Pirated en route to Aberdeen

This image, taken from the first of four volumes of propinquity books held by Aberdeen City Archives describes an attack on a ship, the Anna of Pittenweem, which was returning to Aberdeen from Danzig (Gdansk, in Poland), by the French privateer L'Amazon.

Not much is known about either the Anna of Pittenweem, or L'Amazon of Calais. It would seem that the Anna was a collier used to transport items such as marble back from Europe to Scotland. From the description above, of her only having 9 men on board compared to L'Amazon's 43 it is difficult to know how big she really was.

The Anna was set upon not far from Aberdeen's coast - around two miles away. L'Amazon fired what are described as 'great and small shots' at the ship, but seemed to aim mainly for their rigging. Sometimes the 'small shots' would be used as an attempt to clear the decks of sailors thus making the ship easier to board. Unfortunately, the Anna did not have any guns and so the crew were forced to 'streik' or take down their colours, giving the victory to L'Amazon. Captain Alexander Dalyell of the Anna was taken aboard the French ship where he was to stay until the ransom of £310 Sterling was paid.

Further entries regarding the Anna state that the ransom for the ship was paid in France, and amounted to five thousand and ninety four Livres, the French unit of currency at the time. The ransom payment is mentioned in a later entry where the total bill is given as five thousand one hundred and twenty three livres and fourteen sous. The exchange rate is given as 18 shillings scots per livre, giving the equivalent of four thousand six hundred and seven pounds eight shillings Scots. This is £354 8s 4d Sterling - slightly more than the £310 Sterling originally mentioned!

Propinquity books contain a wealth of different information. They were used to confirm a person's relationship to another, but also to show that someone's testimonial was true. This is why there are not only what are called 'birth brieves' (where people would confirm that a person is who he says he is) but also entries like the one highlighted here.

The propinquity books also show where people from Aberdeen travelled to. Danzig is mentioned, as are various other places in Poland including Zakroczym, Posnan, and Crakow. Also mentioned are Paris, Rotterdam, Amsterdam and London. This highlights the extensive links Aberdeen had with the rest of Europe.

Transcription

29 August 1705

B[allie] Catanach

The Said day Compeared George Martine

Mate of the good ship calle the Anna of

pitenweems John Aitchison, Andrew Jamesone

John Williamson and George Mathiesone

marinors on the s[ai]d ship And being Solemnly

Sworne Deponed that in ther voyadge from

Dantzick to Aberdeen they were attacked

by a french privateer named the Lamazon of Callais commanded by Captain

peter [deleted] Row[?] about

two mylls from the road of Ab[er]d[ee]n upon the

fourteinth of August instant old styll And the

s[ai]d Privateer came up with them and fyred

great and small shots throu their saills

and spoilled their rigging, And being disabled

and having no gunns were oblidged to

Streik, And the s[ai]d privateer Shote their boat

[and] came aboard of them [and] commanded their

Ship, the privateer having fourty three

men, and their ship only Nyne, And the

privateer carryed Alex[ande]r Dalyell Master

of the fors[ai]d ship the Anna of pitenweem

aboard of the s[ai]d privateer till the ransome

should be payed which they heard wes

three hundreth [and] ten pund Sterling

money pay[i]t in English money conform

to the ransom breif And this is the

truth as they shall answer to God

James Catanach     George Martine

                                    John Aitchison

                                    Andreu Jameson

                                    John Williamson

                                    George Mathieson

[This piece was originally our Document of the Month for July 2008]