Iconic New York figure was likely "major player" in murderous pirate's 1695 heist, historian says

Key Points:

• Amateur historian James Bailey uncovered colonial-era documents suggesting Thomas Jones, namesake of New York's Jones Beach, assisted infamous pirate Capt. Henry Every in evading capture after the 1695 raid on the royal Indian treasure ship Ganj-i-Sawai.
• Jones, who later became a wealthy Long Island landowner and whaling proprietor, was investigated by New York's colonial governor for piracy-related activities, though family histories have long dismissed such claims as slander.
• Experts note Jones likely operated as a privateer—state-sanctioned during wartime but often considered pirates afterward—highlighting the blurred lines between privateering and piracy in the 17th century.
• The research emphasizes how piracy contributed to foundational wealth in colonial America, with prominent families economically linked to pirate activities despite popular portrayals of pirates as social outcasts.
• While Bailey's findings are intriguing, historians caution that the evidence is not definitive, partly due to the commonality of the name Thomas Jones and the complexity of historical records.