George Bond (fl. 1683–1684) was an English pirate active in the Caribbean. He was known for acting in league with the pirate-friendly Governor of St. Thomas, Adolph Esmit.
History
Bond had been master of the ship Summer Island out of London. On arriving in St. Thomas he purchased a Dutch ship from Governor Esmit, renaming it Fortune’s Adventure.[1] In 1683 aboard his new 100-man ship he seized the English merchant vessel Gideon; he presented it to Esmit, who protected the pirates, outfitted their ship, and rewarded each of them with an ounce of gold dust.[2] After Bond brought him a Dutch prize in December, Esmit maintained it had been salvaged as a shipwreck in order to deter an English party from reclaiming it.[3] The Dutch vessel was later recovered[4] but had been emptied of its cargo by Esmit.[2]
Governor William Stapleton sent the warship HMS Frances under Captain Carlile in August 1683 to bring in Bond,[5] but by that October Bond was still at large: “There is now no pirate abroad but Bond with a small ship and one hundred men. He is expected at St. Thomas where Captain Carlisle is ready for him.”[2] Carlile was unable to capture Bond, and a frustrated Stapleton minced no words when speaking of Esmit's support of Bond, Jean Hamlin, and other pirates: “My lords, there is no safe trading to or from these parts until that receptacle of thieves and sea-robbers be reduced or that Governor hanged who so openly protects them.”[2] Bond also spent a brief time sailing alongside English buccaneer John Eaton.[6]
Around June 1684 Bond captured the formerly French sloop Fox and again brought it to Esmit, who refused the pleas from a Jamaican representative to return it.[7] Bond's ultimate fate is unknown, though he reportedly sailed as a Spanish guarda costaprivateer for a time.[3]
See also
John Bear (pirate), another English captain who sailed as a Spanish guarda costa privateer.
