The Highwayman, Smuggling, Rebels & Piracy in Colonial America 1750-65

[Silent Invader]

My holiday reading included "Stand and Deliver: A History of Highway Robbery" by David Brandon.

Page 93 onwards tells something of the story of William Parsons, born 1717, who was transported to Virginia for forgery where he stole a horse and began his career as a highwayman.

I'd not thought of 'highway robbery' as being a feature of life in the colonies and so now I'm wondering..... Is there much of a history of it? Was it practised much like it was in the UK?  Was it a rarity or an ever-present risk?

Thanks! 

EDIT = title change to include piracy following thread direction

EDIT2 = title change to include smuggling following thread direction

EDIT2 = title change to include rebels following thread direction

[OSHIROmodels]

Where there is humanity, there is crime. Unfortunate but true. No idea about actual `robbers` in the colonies but I don`t see why not.

I can imagine some desperate types getting on board the colony ships wanting to get away from the authorities back home 

cheers

James

[OSHIROmodels]

There`s certainly some potential there, maybe a few miscreants have grouped together and are terrorising the local population and the militia have to root them out 

cheers

James

[Steve F]

The Adventures of Bill Parsons, International Highwayman - coming soon to this theatre!

From what I have read about highway robbery in England, the ideal conditions were the approach roads to what we would now call "suburbs" near major towns and cities.  This sort of location meant:

a) enough traffic that there would be someone to rob;
b) not so much traffic that you'd get caught;
c) somewhere to hide nearby where strangers wouldn't attract too much attention.

If there were places in the Colonies where those conditions applied, then highway robbery would be viable.

[kidterminal]

Highway Robbery in the colonies never reached the heights it did 18th century England. American highway robbers never achieved the notoriety/celebrity that their English counterparts did in the 18th century. Piracy was the cause celebrity in the colonies. Highway robbery didn't become a major factor in America until the 1800's.

Rob   

[Hammers]

The Adventures of Bill Parsons, International Highwayman - coming soon to this theatre!

...staring some smirking Hollywood asshole with no respct for history nor wargaming...

[kidterminal]

That's all right Silent, you're only an Englishmen so you'd have no idea how influential pirates were in early American society. Check out Jean Lafitte the Pirate turned national hero. He fought beside General (later President) Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans against the British during the War of 1812. Here is one of his many fan sites:
http://jeanlafitte.net/

Rob
 

[abhorsen950]

The book sounds excellent and I think ill pick it up, sorry I cant help on your general question though 

[abhorsen950]

Excellent, ill look into it

[HerbyF]

I watched a movie about the French Canadian colonies shortly after the British to them over. Part of the plot involved Highway men & marauders. Sorry but I don't remember the name of the movie.

[kidterminal]

A thread that runs through the story is the smuggling of rum, guns, powder and blankets in exchange for beaver pelts.

That was the bailiwick of the Hudson Bay Company (chartered by the Crown). Smuggling would land you in jail or even sold into slavery. The Hudson Bay Company was kicked out with the rest of the Brits after America won her independence. After that trading with the Indians was illegal on principal in many of the colonies. Too many colonial settlements had been raided and burned by various tribes on the behest of European governments during the two wars.

Rob

[Barry S]

Picked up another book from a discount store while on the hols and have now almost finished reading it.

Shadows on the Longhouse by Mike Roarke

It only cost £2 so I wasn't expecting much of but it has turned out to be a most entertaining and informative read.  Lots of scenarios for gaming purposes, yay!

It's set against the background of the AWI rather than the F&IW but much of the sceanrios and detail could apply in either setting.  A thread that runs through the story is the smuggling of rum, guns, powder and blankets in exchange for beaver pelts.

SI, This is part of a series called 'The First Frontier Series' by Mike Roarke. The first in the series starts in the F&IW and is called 'Thunder in the East' and I quite enjoyed it although some people may find it graphic in parts. I picked it up in a bargain book shop as well along with 'Shadows on the Longhouse', which I am yet to read. I belive the second in the series, 'Silent Drums' uses the Pontiac Rebellion as background. I am yet to find a copy of this.

[kidterminal]

I've run across this historical incident looking for "watch towers" for you. Now you can add rebels to highway men and Pirates.

http://www.stoneledgewhippets.com/index.asp?ID=23

Rob

[Aaron]

It is amazing how history can turn a bunch of murderous thieves into "patriots", eh?

[kidterminal]

Yup, break Indian treaties, force them off their land and kill the duly constituted law officers. As long as your the last man standing you are automatically converted from villain to hero. Just look at William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy who is now venerated as the founder of the English monarchy.

Rob