Squire of The Sea

Summary

There was once a child who was born out of wedlock, and her father refused to accept her. So her stepuncle stepped in as her father, and taught her all that he could.
He tried sending her to the New World so she could make her own life instead of being looked down on. Instead, the ship sank and drowned.
She was then picked up by a bunch of thieves roaming the sea.
It was in this den of thieves, ironically enough, that the girl grew into her noble bearing and helped the colony to grow.
She embodied the grandiose ideas of the gentlemen of fortune, who wanted a society where nobody was obsessed with birth or class.
She had many an adventure, especially in how she cooked up a plot to get back to England long enough to reassure her uncle, and brought an entourage to export technological knowledge back to her new home.
After many years, she faded from practically all records, not even leaving children behind.
It is said that the great pirate herself lies dreaming in Libertalia, and will set sail again should she ever be needed.

Historical Basis

There was an actual unwanted child of the Lion family who became a pirate.
The Pits, now a small nation based on islands in the Pacific, was once a pirate colony in the Atlantic Ocean until the 19th century when the inhabitants all suddenly left.

Spread

The story is not as well-known as the actual subject of the story was never arrested when she set foot in England, and only left brief records of her life in the Pits.

Variations & Mutation

The most common variation bowdlerizes her bloodthirsty cruelty and plays up her moral nobility.

Cultural Reception

Seafaring cultures such as those in the Pacific believe this pirate was sanctified as a patron deity to watch over the ocean for eternity.

In Literature

She is the subject of a very popular children's story.

In Art

19th century ships have been excavated with figureheads of lions in seafaring motifs.
A large brass statue was erected in the modern day Pits to commemorate her. Coincidentally, it has the same iconography as Mazu, which is of a ruler watching over her kingdom.

Date of First Recording

1900

Date of Setting

Mid 19th century.