Peter Easton is a name that goes hand in hand with both legend and fact. In a lot of cases, it is hard to tell where legend ends and fact begins. It is said that he was a loyal English seaman and officer in 1602. He was born of an old and respectable English family and grew up to serve in Queen Elizabeth I's Royal Navy as a privateer.

Privateer to Pirate

England was involved in a war with Spain and a conflict in Ireland in the very early 1600s. Because of this, the English could not work towards settling North America. It was not until King James I established peace with Spain, through the Treaty of London of 1604, that England was finally able to begin settling the New World.

The first permanent English settlement was founded in Jamestown, Virginia in 1607, and the second in Cupids, Conception Bay, Newfoundland in 1610.

As the war with Spain drew to an end, King James ordered all of the English captains involved in attacking Spainish ships to come home. Some of the captains disobeyed these orders and became pirates. According to legend, Peter Easton was one of these captains.

A Failed Attempt

By the time the king finally sent ships under Captain Henry Mainwaring to put a stop to the plundering in 1610, Peter's fleet was said to number 40 vessels. Captain Mainwaring's attempt to capture Peter failed. Not long after, Captain Mainwaring decided to become a pirate himself.

Supplies and Men

It has been said that Peter Easton spent a lot of time in Newfoundland, but all we know for sure is that he was here in 1612. He arrived in Newfoundland in the spring of 1612 with four ships. The ships were in hard shape. John Slany says that the fishermen and settlers should have worked together to capture the pirates when they first arrived. If they had, they probably would have defeated them because “their men were sick and their ships were leaky.”

This didn't happen. Instead Peter built a fort at Harbour Grace and began raiding the fishing fleet in Trinity and Conception Bays for men and supplies. He repaired his ships and added men to his crews by persuasion or force. Not only did the pirate fortify Harbour Grace, but claims have been made that Peter also set up another base at Kelly's Island on the far shore of Conception Bay. Even today there are stories of buried treasure on Kelly's Island.

Retaking Harbour Grace

There is a legend that once, while Peter and his men were away on a raid, his fort in Harbour Grace was captured by ships belonging to the French and Basques. The legend says that when they spotted the pirate's fleet returning to Conception Bay, a squadron was sent and a battle took place. With daring and skill, Peter's fleet defeated the Basque and wrecked their flagship St. Malo. They then landed and re-captured their fort. The story goes on to say that the 47 members of Peter's crew who are said to have died that day are buried in a graveyard at Bears Cove. Peter's prize, the San Sebastian, eventually was looted of treasure and burned.

Another legend says that in 1612, a French squadron of warships entered Harbour Grace to fight Peter Easton and his pirate fleet and that the French were destroyed.

A Move to Ferryland

Peter Easton left Harbour Grace on July 17, 1612. He sailed first to St. John's and then moved on to Ferryland. He was only in Ferryland for a month or so. He was there in August, when Henry Crout was in Renews, but seems to have gone by the end of August or early September with plans to intercept the Spanish Treasure Fleet which would have left the Carribean in July or early August.

John Mason wrote that when Peter left Newfoundland he had nine ships, 500 men and 100 cannons. He had also stolen £10,400 worth of goods from the English fishermen. Henry Crout's writings tell us that he had also captured about 30 French vessels.

Cupers Cove

Peter did no physical harm to Cupers Cove. When his presence along the coast became known during the Summer of 1612, the settlers gave him two pigs to prevent him from doing any further harm. It was the fishing ships that Peter was interested in looting. There was only one clash with the colonists, in which one was shot by error. However, the colonists were foced to give up a second colony which they had set up at Renews. This was a serious loss. Their fear of pirates was too great to risk dividing their group. As well, they put off their plan to explore Trinity Bay, until the fall of that year. They built a fort in Cupers Cove from which they could protect themselves if the pirate did choose to attack.

Pardon Me Richard

In 1612, Peter wanted a pardon from King James. He captured Captain Richard Whitbourne, and kept him prisoner for 11 weeks, attempting all the while to convert him to piracy. He released Richard on the condition he would ask the King for his royal pardon. This was later given and is documented in British records.

More Treasure

In 1612, Peter ambushed the Spanish Treasure Fleet and captured four ships. His success led to alliances on the eastern side of the Atlantic which enabled him to amass an even greater fortune.

Moving to France

He eventually retired from piracy  a very wealthy man and settled in Villefranche, France. He bought a palace, set up a warehouse for his loot, and lived in luxury. Once settled, the "Pirate Admiral" became the "Master of Ordinance" for the Duke of Savoy, and remained in the service of the Duke until 1620. Being a handsome man around 40, he crowned his career by marrying a very wealthy woman of noble birth and acquired the title of "Marquis of Savoy". There after he was lost to history.

Undefeated

Peter Easton was a well known pirate in his day and one of the most notorious persons in Newfoundland  history . He was an able and bold seaman, and an expert in mounting and firing cannons at sea.  When Peter left Newfoundland in 1612, he commanded 9 ships and 500 men.  He was never overtaken by any fleet commissioned to hunt him down. 

The Legend of Princess Sheila

Although there is no evidence to support this story, according to a local legend, in 1602 on his way to Newfoundland, before becoming a pirate, Peter captured a Dutch pirate ship and found prisoners. Among them was the legendary Princess Sheila Na Geira. Peter Easton did not return the captives to England, but brought them with him to Newfoundland. As legend has it, Princess Sheila fell in love with and married Peter's top lieutenant, Gilbert Pike. Upon arrival in Newfoundland, Gilbert refused to join Peter in his piracy. The couple settled at Mosquito which is known as Bristol's Hope.

Letters About Peter Easton