Charles Yeats
Charles Yeats (fl. 1718, last name occasionally Yeates, first name rarely John) was a pirate active in the Caribbean. He is best known for sailing alongside and then abandoning Charles Vane. History Woodes Rogers and his fleet arrived at New Providence in the Bahamas in the summer of 1718 with the goal of eradicating piracy. Rogers came bearing the King’s Pardon for any pirates who surrendered by September 1718, with a warning of reprisal for those who refused. Hundreds of pirates accepted but Charles Vane was defiant. Rogers’ ships blocked the harbor entrance to in July. Vane fitted out his vessel as a fireship and sent it towards Rogers’ fleet, who broke formation to avoid the fireship. Vane and his men in the meantime commandeered the Katherine from fellow pirate Charles Yeats and escaped in the confusion. A few days later Vane captured a sloop and placed Yeats aboard as Captain, on the condition that Yeats continue to sail with him. After looting a number of ships in the Caribbean they sailed to Charles Town in the Province of South Carolina. Late that August they plundered several ships as they traveled to and from the harbor, taking supplies, cargo, and