Simon Mascarino | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Pirate |
| Years active | 1701–1721 |
| Piratical career | |
| Type | Guarda costa |
| Allegiance | Spanish |
| Base of operations | Caribbean |
| Commands | Revenge |
Simon Mascarino (fl. 1701–1721) was aPortuguese pirate active in theCaribbean. He was also aprivateer in service of theSpanish.
Spanishguarda costa privateers had captured thesloopRevenge from theEnglish, and in early 1721 it was captained by Simon Mascarino, a “noted villain in these parts where he has been privatier and pirate above 20 years.”[1] He had a commission from the Governor ofSt. Jago to cruise against English ships and settlements ofJamaica.[2] After looting a Jamaicanschooner, Mascarino’sRevenge was caught by the Royal Navy’s Captain Vernon of Jamaica.[1]
Vernon wrote that Mascarino had been augmenting his crew with anyone he could find: “His crew was made up of all nations and colours.”[2] TheFrenchmen of his crew were sent to the French Governor atSanto Domingo, who executed them.[2] Black andmulatto members of his crew were sold into slavery unless they could prove their status as freedmen, which some did.[2] Vernon also took aboard several Englishmen which the Spanish had been holding prisoner atHavana for use at hard labor. He was also able to show that theRevenge itself had been captured when Spain and England were at peace, proving that Mascarino had been using his privateering commission as a pretense for piracy.[2]
