John Cockram

John Cockram (1689 – 1719) was an English pirate based in Nassau. Like Josiah Burgess, he had a close relationship with Benjamin Hornigold, one of the leaders of the small pirate republic. After accepting the King's pardon, he was recruited into the Templar Order.

Biography
"We've sent two of our best men. Burgess and Cockram. Privateers with fast ships and firm hearts."

- Rogers, on Burgess and Cockram, 1719.

Little is known of Cockram's life prior to his becoming a pirate. By 1718, he, along with Burgess and Hornigold, had become dissatisfied with the state of Nassau, feeling it had turned into an unbearable slum. As such, Cockram eagerly accepted the British Crown's pardon, offered to him by Woodes Rogers, and was then invited to join the Templars in their attempts to restore order in the region.

In 1719, he and Burgess were sent to Príncipe, an island on the coast of west Africa, to track down the Sage Bartholomew Roberts. Through their Templar connections, the pair secured an alliance with the Portuguese based there. With the aid of the Portuguese, Cockram and Burgess found and ambushed the crew Roberts was part of, though Roberts himself slipped away.

As Cockram and Burgess made to leave to notify their Templar brethren, they were killed by Edward Kenway, who had teamed up with Roberts in exchange for the location of the Observatory. In their final moments, Cockram and Burgess claimed the Templars had been like a family for them and called Edward out on his selfish motivations.

Trivia

 * Like his friend Burgess, Cockram is shown with a red color scheme - similar to a Redcoat - in development art, but has a blue and gold color scheme in the actual game.

Reference

 * Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag