Evan Jones

Evan Jones (fl. 1698-1699, first name occasionally Achen) was a Welsh-born pirate from New York active in the Indian Ocean, best known for his indirect connection to Robert Culliford and for capturing a future Mayor of New York.

History

The slave ship Beckford Galley (sometimes Bedford Galley) left England in June 1698 for west Africa and Madagascar under Captain John Harris, who was notoriously cruel to his crew. When they put in at Tulear on Madagascar in late 1698 or early 1699, the crew conspired with a number of pirates from ashore, led by John Ryder. He had been a gunner on one of Emperor Aurangzeb's ships and had been aboard the frigate Mocha when Robert Culliford mutinied and seized it. Culliford accepted a general pardon for pirates offered at Île Sainte-Marie but Ryder and several others remained behind where they’d made their way to Tulear. Ryder's group and Beckford Galleys crew murdered Harris, stole the ship, and put ashore anyone unwilling to turn to piracy.

The pirates elected Evan Jones as their new captain, with Ryder as his quartermaster. Sailing back up the coast of western Africa, they had little success. At a signal that night, Jones' men boarded Prophet Daniel and seized it. Cruger hired some of Samuel's warriors to attack the two ships with musket fire from shore, but they had little effect. When Cruger tried to have Samuel's men cut the ships’ anchor cables, Samuel revealed that Jones had paid him off, promising him slaves and the Prophet Daniel. Jones and Beckford Galley sailed away, with some of Prophet Daniels crew (and possibly Appel as well) aboard. Jones tried to recruit other Madagascar pirates to Beckford Galley, some of whom refused (a few who had sailed with Robert Colley and Joseph Wheeler), preferring like Culliford to accept a pardon and wait for a passing merchant to return them to America.

By September 1699 the ship (possibly renamed Tulear Galley or "Tolier Galley") needed repairs. Returning to Tulear, they captured a brigantine which they sank after looting it for supplies and slaves, again putting ashore anyone who refused to join them. one source said they later joined Culliford’s crew.

As a New York alderman years later, Cruger remembered his ordeal with Jones' pirates. Captain Peter Solgard of HMS Greyhound engaged pirates Edward Low and Charles Harris off Delaware Bay in 1723, mauling Low's ship and driving him off while capturing Harris after a lengthy battle. Cruger was among the aldermen who rewarded Solgard for his bravery.