Presentation: Rebellion, Piracy, and the Scots Irish Legacy: The Evolution of Sam Mason’s Criminal Enterprise in a Transatlantic Context.
12 November 2025 -4-5.30pm
This presentation explores the criminal transformation of Samuel Mason, a Revolutionary War militia captain who became one of early America’s most infamous river pirates. Rooted in a culture of rebellion and self-reliance inherited from his Scots Irish ancestors, Mason’s life reflects the fluid boundary between legal authority and outlaw behavior on the American frontier. By tracing his progression from colonial soldier to criminal entrepreneur, this presentation situates Mason within the broader transatlantic context of postwar outlawry, comparing his story to British privateers, smugglers, and highwaymen such as William Kidd and Dick Turpin. The session also examines the fractured state of early American law enforcement, the impact of economic hardship on demobilized veterans, and the influence of folklore and early journalism in shaping criminal legends. Drawing on archival trial records, newspaper accounts, and criminological theory, the presentation invites reflection on how rebellion, violence, and reputation intersected in the late 18th century—and how figures like Mason were both products and provocateurs of their time.
Dr. Carter F. Smith is an associate professor of criminal justice at Middle Tennessee State University