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The story of a baby named by an infamous pirate, whose birth saved a group of Scottish immigrants in 1720, will be presented by the Old Berwick Historical Society on Thursday, January 26, at 7:30 pm. Historian Jeremy D'Entremont will separate the facts from the fantastic legends shrouding one of New England's most enduring folk tales. (Continued below)

The program will be held at Berwick Academy's Jeppesen Science Center on Academy Street, and the public is invited.  Refreshments will be served by volunteers.

Aboard an immigrant sailing ship bound for New England, pirates intercepted and captured the vessel halfway through the grueling voyage.  Upon hearing a baby's cry, the pirate captain promised to spare the lives of all on board if the mother named her newborn Mary, possibly after his beloved mother. The ship arrived safely in Massachusetts, and Mary lived most of her long life in Londonderry, New Hampshire. She is still said to haunt a house in Henniker, New Hampshire, where a pirate purportedly stashed his treasure.

Jeremy D'Entremont is a writer, photographer and tour guide whose specialty is New England maritime history. He is the author of nine books, includingThe Lighthouses of Maine, Great Shipwrecks of the Maine Coast and The Lighthouse Handbook: New England. He has written more than 300 articles on lighthouses and maritime history, and his photographs have appeared in books, magazines and calendars.

D’Entremont is the historian and former president of the American Lighthouse Foundation and founder of Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses. He has appeared on the History Channel, Public Television, Travel Channel, Syfy Channel, WCVB-TV, WMUR-TV and National Public Radio speaking about lighthouses and maritime history. D’Entremont also offers tours based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He has lectured and narrated cruises all along the New England coast.

The program is sponsored by Kennebunk Savings Bank and the member of the Old Berwick Historical Society, owner of the Counting House Museum. More information on the museum and all the Old Berwick Historical Society's programs is available by calling (207) 384-0000.