Peter Easton
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Peter Easton (c. 1570 – 1620 or after) was a pirate in the early 17th century who operated along the Newfoundland coastline between Harbour Grace and Ferryland from 1611 to 1614. Perhaps one of the most successful of all pirates he controlled such seapower that no sovereign or state could afford to ignore him and he was never overtaken or captured by any fleet commissioned to hunt him down. However, not as well known as some of the pirates from the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
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[edit] Loyal Service
Peter Easton had been a loyal English Crown servant whose ancestors served in the Crusades. The Eastons also distinguished themselves against the Spanish Armada.
In 1602 Easton was in command of a convoy as a privateer with a commission from Queen Elizabeth I, to protect the Newfoundland fishing fleet. During these times fishing vessels would carry arms and small cannons to protect the valuable cargo of fish from pirates and foreign vessels. Under his commission he could legally press-gang local fishermen into service for him. He could also attack the ships and wharves of the enemy as much as he wished, especially the much hated Spanish. Peter Easton's flagship was the Happy Adventure from which he flew the St. George's Cross from its mast.
[edit] Becoming a pirate
The turning point in Easton’s career came in 1603 when Elizabeth I was succeeded by James I, where the new King sued for peace with Spain and cancelled all letters of commission to privateers. Easton continued his attack on vessels even though there weren’t any orders for him to carry out; he just simply carried on the same activities as though nothing had changed. In doing so he had crossed the line from protector to pirate.
Easton continued attacking Spanish ships for gold in the West Indies and the Mediterranean while in the meantime demanding and receiving protection money from English ships. In 1610 he blockaded the Bristol Channel, effectively controlling the shipping entering and leaving the powerful western English ports.
Easton for the most part was acting on behalf of the a powerful family of Killigrews from Falmouth, Cornwall. They financed his expeditions and also took share in his profits.
By 1612 Easton was in charge of ten pirate ships and had is headquarters at Harbour Grace. He raided and plundered both English and foreign vessels and the harbours of Newfoundland, press-ganging fishermen into his service along the way.
On one expedition he plundered thirty ships in St. John's and held Sir Richard Whitbourne prisoner, releasing him on the condition that Whitbourne go to England and obtain a pardon for Easton. The pardon was granted but by this time Easton had moved on to the Barbary Coast to harass the Spanish.
While in Newfoundland, Easton is estimated to have taken as many as 1,500 fishermen for his ships, some went voluntarily, but undoubtedly the majority were taken by force. Easton continued to protect John Guy’s colony at Cuper’s Cove but did not however allow him to establish another colony at Renews.
On one of his raids to the Caribbean he reputedly breached the supposedly unassailable Fort San Felipe del Morro, Puerto Rico, which had once withstood a siege by Sir Francis Drake. Easton captured the Spanish ship San Sebastian which was full of treasure and took it back to Harbour Grace.
Easton eventually settled in Villefranche Savoy,with two million pounds of gold, acquiring the title Marquis of Savoy.
[edit] Legend
Popular belief has it that The Irish Princess, Sheila NaGeria was captured from a Dutch warship by Easton and while she was a prisoner there fell in love with one of Easton’s lieutenants, Gilbert Pike. They eventually married and Gilbert left Easton’s employ and they both settled and became planters in a place called Mosquito, now called Bristol’s Hope.[citation needed]
