John James (pirate)

In 1699 he was a sailor aboard the American-owned 22-gun vessel Providence when it was captured near Barbados by a Dutch pirate named Hind (Hynde).

[3] James then turned to piracy, ordering for Providence to be sailed northward to plunder merchant traders along the coast.

[5] James himself was not averse to hiding his identity, telling the captain of one captured vessel that he was the pirate William Kidd.

[3] In order to throw pursuers off his trail, James also told the captain false stories about a sister ship he had in the area.

[4] When that ship needed to be careened and repaired, he warned officials in coastal counties to post lookouts and alert him if they spotted anything suspicious.