John Swann (pirate)

John Swann (active 1698–99, first name also Jon, possibly also referred to as "Paul Swan") was a minor pirate in the Indian Ocean, known almost entirely for speculation about his relationship with Robert Culliford.

[1] In late 1698 Swann was living at Edward Welch's settlement on Ile Ste.

[3] While there, Swann was referred to as “a great consort of Culliford’s, who lives with him.”[2] Consort was the naval term for a sister ship, ship's tender, or for two allied vessels sailing the same course; there was also a custom among pirates and sailors in general called "matelotage" (from the French for "seamanship”), which was sometimes referred to as “consortship.

"[4] Some writers argue that matelotage was effectively same-sex marriage,[5][6] while others maintain it was primarily non-sexual and was more akin to a civil partnership: an agreement to share goods and wealth, survivor's benefits if one partner died, and so forth.

[4][7] Written matelotage agreements were rare,[4] and there is no detailed information on Swann’s actual relationship with Culliford beyond that of sailing in consort and living together, and so the issue remains open.