This article is about the English pirate. For the Jesuit brother and poet, see Thomas Pounde.
Thomas Pound (also spelled Thomas Pounds and Thomas Ponnd; died 1703) was an English Royal Navy officer who turned pirate and was briefly active in the coastal waters of New England during 1689. Caught and convicted of piracy, his crimes were forgiven and he later rejoined the Royal Navy.
Born in England, Pound joined the Royal Navy and rose to become a junior officer and naval cartographer stationed in the colonial port of Boston, Massachusetts. One of Pound's maps has been preserved in the Library of Congress, depicting the New England coastline between Cape Cod and "Cape Sables" on modern-day Sable Island.[1]
Pirateedit
On August 8, 1689, Pound was aboard a small vessel owned by Thomas Hawkins, in the company with six other passengers when it anchored off Lovell's Island and was boarded by five additional men. By pre-arrangement, Pound and the newly arrived men from Lovell's Island then seized the ship as their own. Hawkins willingly joined the pirates;[2] he was occasionally named in Pound's place in subsequent events.[3]
Pound's first encounter as a pirate was unspectacular. Sailing along the Massachusetts Coast, he encountered a fishing vessel but failed to engage. Instead, Pound had his vessel hauled alongside and purchased a supply of mackerel for eight pennies. Turning north, Pound made port in Falmouth, Maine and supplemented his small crew with soldiers who had deserted from the local garrison. Returning to sea, Pound and his men then attacked the sloop Good Speed off Cape Cod and the brigantine Merrimack among other ships in the New England area.[2]
An armed sloop, Mary, was soon sent out by the Massachusetts governor against Pound and his crew.[1] On 4 October, Mary discovered and engaged Pound's vessel anchored off Naushon Island.[1] In heavy fighting Pound suffered gunshot wounds and Mary's captain, Samuel Pease, was killed.[1] Outnumbered and outgunned, Pound and his crew surrendered and were taken back to Boston for trial. On January 13, 1690, Pound and Hawkins were found guilty of acts of piracy and sentenced to death.[4]
Redemptionedit
Pound was placed aboard HMS Rose, the replacement by the Royal Navy of Pound's old frigate the Salé Rose bound for England, where his sentence would be carried out. However, the ship was mid-voyage when it was attacked by a French privateer. Pound was released to assist with the defence after the death of the captain, and fought bravely on behalf of his captors, Pound received a commutation of sentence on arrival in England and was released from prison after a short incarceration.[4] Hawkins had been sent back to England on the same ship but was killed in the action against the French privateer.[5]
Pound's naval rank was restored and he was later given command of his own vessel, his brief piratical career apparently forgotten. He died in 1703.[6]
See alsoedit
Woods Hole Museum, "Pursuit and Capture of a Privateer off Woods Hole, 1689" - Two paintings by Franklin Gifford depicting Pound's capture by the Mary.
William Coward - seized a ketch in the same area at the same time as Hawkins and Pound, and was jailed and tried alongside them.
^ abRadune, Richard A. (2005). Pequot Plantation: The Story of an Early Colonial Settlement. Branford CT: Research in Time Publications. pp. 247–249. ISBN9780976434108. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
^Gosse, Philip (1924). The Pirates' Who's Who by Philip Gosse. New York: Burt Franklin. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
^Marley, David (2010). Pirates of the Americas. Santa Barbara CA: ABC-CLIO. p. 638. ISBN9781598842012. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
^Dow, George Francis; Edmonds, John Henry (2012). The Pirates of the New England Coast 1630-1730. New York: Courier Corporation. p. 70. ISBN9780486138145. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
Bibliographyedit
Peterson, Mark A. (2002). "The Selling of Joseph: Bostonians, Antislavery and the Protestant International, 1689-1733". Massachusetts Historical Review. 4. Massachusetts Historical Society: iv–22. JSTOR 25081169.
Ellis, George E.; Winsor, Justin; Porter, Edward G.; Deane, Charles; Peabody, Andrew P. (May 1886). "May Meeting, 1886. Diaries of Sullivan's Expedition: General Sullivan's Expedition: Journal of William McKendry: Maps of Boston Harbor: The Boston Port Bill: Dr Belknap's Protest: Memoir of John Langdon Sibley". Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society. 2. Massachusetts Historical Society: 435–507. JSTOR 25079647.
Edmonds, John Henry and George Francis Dow. The Pirates of the New England Coast 1630-1730. Toronto: Courier Dover Publications, 1996. ISBN0-486-29064-6
Peffer, Randall S. Logs of the Dead Pirates Society: A Schooner Adventure Around Buzzards Bay. Dobbs Ferry, New York: Sheridan House Inc., 2000. ISBN1-57409-095-X
Pounds, Wayne. Thomas Pound: Pilot, Privateer, Cartographers, and Captain in the Royal Navy". Independently published on Amazon.com, 2019.
Seitz, Don Carlos, Howard F. Gospel and Stephen Wood. Under the Black Flag: Exploits of the Most Notorious Pirates. Mineola, New York: Courier Dover Publications, 2002. ISBN0-486-42131-7
April 10, 2024
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This article is about the English pirate For the Jesuit brother and poet see Thomas Pounde Thomas Pound also spelled Thomas Pounds and Thomas Ponnd died 1703 was an English Royal Navy officer who turned pirate and was briefly active in the coastal waters of New England during 1689 Caught and convicted of piracy his crimes were forgiven and he later rejoined the Royal Navy Thomas PoundBorn presumed EnglandDied1703Piratical careerYears active1689 1690RankCaptainBase of operationsCoast of New England Contents 1 Early life 2 Pirate 3 Redemption 4 See also 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 Further readingEarly life editBorn in England Pound joined the Royal Navy and rose to become a junior officer and naval cartographer stationed in the colonial port of Boston Massachusetts One of Pound s maps has been preserved in the Library of Congress depicting the New England coastline between Cape Cod and Cape Sables on modern day Sable Island 1 Pirate editOn August 8 1689 Pound was aboard a small vessel owned by Thomas Hawkins in the company with six other passengers when it anchored off Lovell s Island and was boarded by five additional men By pre arrangement Pound and the newly arrived men from Lovell s Island then seized the ship as their own Hawkins willingly joined the pirates 2 he was occasionally named in Pound s place in subsequent events 3 Pound s first encounter as a pirate was unspectacular Sailing along the Massachusetts Coast he encountered a fishing vessel but failed to engage Instead Pound had his vessel hauled alongside and purchased a supply of mackerel for eight pennies Turning north Pound made port in Falmouth Maine and supplemented his small crew with soldiers who had deserted from the local garrison Returning to sea Pound and his men then attacked the sloop Good Speed off Cape Cod and the brigantine Merrimack among other ships in the New England area 2 An armed sloop Mary was soon sent out by the Massachusetts governor against Pound and his crew 1 On 4 October Mary discovered and engaged Pound s vessel anchored off Naushon Island 1 In heavy fighting Pound suffered gunshot wounds and Mary s captain Samuel Pease was killed 1 Outnumbered and outgunned Pound and his crew surrendered and were taken back to Boston for trial On January 13 1690 Pound and Hawkins were found guilty of acts of piracy and sentenced to death 4 Redemption editPound was placed aboard HMS Rose the replacement by the Royal Navy of Pound s old frigate the Sale Rose bound for England where his sentence would be carried out However the ship was mid voyage when it was attacked by a French privateer Pound was released to assist with the defence after the death of the captain and fought bravely on behalf of his captors Pound received a commutation of sentence on arrival in England and was released from prison after a short incarceration 4 Hawkins had been sent back to England on the same ship but was killed in the action against the French privateer 5 Pound s naval rank was restored and he was later given command of his own vessel his brief piratical career apparently forgotten He died in 1703 6 See also editWoods Hole Museum Pursuit and Capture of a Privateer off Woods Hole 1689 Two paintings by Franklin Gifford depicting Pound s capture by the Mary William Coward seized a ketch in the same area at the same time as Hawkins and Pound and was jailed and tried alongside them References edit a b c d Ellis et al 1886 p 479 a b Radune Richard A 2005 Pequot Plantation The Story of an Early Colonial Settlement Branford CT Research in Time Publications pp 247 249 ISBN 9780976434108 Retrieved 6 October 2017 Gosse Philip 1924 The Pirates Who s Who by Philip Gosse New York Burt Franklin Retrieved 23 June 2017 a b Peterson 2002 p 19 Marley David 2010 Pirates of the Americas Santa Barbara CA ABC CLIO p 638 ISBN 9781598842012 Retrieved 4 August 2017 Dow George Francis Edmonds John Henry 2012 The Pirates of the New England Coast 1630 1730 New York Courier Corporation p 70 ISBN 9780486138145 Retrieved 6 October 2017 Bibliography editPeterson Mark A 2002 The Selling of Joseph Bostonians Antislavery and the Protestant International 1689 1733 Massachusetts Historical Review 4 Massachusetts Historical Society iv 22 JSTOR 25081169 Ellis George E Winsor Justin Porter Edward G Deane Charles Peabody Andrew P May 1886 May Meeting 1886 Diaries of Sullivan s Expedition General Sullivan s Expedition Journal of William McKendry Maps of Boston Harbor The Boston Port Bill Dr Belknap s Protest Memoir of John Langdon Sibley Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society 2 Massachusetts Historical Society 435 507 JSTOR 25079647 Further reading editColonial Society of Massachusetts Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts 1932 Edmonds John Henry and George Francis Dow The Pirates of the New England Coast 1630 1730 Toronto Courier Dover Publications 1996 ISBN 0 486 29064 6 Peffer Randall S Logs of the Dead Pirates Society A Schooner Adventure Around Buzzards Bay Dobbs Ferry New York Sheridan House Inc 2000 ISBN 1 57409 095 X Pounds Wayne Thomas Pound Pilot Privateer Cartographers and Captain in the Royal Navy Independently published on Amazon com 2019 Seitz Don Carlos Howard F Gospel and Stephen Wood Under the Black Flag Exploits of the Most Notorious Pirates Mineola New York Courier Dover Publications 2002 ISBN 0 486 42131 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Pound amp oldid 1170149785, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
