Thank you so much for all your documented information. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Howard Geddes" <hwg58lists@hwgeddes.freeserve.co.uk> To: "Sybil Chapman" <schapman@tex1.net>; <MORAY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 6:40 AM Subject: Re: Moray Pirates? > Hi Sybil, > It may not be so far-fetched as it might seem at first sight. > > Whilst I haven't got any references to local "pirates" as such, I have > several references to local "privateers". To paraphrase the dictionary, > privateers are government-sponsored pirates. Yet, as far as I can see, the > people described as privateers below are pirates in my book. Smuggling was > also part of their menu of activities. > > I have acquired some excerpts from various sources; here's a few extracts: > >>From Aberdeen Journal, Monday, February 5th. 1781 - > PRIVATEERING - The spirit of privateering is very brisk on this coast. We > are advised of two stout Privateers fitting out at Portsoy harbour and > others at Perth, Dundee etc. > >>From Aberdeen Journal, Monday, March 5th 1781: - > PRIVATEERING - On the 23rd ult. sailed from Portsoy, on a cruize, the > "Neptune" of that port, Captain James Elder, Master. > >>From a manuscript of 1843, by Dr George Greig, Portsoy: - > [This is the best reference I have, apart from newspapers. I don't have > much > more, I certainly don't have the full manuscript and because I was given > only these extracts, I'm afraid I don't know where you might find a copy. > If > you find out, do let me know - it might be a 'good read'!] > SMUGGLING IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY > ....We find that during the greater part of the last century every > merchant > in the town and of various places in the neighbourhood became engaged in > smuggling..... > ....The next merchants of consequence were the Messrs. Robertson who were > also deeply engaged in smuggling. [I've mentioned these chaps before on > the > Moray and/or the Banffshire List!] They were the owners of several vessels > and at their own expense fitted out a privateer, the "Neptune" of eight > guns > to emise against the French and Spaniards. This vessel was commanded by > Captain Elder and took several prizes although she turned out a losing > speculation to her owners. > > [Obviously, the goody/baddy situation got blurred at times, because: >>From Aberdeen Journal, Monday, 14 June 1779: - > PORTSOY VESSEL TAKEN BY AMERICAN PRIVATEER - On the 23rd of May the > "Neptune" of Portsoy, James Scott, master, on her voyage from the West > Highlands to Portsoy was brought to, and taken by the "Independence" of > Boston, an armed sloop about 75 tons burden, with 4 carriage guns, 4 > swivels, and 12 men. Captain Scott and one of his hands were brought on > board the "Independence", and two of the Americans were put on board the > "Neptune", with orders to follow their captor. > About two miles from the eastermost part of the Isle of Skye the "Neptune" > fell astern (two men of her own crew, who were left on board, having > resumed > the command) and though fired at, got off and is arrived at Portsoy. The > two American sailors are lodged in Banff jail. > Captain Scott afterwards prevailed on Captain Brown to set him ashore on > the mainland of Scotland. > The prisoners report that they sailed from Fredricksburgh in Virginia on > the 26th. April in company with seven other sloops and two schooners, all > loaded with tobacco, and bound for Gottenburgh in Holland. They imagine > four of them were taken the next morning as they saw them steering for > land, > under the stern of a large vessel, supposed to be a British frigate. > The above American ship was seen in the Murray Firth a few days ago ; and > as it is thought that the rest of the consorts came also north it is hoped > that some of our cruisers will fall in with them before they reach their > destination. > > I've got a reference to others of this ilk being taken as slaves (in > Algiers), including one George Smith of Portsoy. > > What times! > > Regards Howard Geddes > > > >