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Jack Rattenbury

Beer, Devon

The 'Rob Roy of the West', a smuggler who wrote his own life story.

Jack Rattenbury grew up in the fishing village of Beer and became the most famous smuggler in Devon. He was captured many times, by press gangs, French privateers and customs men, and escaped again and again.

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When
1778–1844
Where
50.6980, -3.0930
Group
Pirates

Visiting

Beer is a pretty fishing village with boats pulled up on the shingle. The Beer Quarry Caves were used for hiding contraband.

Cover of Blood and Gold by Cale Mills
Read the full story in the book

Blood and Gold

Sixteen true stories of mutiny, mercy, treasure and the gallows from the Golden Age of Piracy: Henry Every, Bartholomew “Black Bart” Roberts, Edward England, Howell Davis, Christopher Moody, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Charles Vane, Benjamin Hornigold, Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, Israel Hands, Calico Jack, Edward Low, Captain William Kidd and Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy. Where the record is uncertain, the book says so.

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