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A Shetland mother helped her two sons to escape the press ga...

Date 27 September 1974
Track ID 77075
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1974.203.B6

Original Tape ID

SA1974.203

Summary

A Shetland mother helped her two sons to escape the press gang by boat.

The press gang was going round taking every able-bodied man they could find. In one house the mother was afraid they'd take her two sons. She readied the boat, pulling it down to the water and putting food in it. By the time she got home, the press gang were nearly at the door. She sent her sons out the back way and by the time the press gang got down to the beach, the sons had pulled well off and managed to hide in a cave on an island until the press gang had gone.

This story came from the North End of Shetland.

Recording Location

County - Shetland

Parish - Nesting

Island - Shetland Mainland

Village/Place - Garth

Item Location

County - Shetland

Language

English, Scots

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good