Amateur Historian Links Jones Beach Namesake to 1695 Pirate Heist
Amateur historian James Bailey claims colonial documents link Thomas Jones, the namesake of New York's Jones Beach, to the 1695 raid on the royal Indian ship Ganj-i-Sawai. Bailey argues Jones acted as a getaway driver for pirate Henry Every, helping him evade capture after the massive heist. While experts note the commonality of the name, the findings suggest piracy helped build wealth for prominent colonial families.