Document of the Month
Attack on the ship the 'Anna of Pitenweem' off the coast of Aberdeen by French pirates, 1705
29 August 1705
B[allie] Catanach
The Said day Compeared George Martine
Mate of the good ship called 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] Rouz[?] 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
© Aberdeen City Council
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 strike - 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, Jamaica and London. This highlights the extensive links Aberdeen had not only with Europe but also with the rest of the world.
If you wish a copy of this image, please contact us for further information.
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Document of the Month Archive
| Document of the Month January 2008 - Letter from the Marquis of Montrose to the Burgh of Aberdeen, 13 September 1644 Document of the Month - February 2008 - Signed minute book of the committee of the Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Supply for the County of Aberdeen Document of the Month April 2008 - Centenary Celebrations of the Conferral of the Freedom of the Burgh of Banff to General San Martin, 1950 Document of the Month May 2008 - Letter from David Menzies to the Magistrates of Aberdeen regarding Quarries at Nigg, 10th August 1770 Document of the Month June 2008 - General Register of Poor for Peterhead showing entry of Barbara McDonald, 12 February 1878 |
