William Cotter, Gentleman Pirate
Looking for ancestry of William Cotter (1670-1702) m. Jane Gassaway of the Anne Arundel, MD, USA Gassaway's.
He arrived from Jamaica after leaving the service of a pirate ship and married. In the late 1600's the English caught up with him and he had to swear loyalty to the King of England to avoid prosecution.
He and Jane had four children, two sons who died with no heirs, a daughter, Ann (no records beyond his will), and a daughter, Sarah, who married her Cousin John Gassaway.
Most records I run into have William Cotter being born in 1630 in Anne Arundel, however I would think that he was born in England or Ireland, wound up in Jamaica where he sailed on the Pirate ship, and then migrated to the Maryland Colony.
Any further information would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers