Thomas Mostyn

Thomas Mostyn (fl. 1695–1716, last name also Mosson) was a sea captain and slave trader active between New York and the Indian Ocean, and later in the Caribbean. He was one of the traders employed by New York merchant Frederick Philipse to smuggle supplies to the pirates of Madagascar. History Mostyn set out in 1695 from New York to Madagascar, calling on Adam Baldridge’s pirate trading post at St. Mary’s (Île Ste. Marie) in August. He stopped there to careen his 20-man 160-ton ship Katherine, selling his goods to the various pirates on the island before sailing to Madagascar to take on slaves for the return trip to New York. The Katherine had no guns and likely was intended for smuggling rather than piracy. It was owned by Frederick Philipse and had been chartered by Governor Benjamin Fletcher, who would later be relieved of his post for his dealings with pirates. In 1697 Mostyn and his supercargo Robert Allison made another trip to Baldridge’s settlement for Philipse, this time in the 150-ton, 20-man, 8-gun Fortune. Among his officers was master's mate Hendrick van Hoven, who would later become a pirate captain on his own. Putting into port in June, he sold his goods to pirates (including John Hoar), and after a brief stay left to gather slaves for the return trip. That July Baldridge purchased part ownership of the visiting brigantine Swift, in which he sailed to mainland Madagascar to trade. At sea he met Mostyn, who warned him that the natives had risen in revolt, looted the settlement, and killed a number of pirates who had been ashore, Hoar among them. Mostyn convinced Baldridge to abandon the settlement and they returned to America, Mostyn carrying several pirates who’d elected to retire. Upon his return Fortune was impounded under suspicion of piracy.