Peter Easton

Peter Easton (c. 1570 – 1620 or after) was a pirate in the early 17th century who operated along the Newfoundland coastline between Harbour Grace and Ferryland from 1611 to 1614. Easton`s Treasure and the Discovery team will bring him back to life after 400 years. Perhaps one of the most successful of all pirates he controlled such seapower that no sovereign or state could afford to ignore him and he was never overtaken or captured by any fleet commissioned to hunt him down. However, he is not as well known as some of the pirates from the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

Peter Easton who was also known by Eston, had been a loyal servant of the English Crown. His ancestors had served in the Crusades. The Eastons also distinguished themselves against the Spanish Armada.

The Historic Rose Manor based in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, is in close proximity to the Fort that once housed Peter and his Crew Easton`s Treasure docudrama investigates around the Historic Rose Manor Eston's stories and folklore.

In 1602, Easton was in command of a convoy as a privateer with a commission from Elizabeth I of England to protect the Newfoundland fishing fleet. During these times, fishing vessels would carry arms and small cannons to protect the valuable cargo of fish from pirates and foreign vessels. Under his commission, he could legally press-gang local fishermen into service for him. He could also attack the ships and wharves of the enemy as much as he wished, especially the much hated Spanish. Easton's flagship was Happy Adventure from which he flew the Saint George's Cross at the masthead.

The area around The Rose Manor Inn was a staging and the turning point in Easton's career came on June 23, 1604, when Elizabeth I was succeeded by James I. This occurred not far from the Historic Rose Manor Inn, located in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. The king sued for peace with Spain and canceled all letters of commission to privateers. Easton continued his attack on vessels as though nothing had changed. In so doing, he had crossed the line into piracy.

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Wikipedia