Samuel Burgess
In February 1690, Samuel Burgess was a member of William Kidd's crew when the Blessed William was seized. William May was made her captain and Burgess was part of her crew.
In 1963 Edward Coates became captain and Burgess left the ship and went to New York. He arrived in April with £ 800, bought a house and took on a job with Frederick Philipse, New York's wealthiest merchant. Over the next few years Burgess made many profitable voyages to Madagascar selling supplies and guns to pirates in exchange for gold and slaves.
Around September 1699, Burgess was in command of the Margaret. Near Saint Mary's Island he ran into a British fleet. They were offered a pardon for any piratical activities. Several of Burgess' crew accepted and bought passage home with the fleet.
Burgess sailed to Cape Town, South Africa, by December he reached his destination. Captain Lowth, of the East India Company, seized Burgess' ship and took it to Bombay. Lowth also took the £ 17,000 and 80 slaves which were aboard.
The owners of the Margaret brought suit against the East India Company and Burgess was taken to London in 1701 and accused of piracy. With Robert Culliford's testimony, Burgess was convicted. Eventually he secured a pardon for his crimes and signed aboard a privateer., sailing for the Pacific.
Burgess then became first mate aboard the Neptune and went to Madagascar to trade liquor for slaves. When a sudden storm wrecked the pirate's ships, Burgess helped John Halsey seize the Neptune. Burgess was made Quartermaster but lost it soon after when Halsey died.
After losing his position, Burgess stayed at Madagascar, dealing in slaves with David Williams. Following an argument concerning prizes with a black chief Burgess died of poison, presumably at the chiefs hand.