Samuel Bellamy, known as Black Sam, was a pirate who operated off the coast of New England and the Caribbean, becoming one of the wealthiest pirates in recorded history. His story begins at the end, with the discovery of the Wooda shipwreck in 1984, which held the largest pirate prize with treasure weighing about five tons. Bellamy's life began in service, born in Devon, England in 1689, and he initially sailed for the British Royal Navy before turning to piracy and joining the crew of Benjamin Hornigold and Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard. [... more]