Thomas Nichols (pirate)

[1] He is recorded as attacking Nathaniel Brooker’s snow Restoration in his 6-gun, 80-man sloop alongside Captain Napin (Napping) in August 1717 en route to Boston,[2] from which the pirates took cargo, sails, rigging, and general goods before releasing it.

Brooker described Nichols’ jolly roger flag: he “had in his flag a dart and a bleeding heart.”[2] King George offered a general pardon to pirates in September 1717, forgiving any who surrendered by September 1718.

Captain Vincent Pearse of HMS Phoenix sailed to Nassau to deliver the offer to the Caribbean pirates personally.

[4] Pearse did so, and Nichols with Josiah Burgess, Benjamin Hornigold, and hundreds of others accepted the King’s Pardon.

[3] The Thomas Nichols who attacked Restoration with Napin and surrendered to Governor Bennett should not be confused with the Thomas Nichols who sailed with Stede Bonnet and was exonerated at trial for having been forced to aid his pirate captors.