The Barbary Pirates (a/k/a Ottoman Corsairs, and hence maybe "turks") were active seizing hostages from vessels from the 16th Century. Wikipedia has a nice article. bob flavell, USA On Jan 30, 2008, at 1:35 PM, Lesley Chaney wrote: Hi Jim, I've had a quick flick through a history encyclopaedia but cannot see a likely war in the years leading up to 1684. I would have thought it more likely that the "redemption" (ie ransom) intended was that of Englishmen held by the Turks, rather than Turks held here. They could have been seized in the Med whilst going about their business rather than taken as prisoners of war. Merchant shipping might have been vulnerable to such actions. If anyone knows better or more, speak up! Lesley -----Original Message----- From: leicestershire-plus-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:leicestershire-plus-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of jim goodman Any thoughts on why Turkish captives would be in this area circa 1684 jim BEQUEST TO MOST INDIGENT, POOREST, AGED, DECREPIT, MISERABLEST PAUPERS. Hallaton, Leicestershire. Valentine Goodman, by will, dated in 1684, bequeathed £800 to be laid out in land, and the profits thereof given to the "most indigent, poorest, aged, decrepit, miserablest paupers," viz. six from Easton, four from Medbourn, four from Hallaton, and two from Blaston ; and if any part of the money (was) employed for easing town levies, or not according to the intent of the testator, then he declared that the gift should cease, and the money be employed for the redemption of Turkish captives. The produce of the land in 1822, 1823, and 1824, is reported at £100 each year. The names of the recipients are regularly entered Jn a book, with the amount paid to each.— XXXII. pt. v. p. 235. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to LEICESTERSHIRE- PLUS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message