of "Jones Beach: An Illustrated History," said the research addresses questions about Jones' largely unexplained early fortune.

Jones previously served as a major in the English military before moving to the American colonies. He initially settled in Rhode Island and later established himself as a prominent New York landowner, acquiring thousands of acres on Long Island.

Rumors about his wealth continued after his death in 1713. His former mansion became associated with ghost stories, while grave robbers repeatedly disturbed his burial site in searches for supposedly hidden treasure.

A family history published in 1906 by one of Jones' descendants rejected the allegations. Thomas Floyd-Jones characterized the accusations as "slander" and "improbable fictions."

"People were disposed to cast slurs upon his memory, either for mischievousness, or a spirit of malice," Thomas Floyd-Jones wrote. "These myths were cherished for over a century after his death, which ignorance and superstition did not fail to magnify."

However, maritime historians say Jones' possible involvement must be considered within the complicated relationship between privateering and piracy during the colonial period.

Meagan Schulman, a Fordham University doctoral candidate specializing in 17th-century piracy, explained that Jones had worked as a privateer, a sailor authorized by the English crown to attack rival commercial vessels during wartime.

When the conflict ended, privateers lost their official authorization. Those who continued attacking ships could subsequently be classified as pirates.

"The reality was that privateers were pirates, just sponsored by a certain government or patron," Schulman said. "So maybe the short answer is, yes. Jones can be called a pirate, by some people, but he probably did not ever see himself as one."

Bailey's documents indicate that Jones briefly returned to Rhode Island after allegedly assisting Every's crew. In 1696, his father-in-law, Thomas Townsend, a wealthy New Yorker, transferred a substantial tract of land on Long Island's south shore to Jones and his wife.

Bailey believes the property provided Jones with an opportunity to establish a new life while authorities continued searching New England for Every and his associates. Jones subsequently built a homestead and raised a family on Long Island.

Colonial records also document an investigation conducted by New York Governor Richard Coote in 1698. According to Bailey, Coote described how witnesses traced a "barrel of money" from New York City to Jones' Long Island residence.

Coote identified Jones as "formerly a pirate," but Jones denied knowing anything about the money when questioned by the governor.

Richard Blakemore, a maritime history professor at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, cautioned that Bailey's findings are compelling but not conclusive. He noted that Thomas Jones was a relatively common name, making definitive identification difficult.

Kevin McDonald, a history professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles who has written about colonial-era piracy, said the alleged connection illustrates how maritime plunder contributed to the accumulation of "foundational and multi-generational wealth" among prominent families in the northeastern American colonies.

Blakemore also challenged conventional portrayals of pirates as social outcasts. "Popular images of pirates show them as outcasts, but many historians have argued the opposite, based on evidence like this," he said.