In the South of England, in Devon, amidst the humble village of Hittisleigh, a legend was born. "Black Sam" Bellamy, a name that soon would be whispered with both awe and trepidation, emerged from the depths of poverty to carve his mark upon the vast canvas of maritime history.

From the onset, Bellamy's life was a saga of audacious dreams and perilous voyages. Raised in the crucible of destitution, he sought solace in the boundless expanse of the ocean, finding refuge and purpose on a ship of the Royal Navy, moving up in ranks to become a Quarter Gunner and Boatswain on a ship of the line of His Majesty King George.

Returning from war of the Spanish Succession, the young man was disappointed by the meager opportunity his homeland offered. Disillusioned by the scant opportunities afforded to a man of humble origins, he turned his gaze towards the distant shores of the New World, to search for his ancestors who had emigrated to the Americas two generations earlier.

It was on the rugged coast of Cape Cod where fate intertwined with desire, and the trajectory of Sam Bellamy's life was forever altered. Ensnared by the beguiling charm of Mabel Hallett, a beautiful puritan woman, whom he had met a tavern in Wellfleet, Cape Cod, Bellamy dared to defy the constraints of societal convention, embarking on a clandestine affair that would set the stage for both passion and tragedy.

But it was not solely matters of the heart that propelled Bellamy's journey. In the bustling streets of Boston, amidst whispers of lost treasures and sunken riches, he encountered Paulsgrave Williams, a silversmith with dreams as grand as the ocean itself.

Together, they plotted an expedition to the sunken remains of the Spanish Armada of 1715, their ambitions boundless, their resolve unyielding. Yet, as with all tales of adventure, the path to glory was fraught with peril.

A failed quest, a fateful storm, and the merciless embrace of the sea conspired to shatter Bellamy's dreams, leaving in its wake a legacy steeped in mystery and intrigue. After a fruitless treasure hunt left him disillusioned, Black Sam made a daring pivot into piracy, ultimately becoming one of the most prolific pirate captains to ever sail the seas, and ascending to unimaginable wealth.

Was it the tempest's fury that claimed Black Sam’s life, or did fate reserve a different destiny for the intrepid mariner? Historical records suggest the tantalizing possibility of Black Sam's survival, perhaps fleeing alongside his beloved Mabel to resume a life of piracy. This enthralling blend of fact and fiction weaves a mesmerizing tale, tracing the enigmatic journey of one of history's most intriguing mariners.

From the rugged shores of New England and Cape Cod to the exotic locales of the Caribbean, Africa's coast, and beyond—to the Canary Islands, Madagascar, and even Venice, Italy—the narrative unfolds, captivating readers with a love story as adventurous as the seas themselves. Book with 16 drawings and 4 maps.

. .