Thomas Nichols (fl. 1717–1718) was a pirate active in the Caribbean and off the American east coast. He is best known as a leader among the "Flying Gang" of pirates operating out of New Providence.
Jolly Roger flag of pirate Thomas Nichols, described as "in his flag a dart and a bleeding heart."
Historyedit
Very little is known of Nichols’ life or career.[1] He is recorded as attacking Nathaniel Brooker’s snowRestoration in his 6-gun, 80-man sloop alongside Captain Napin (Napping) in August 1717 en route to Boston,[2] from which the pirates took cargo, sails, rigging, and general goods before releasing it. Brooker described Nichols’ jolly roger flag: he “had in his flag a dart and a bleeding heart.”[2]
King George offered a general pardon to pirates in September 1717, forgiving any who surrendered by September 1718. Captain Vincent Pearse of HMS Phoenix sailed to Nassau to deliver the offer to the Caribbean pirates personally.[3] In early 1718 Nichols was among a group of pirate leaders who urged Pearse to release Charles Vane and other pirates he’d detained as a show of good faith.[4] Pearse did so, and Nichols with Josiah Burgess, Benjamin Hornigold, and hundreds of others accepted the King’s Pardon.[4] Pearse actually had no authority to accept their surrender, so Nichols, Francis Leslie, and a few others instead sailed to Bermuda to surrender to Governor Benjamin Bennett.[3]
The Thomas Nichols who attacked Restoration with Napin and surrendered to Governor Bennett should not be confused with the Thomas Nichols who sailed with Stede Bonnet and was exonerated at trial for having been forced to aid his pirate captors.[5]
See alsoedit
Woodes Rogers, Governor of the Bahamas who delivered and enforced the 1718 King's Pardon.
Referencesedit
^Fox, E. T. (2015). Jolly Rogers, the True History of Pirate Flags. Raleigh NC: Lulu.com. ISBN9781326448172. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
^ abCordingly, David (2013). Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates. New York: Random House Publishing Group. pp. 112, 118, 248. ISBN9780307763075. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
^ abFox, E. T. (2014). Pirates in Their Own Words. Raleigh NC: Lulu.com. ISBN9781291943993. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
^ abWoodard, Colin (2008). The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down. Orlando FL: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. pp. 235–236. ISBN978-0547415758. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
^Cowse, Benjamin (1719). The tryals of Major Stede Bonnet and other pirates(PDF). London: The Rose and Crown. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
January 01, 1970
thomas, nichols, pirate, thomas, nichols, 1717, 1718, pirate, active, caribbean, american, east, coast, best, known, leader, among, flying, gang, pirates, operating, providence, thomas, nicholspiratical, careeryears, active1717, 1718base, operationscaribbean, . Thomas Nichols fl 1717 1718 was a pirate active in the Caribbean and off the American east coast He is best known as a leader among the Flying Gang of pirates operating out of New Providence Thomas NicholsPiratical careerYears active1717 1718Base of operationsCaribbean American east coast Jolly Roger flag of pirate Thomas Nichols described as in his flag a dart and a bleeding heart History editVery little is known of Nichols life or career 1 He is recorded as attacking Nathaniel Brooker s snow Restoration in his 6 gun 80 man sloop alongside Captain Napin Napping in August 1717 en route to Boston 2 from which the pirates took cargo sails rigging and general goods before releasing it Brooker described Nichols jolly roger flag he had in his flag a dart and a bleeding heart 2 King George offered a general pardon to pirates in September 1717 forgiving any who surrendered by September 1718 Captain Vincent Pearse of HMS Phoenix sailed to Nassau to deliver the offer to the Caribbean pirates personally 3 In early 1718 Nichols was among a group of pirate leaders who urged Pearse to release Charles Vane and other pirates he d detained as a show of good faith 4 Pearse did so and Nichols with Josiah Burgess Benjamin Hornigold and hundreds of others accepted the King s Pardon 4 Pearse actually had no authority to accept their surrender so Nichols Francis Leslie and a few others instead sailed to Bermuda to surrender to Governor Benjamin Bennett 3 The Thomas Nichols who attacked Restoration with Napin and surrendered to Governor Bennett should not be confused with the Thomas Nichols who sailed with Stede Bonnet and was exonerated at trial for having been forced to aid his pirate captors 5 See also editWoodes Rogers Governor of the Bahamas who delivered and enforced the 1718 King s Pardon References edit Fox E T 2015 Jolly Rogers the True History of Pirate Flags Raleigh NC Lulu com ISBN 9781326448172 Retrieved 17 July 2017 a b Cordingly David 2013 Under the Black Flag The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates New York Random House Publishing Group pp 112 118 248 ISBN 9780307763075 Retrieved 17 July 2017 a b Fox E T 2014 Pirates in Their Own Words Raleigh NC Lulu com ISBN 9781291943993 Retrieved 17 June 2017 a b Woodard Colin 2008 The Republic of Pirates Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down Orlando FL Houghton Mifflin Harcourt pp 235 236 ISBN 978 0547415758 Retrieved 17 July 2017 Cowse Benjamin 1719 The tryals of Major Stede Bonnet and other pirates PDF London The Rose and Crown Retrieved 17 July 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Nichols pirate amp oldid 1186844504, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
