Howard......... I understand that the Covesea caves were used to hide smuggled goods until they could be transported inland. Also....... just as an aside, I served aboard The USS Independence in the '60's (newer ship, same name) and we never got to take any prizes :-( Gordon Howard Geddes wrote: >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 > > > >==== MORAY Mailing List ==== >Please do not send virus warnings to this list. If you have concerns about a virus, contact the list admin at MORAY-D-request@rootsweb.com or join VIRUS-DISCUSSIONS-L@rootsweb.com subscribe in the subject line. > >============================== >View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find >marriage announcements and more. Learn more: >http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx > > > > >