In the 1600s Saba was believed to be a favorable hideout for Jamaican pirates. England also deported its “undesirable” people to live in the Caribbean colonies. They too became pirates, taking haven on Saba. The most notable native Saban pirate was the non-Jewish Hiram Breakes, who famously quipped “Dead Men Tell No Tales.”

The island of Saba was once a stronghold for pirates and it is thought that the Simmons family were pirates. The first Simmons to be recorded in the Leeward Islands was Peter and Charles Simmons in St. Thomas in 1658 and later on Saba. The Simmons family of Saba originated in the South of England and had a Jewish background. In former times they lived in “The Bottom” where they owned much of the land and many houses at the time.

Through intermarriage among the other white families they were also related to the Beaks, the Vanterpool’s, and the Leverock’s and to a lesser extent the Johnsons, the Hassell’s and Zeegers.

The Simmons played an important role in the history of Saba. They were Commanders, Island Secretaries, and Harbormasters and they were active in the merchant marine.

On the Saba population list of 1715, there is a Moise Correa, another Jew,  listed with 4 daughters. One of them, Rebecca, married Peter Simmons the Saba Governor. Those with Simmons’ ancestry from Saba are known for their enterprising spirit in whatever field they take on, something which is part of the Jewish heritage.