Captain Grinnaway

Captain Grinnaway (fl. 1718, also known as Greenway) was a pirate from Bermuda, best known for being briefly and indirectly involved with Edward Teach (or Thatch, alias Blackbeard).

History

On 5 December 1717, Blackbeard captured the sloop Margaret captained by Henry Bostock, taking aboard several of his crew. Blackbeard questioned Bostock about ships in the vicinity, and was particularly interested in the whereabouts of a Captain named Pinkentham (or Pinkethman). Pinkentham, who may have known Blackbeard, had served in the War of Spanish Succession and had acquired a commission from the British to scour the wrecks of the Spanish treasure fleet. An accident while boarding a prize ship gave the forced men a chance to get away: imprisoned black slaves aboard Pinkentham's ship (crewed by "10 men, 2 boys and 6 Negros"

This may be the same incident reported to Delaware Governor William Keith in July 1718. Twelve sailors - which could be the “10 men, 2 boys” from Pinkentham's ship - reported that they had been aboard a Jamaican sloop searching the Spanish treasure fleet wrecks when they met another vessel and invited its crew aboard. The new arrivals were pirates led by “Captain Greenway” who forced them into piracy for several months.

Grinnaway should not be confused with Captain William Greenaway of the ship Lancaster, which was taken by pirate John Auger. Pirate turned pirate-hunter Benjamin Hornigold later captured Augur; based on the testimony of Greenaway and others, Augur was tried, convicted, and hanged.