15 Facts About Thomas Tew

Thomas Tew, known as the Rhode Island Pirate, was a 17th-century English privateer-turned-pirate.

Thomas Tew embarked on two major pirate voyages and met a bloody death on the second, and he pioneered the route which became known as the Pirate Round.

Thomas Tew lived at one time in Newport, Rhode Island.

Thomas Tew is reported as being married with two daughters.

Thomas Tew was in close relations with fellow pirate Captain Richard Want, who was his closest ally.

In 1692, Thomas Tew obtained a letter of marque from the Governor of Bermuda.

Thomas Tew set out alongside buccaneer, privateer, and pirate George Dew aboard the sloop Amity; shortly out of port, they were separated in a storm.

Not long out of Bermuda, Thomas Tew announced his intention of turning to piracy, asking the crew for their support since he could not enforce the illegal scheme without their consent.

Thomas Tew reached the Red Sea and ran down a large Ghanjah dhow en route from India to the Ottoman Empire late in 1693.

Thomas Tew urged his crew to hunt down and rob the other ships in the Indian convoy, but he yielded to the opposition of the quartermaster.

Thomas Tew set course back to the Cape of Good Hope, stopping at Adam Baldridge's pirate settlement at St Mary's on Madagascar to careen.

Thomas Tew's crew numbered 30 to 40 men at departure this time.

However, by the time that he reached Madagascar, Thomas Tew apparently increased his force to 50 or 60 men.

Thomas Tew was killed in this battle, reportedly disemboweled by a cannon shot.

However, there is no evidence from period sources that Thomas Tew ever flew this flag, which is a 20th-century attribution.