Captain Lightfoot, the Last of the New England Highwaymen

'Captain Lightfoot, the Last of the New England Highwaymen' offers a gripping first-hand narrative of the life and daring exploits of Michael Martin, one of the most notorious rogues of the early nineteenth century. Dictated while awaiting execution, Martin’s account traces his evolution from a restless youth in Ireland to a bold highwayman terrorizing the roads of New England. Central to the narrative is Martin’s apprenticeship under the legendary Captain Thunderbolt, a mentor who initiated him into a world of high-stakes robbery, narrow escapes, and clever disguises.This work serves as a fascinating window into the criminal underworld of the post-Revolutionary era, blending picaresque adventure with a raw look at the legal and social conditions of the time. Readers will follow Lightfoot’s journey through Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and beyond, witnessing the charisma and audacity that earned him a place in American folklore. Filled with accounts of nocturnal heists and the camaraderie of outlaws, this narrative remains a seminal piece of early American true crime literature, immortalizing the figure of the gentleman bandit before the closing of the frontier era.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.