The pirate who fooled Rhode Island for 16 years while running his family’s inn

Newport’s Pirate Tavern Owner William Mayes Jr

The White Horse Tavern in Newport, Rhode Island, still serves guests today just as it did over 300 years ago.

This colonial landmark claims to be America’s oldest operating tavern, with its massive stone fireplace and hand-hewn beams telling stories of centuries past.

But the most fascinating chapter in its history involves William Mayes Jr., who ran the tavern from 1702 while secretly maintaining his career as a pirate in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.

Mayes had spent years raiding ships alongside legendary pirates like Henry Every, accumulating vast wealth that he brought back to Newport between voyages.

The townspeople welcomed him with open arms, protecting their profitable pirate neighbor from British authorities who desperately wanted to arrest him.

Here’s how one man managed to live a double life as both a respectable tavern keeper and one of the most notorious pirates of his era.

French Refugees Raised a Future Pirate in Colonial Newport

William Mayes Jr. was born around 1662 to French Huguenot refugees who moved to Newport, Rhode Island to escape religious problems. His parents left France before the 1685 ban on Protestant rights.

Young William went to the University of Angers in France at age 15 but quit after one year.

His dad bought the White Horse Tavern building in 1673, turning Francis Brinley’s old home into what would later become America’s oldest tavern.

The Sea Called to Young Mayes Before Piracy

Mayes began sailing as a buccaneer during the Nine Years’ War between England and France. He used many fake names like May, Mason, Masson, Misson, and Mission to hide who he really was.

He first fought by attacking French ships in the Caribbean while working with legal papers. In the late 1680s, he earned respect as a good sailor and leader, skills that helped him later when he turned to crime.

Captain Kidd Lost His Ship to Mayes’ Mutiny

In 1689, Mayes joined William Kidd’s crew on the 20-gun ship Blessed William in the Caribbean. The crew, led by Robert Culliford, turned against Kidd and left him stuck on a beach.

After this takeover, the crew voted for Mayes to be their new captain. Kidd never forgave Mayes for this betrayal.

Years later in 1695, when Kidd got his famous pirate hunter job, he put Mayes’ name on his list of targets.

New York Governor Gave Mayes Legal Cover

After the mutiny, Mayes sailed to New York where acting Governor Jacob Leisler gave him legal papers to attack French ships.

With this backing, Mayes caught the French ship Horne Frigate and gave it to his friend Culliford. He then traded the Blessed William for another ship, named it Jacob, and got ready to sail to the Indian Ocean.

After Leisler was killed, Mayes got new legal papers from the next governor, Benjamin Fletcher.

Rhode Island Outfitted His Ship for African "Trade"

In early 1694, Mayes had the 200-ton ship Pearl fixed up in Rhode Island. This big vessel had 16 guns and 100 crew members.

Though his papers told him to attack French slave posts on the Guinea coast, Mayes ignored these orders and sailed straight to Madagascar.

There, he joined hundreds of other sailors who had set up a pirate hideout in the Indian Ocean. Madagascar offered safe bays, plenty of supplies, and no European officers to stop them.

Six Pirate Ships Ambushed the Richest Prize in History

In August 1695, Mayes joined famous pirate Henry Every’s fleet for one of history’s biggest pirate heists. Their group included ships led by Thomas Tew, Richard Want, Joseph Faro, Thomas Wake, and Every himself.

Together they attacked the huge Mughal treasure ship Gunsway near the Red Sea. The Indian ship carried about £600,000 in gold, silver, and jewels.

Every’s first shot broke the ship’s main mast, leading to a brutal fight that lasted nearly three hours before the pirates won.

Pirates Created Their Own Democratic Colony

Mayes helped build the pirate colony Libertatia on Madagascar’s coast in the late 1680s. This unusual settlement let all adult residents vote, no matter their race or past.

The colony banned slavery and freed any captives they got. Their government chose a leader called the “Lord Conservator” who served for three years.

Mayes won election as the first Lord Conservator of this early democratic experiment, which started decades before similar ideas grew in America.

His Bloodstained Fortune Came From Ethiopian Waters

In January 1699, Mayes took over the ship Charming Mary at Madagascar after its captain died during a raid in India.

He sailed toward Ethiopia, taking ships near India throughout 1696 before going back to New York to split his stolen treasure.

When news reached Madagascar that English pirate hunters were coming, Mayes tried to copy Every’s big success with one last raid.

He then left Madagascar and sailed back to New York in 1700 to share his treasure and quit piracy.

Newport Welcomed Their Criminal Hero Home

Around 1700, Mayes came back to Newport with “vast wealth” from his Red Sea pirating. The locals greeted him warmly and protected him despite his bad reputation.

When Lord Bellomont tried to arrest Mayes in 1699, the pirate dodged British law with help from local friends. Colonial officials felt embarrassed by his presence but couldn’t catch him.

Newport citizens had no problem hiding their wealthy former pirate, who brought money to their town.

America’s Oldest Tavern Served Drinks and Hosted Courts

In 1702, Mayes got the White Horse Tavern from his father and received a license to sell “all sorts of strong drink.

” He now ran America’s oldest tavern while government meetings and Criminal Court happened in the same building. British officials felt very embarrassed that a known pirate hosted official government business.

Yet the townspeople kept protecting their wealthy former buccaneer who brought money to Newport with his stolen riches.

The Pirate Vanished Behind His Sister’s Name

To avoid further British scrutiny, Mayes quickly transferred tavern ownership to his sister Mary Nichols. He lived quietly until September 1718, dying as the last of the well-known Libertatia pirates.

His colorful exploits may have inspired the fictional Captain Misson in Charles Johnson’s famous 1724 book “General History of the Pyrates.

” Today, the White Horse Tavern remains America’s oldest operating tavern, now over 350 years old, with few visitors realizing its connection to one of history’s most successful pirates who managed to retire in plain sight.

Visiting White Horse Tavern, USA

The White Horse Tavern in Newport, Rhode Island is where pirate William Mayes Jr. led a double life as innkeeper while raiding ships abroad.

Visit this historic spot at 26 Marlborough Street to learn about his seafaring crimes. Dress business casual when you go.

Make reservations 2-4 weeks ahead, especially for larger groups who need to call directly. The tavern opens Monday-Thursday 5-9pm and Friday-Sunday 4-9pm.

You can park behind the tavern or use the church lot next door with honor system payment.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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