John Trenchman

Where pirates go. Coatal area's and smugglers routes and places.Stay in the UK.  AAAARRRRHHH
This cache is being placed as part of national talk like a pirate day September 19th every year. It will begin its life in St Nicholas church yard in Godstone. Hopefully it will come back there for a visit a few times before it goes on its way again.

This is a real story, John Trenchman buried in Godstone in St Nicholas church yard. John Trenchman ran away to sea at the age of 12. He grew up in London's docklands. During his pirate career he looted the Spanish Colony of Porto Belo and terrorised many ships, villages and towns. Henry Morgan was the govenor of the Caribean and had planned to wipe out all pirates from the south seas.
At the age of 55 Trenchman retired for health reasons and returned to England and set up as a smuggler on the south coast. Buisness was good and every month he was bringing teams of pack-horses with contraband to Croydon. Richard Collins a member of his gang was arrested after a fight in a public house. To save his own neck he offered information to help catch Trenchman. telling of all his secret routes.
An ambush was laid at Tilburstow Hill just south of Godstone. Trenchman and his gang rode into a small clearing in a wood, soldiers opened fire. The fight was short and fierce with the fatally wounded Trenchman escaping to The Fox and Hounds Inn on Tilburstow Hill where he bleed to death. The villagers took pity on Trenchman and buried him in the local church yard. Funny things happened and eventually he was moved near the church and given a christian burial. His grave has a skull and crossbones carved on it. He died 1687. He grave is to the right of the church just a few stones in.  Google John Trenchman for full story.