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Coxon was one of the most famous Brethren of the Coast.
He and other English buccaneers attacked and plundered the town of Santa
Marta on the Spanish Main, then kidnapped its Governor and Bishop. He then
raided the Gulf of Honduras.
Before setting sail for his next attack at Portobello, he joined forces
with pirates Sharp and Essex. Because attack from sea was impossible, the
pirates were forced to land twenty leagues away. Their journey entailed a
four-day march through jungle, three days of which were without food. By the
time the pirates arrived, they were half starved and their feet were raw.
Despite their problems, the pirates successfully plundered the town and
escaped before the nearby fleet could react, but their booty only came to
about 100 pieces of eight per man. In response to the attack, Jamaican
Governor, Lord Carlisle, and later the acting Governor, Sir Henry Morgan,
issued warrants for Coxon and his crews' arrest, but they were never
captured.
Coxon plundered the town of Santa Maria next, and headed across the
Isthmus of Darien. Eventually, Coxon and the other Captains Sawkins and
Harris had a falling out and the three went their separate ways. Sawkins and
Harris returned to the Atlantic side of the Isthmus while Coxon continued by
Indian canoe to the Pacific Coast. There they found two sloops which they
stole. Sailing to Panama, they attacked the Spanish Fleet and after a brief
battle actually captured it. Coxon had another falling out with his brother
pirates and took off with 78 of his crew on foot returning across the
Isthmus.
Eventually, Coxon had become a hero in Jamaica and was given letters to
attack a troublesome French pirate, Jean Hamlin, although he never found him.
For several more years, Coxon pirated the seas, often under the guise of a
letter of marque. He was arrested many times, but never hanged. |
