William May (pirate)

After French privateers stole their collected loot, they exchanged the Blessed William for a prize ship they named Jacob and sailed to Madagascar in late 1690.

[1] After a cruise in the Indian Ocean, May and his quartermasters Culliford and Samuel Burgess returned to New York, leaving the Jacob under the command of pirate Edward Coates.

With a fresh privateering commission in hand from new governor Benjamin Fletcher (Leisler having been executed), May had the 200-ton, 16-gun, 100-man brigantine Pearl fitted out in Rhode Island.

[2] Instead of sailing to the coast of Guinea to attack French slave depots, May took the ship back to Madagascar in early 1694 to continue piracy in the Indian Ocean.

Tew was killed early in the battle while Want and Wake could not keep pace with the others and fell behind; Faro's ship had sufficient speed but was denied a share of the treasure, Every claiming they had never participated.

[4] Later in 1695 William Kidd was engaged as a pirate hunter aboard the Adventure Galley, specifically tasked with capturing or eliminating Tew, Wake, May, John Ireland, and others.