Samuel Bellamy was born in Devonshire in England. The early days of his pirate career are unclear but he was probably involved in attacks on the camps of salvors working on the wrecks of the Spanish 1715 treasure fleet, off Florida's east coast. These raids were led by the pirate Henry Jennigs, so Bellamy may have served with him. For the rest of the year, Bellamy cruised off the Virgin Islands accompanied by another ship comanded by the French pirate Olivier Levasseur "La Bouche".