Jones Beach Namesake: Colonial Records Suggest Pirate Links

Tens of millions of dollars in gold and silver vanished from the royal Indian ship Ganj-i-Sawai in 1695, a loss that triggered one of the first global manhunts in history. The crew of Captain Henry Every, known as the King of the Pirates, tortured and killed sailors on the vessel before disappearing into the Red Sea. While some members of the crew were later executed, Every and many others were never seen again, leading historians to believe they scattered across Europe and the American colonies.

James Bailey, an amateur historian and retired corrections officer from Rhode Island, claims to have found a critical piece of the puzzle. Bailey previously made headlines for uncovering ancient coins linked to Every. Now, he asserts that colonial-era documents implicate Thomas Jones, the namesake of Jones Beach, in the aftermath of the raid. Jones Beach is the most visited state park in New York, trailing only Niagara Falls in attendance, yet local history books have rarely detailed the man’s violent past.

Bailey’s research suggests Jones served as a wheelman for the pirate crew. After the raid, Jones helped the group evade authorities as they moved the stolen wealth. Documents, including depositions from Every’s associates, indicate Jones was a major player in this operation. Bailey notes that millions of New Yorkers visit the beach every year, unaware that its namesake was a central figure in what is considered the biggest heist in piracy history.

Following the raid, Jones briefly returned to Rhode Island. In 1696, his wealthy father-in-law, Thomas Townsend, gifted him a large tract of land on the south shore of Long Island. Property records confirm this transaction. Bailey posits that this land grant allowed Jones to start a new life as authorities continued to search New England for Every and his accomplices. Jones built a homestead on the property and raised a family, remaking himself as a prominent businessman and landowner.

Despite his new status, the pirate past persisted. In 1698, New York colonial governor Richard Coote investigated Jones after being charged by the British crown to crack down on piracy. Coote wrote that witness depositions revealed a barrel of money traveled from the city to Long Island, ending up at Jones’ house. The governor described Jones as formerly a pirate. Jones testified that he knew nothing about the barrel, but the investigation highlighted his suspicious wealth.

Historians note that Jones’ transition from military officer to privateer to pirate was common in the era. Meagan Schulman, a doctoral candidate at Fordham University who specializes in 17th century piracy, explains that privateers were essentially government-sponsored pirates. When conflicts ended, those who continued raiding lost their special status and were branded pirates. Schulman, who grew up visiting Jones Beach, says Jones may have been called a pirate by others, even if he did not see himself that way.

Rumors of Jones’ fortune persisted long after his death in 1713. His mansion on Long Island was reportedly haunted by ghosts and strange occurrences before it was demolished in the early 1800s. Robbers repeatedly desecrated his grave searching for buried treasure until it was moved to a family plot behind a nearby church. A family history published in 1906 by Thomas Floyd-Jones, a descendant, dismissed these tales as slander and improbable fictions, arguing that ignorance and superstition had magnified the myths for over a century.

Experts caution that Bailey’s findings are compelling but not conclusive. Richard Blakemore, a maritime history professor at the University of Reading, notes that Thomas Jones was a common name. However, Kevin McDonald, a history professor at Loyola Marymount University, argues that Jones’ ties to Every illustrate how piracy provided foundational wealth for many prominent Northeast families. McDonald says that while popular images depict pirates as outcasts, evidence suggests early British colonies were socially and economically connected to piracy.

Bailey hopes to have his research published soon. His work sheds light on a checkered past that local historians have only alluded to. John Hanc, author of Jones Beach: An Illustrated History, says the research fleshes out a part of Jones’ life that has long been shrouded in mystery. The connection between the famous beach and the 1695 raid adds a layer of complexity to the legacy of the man whose name appears on the sign at the park's entrance.