Overview

From soldier to judge, to pirate and outlaw, Sam Mason’s life is a testament to early America's turbulent, unpredictable frontier. Sam Mason carved out a life of adventure and infamy that took him from soldier to pirate in late 18th century America. Mason fought in both the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War—battles that shaped early America. After his military service, he traded in his rifle for a judge’s gavel, settling into what seemed a respectable life. However, he was soon inexplicably drawn into the world of counterfeiting, an enterprise that soon led him back to the riverbanks he once defended. Mason gained infamy as a pirate along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and the wilderness of the Natchez Trace near New Orleans, preying on travelers and traders alike with a band of ruthless men. His reputation and influence spread as he used his understanding of the law to maneuver through jurisdictional gaps and stay just out of authorities’ reach. His exploits made him one of the most feared—and hunted—criminals in early American history, cementing his legacy as a cunning rogue who mastered the borderlands between law and lawlessness.

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9781538139974

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Reviews

From Patriot to Pirate: The Outlaw Life of Sam Mason by Dr. Carter F. Smith is a wildly entertaining romp through late 18th-century Western colonial and post-Revolutionary America. While the brilliant but roguish Samuel Mason was the epitome of 'the good, the bad, and the ugly', he is quintessentially American. Revolutionary Patriot, horse thief, frontiersman, judge, tavern keeper, justice of the peace, criminal gang leader, and river pirate—Mason was a factotum before the word was invented. Dr. Smith knows his history and has written a great swashbuckling tale of the early American frontier and the blurry gray lines that separate the heroic and lawful from the criminal. -- Samuel Marquis, bestselling and award-winning author of Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal A truly riveting story about river piracy and land piracy along the Mississippi. Based on trial transcripts, criminal reports, and saucy stories from the 'hearsay' side of things, Carter F. Smith and his research team successfully pieced together the life of Sam Mason as one of the lesser-known outlaws of the 18th century, doing full justice to his dazzling character as that of a ‘noble bandit’ (I’m sure his victims, in particular Colonel Joshua Baker, would disagree though). And on top of all that, there are copious travel and tasting notes waiting for all those who want to follow in the footsteps of Sam Mason (figurately speaking, mind you!) to see what he saw and to eat what he ate (I might just try the bramble pie...). -- Peter Lehr, author of Pirates: A New History, from Vikings to Somali Raiders; Senior Lecturer, University of St Andrews, Scotland Samuel Mason and his gang threatened USA westward expansion at the turn of the nineteenth century. We are indebted to Carter F. Smith for meticulously unearthing Mason’s complex story, along with the stories of the people he robbed. Readers will come away from this book with a richer understanding of the limits of federal authority during the Early Republic. Smith nicely situates Mason and riverine piracy alongside Thomas Jefferson, the Louisiana Purchase, and other familiar figures and events. -- Chris Magra, author of Poseidon’s Curse; The University of Tennessee, USA With his background as a criminal investigator and expertise in military-trained gang members, Carter F. Smith brings a unique perspective to tracking down an early American criminal: Samuel Mason, a Revolutionary War veteran turned river pirate. Yes, pirates plagued the rivers of the new American nation, just as they had infested the seas of an earlier era. Smith introduces readers to a little-known aspect of America's earliest days. -- David Head, author of The Golden Age of Piracy and co-editor of A Republic of Scoundrels; University of Central Florida, USA

From Patriot to Pirate: The Outlaw Life of Sam Mason by Dr. Carter F. Smith is a wildly entertaining romp through late 18th-century Western colonial and post-Revolutionary America. While the brilliant but roguish Samuel Ross Mason was the epitome of 'the good, the bad, and the ugly', he is quintessentially American. Revolutionary Patriot, horse thief, frontiersman, judge, tavern keeper, justice of the peace, criminal gang leader, and river pirate—Mason was a factotum before the word was invented. Dr. Smith knows his history and has written a great swashbuckling tale of the early American frontier and the blurry gray lines that separate the heroic and lawful from the criminal. -- Samuel Marquis, bestselling and award-winning author of Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal Samuel Mason and his gang threatened USA westward expansion at the turn of the nineteenth century. We are indebted to Carter F. Smith for meticulously unearthing Mason’s complex story, along with the stories of the people he robbed. Readers will come away from this book with a richer understanding of the limits of federal authority during the Early Republic. Smith nicely situates Mason and riverine piracy alongside Thomas Jefferson, the Louisiana Purchase, and other familiar figures and events. -- Chris Magra, author of Poseidon’s Curse; The University of Tennessee, USA A truly riveting story about river piracy and land piracy along the Mississippi. Based on trial transcripts, criminal reports, and saucy stories from the 'hearsay' side of things, Carter F. Smith and his research team successfully pieced together the life of Sam Mason as one of the lesser-known outlaws of the 18th century, doing full justice to his dazzling character as that of a ‘noble bandit’ (I’m sure his victims, in particular Colonel Joshua Baker, would disagree though). And on top of all that, there are copious travel and tasting notes waiting for all those who want to follow in the footsteps of Sam Mason (figurately speaking, mind you!) to see what he saw and to eat what he ate (I might just try the bramble pie...). -- Peter Lehr, author of Pirates: A New History, from Vikings to Somali Raiders; Senior Lecturer, University of St Andrews, Scotland

From Patriot to Pirate: The Outlaw Life of Sam Mason by Dr. Carter F. Smith is a wildly entertaining romp through late 18th-century Western colonial and post-Revolutionary America. While the brilliant but roguish Samuel Mason was the epitome of 'the good, the bad, and the ugly', he is quintessentially American. Revolutionary Patriot, horse thief, frontiersman, judge, tavern keeper, justice of the peace, criminal gang leader, and river pirate—Mason was a factotum before the word was invented. Dr. Smith knows his history and has written a great swashbuckling tale of the early American frontier and the blurry gray lines that separate the heroic and lawful from the criminal. -- Samuel Marquis, bestselling and award-winning author of Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal A truly riveting story about river piracy and land piracy along the Mississippi. Based on trial transcripts, criminal reports, and saucy stories from the 'hearsay' side of things, Carter F. Smith and his research team successfully pieced together the life of Sam Mason as one of the lesser-known outlaws of the 18th century, doing full justice to his dazzling character as that of a ‘noble bandit’ (I’m sure his victims, in particular Colonel Joshua Baker, would disagree though). And on top of all that, there are copious travel and tasting notes waiting for all those who want to follow in the footsteps of Sam Mason (figurately speaking, mind you!) to see what he saw and to eat what he ate (I might just try the bramble pie...). -- Peter Lehr, author of Pirates: A New History, from Vikings to Somali Raiders; Senior Lecturer, University of St Andrews, Scotland Samuel Mason and his gang threatened USA westward expansion at the turn of the nineteenth century. We are indebted to Carter F. Smith for meticulously unearthing Mason’s complex story, along with the stories of the people he robbed. Readers will come away from this book with a richer understanding of the limits of federal authority during the Early Republic. Smith nicely situates Mason and riverine piracy alongside Thomas Jefferson, the Louisiana Purchase, and other familiar figures and events. -- Chris Magra, author of Poseidon’s Curse; The University of Tennessee, USA

Author Information

Carter F. Smith, PhD, directs the Masters in Criminal Justice program at Middle Tennessee State University. Dr. Smith is a retired U.S. Army special agent from the Criminal Investigation Division who has served over twenty-two years in military and federal law enforcement in the U.S. and abroad. An experienced educator since 1990, he has authored books such as Gangs and the Military (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019) and Gangs and Organized Crime (2018). Dr. Smith has been a consultant for various media outlets and appeared on the History Channel’s documentary Gangland (2007). His expertise spans crime investigations, gang research, and security, earning him multiple industry accolades.

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