Legend has it that the Jones family of Hopeless, Maine became a founding family by dint of shipwrecking as a pirate crew. They were a Welsh crew, and every last one of them had the surname of Jones.

Welsh pirates were of course a source of great alarm during the peak of piratical activities, and were widely feared for their aggressive use of piano accordions.

It is widely speculated that, given the fearsome reputation of Welsh pirates, many especially fierce pirates were assumed to be Welsh, while any would-be pirates who had so much as been to Wales for a visit often claimed that identity. Infamous pirate captain Gurdybird Jones is said to have hailed from the south west of England. For purposes of Hopeless mythology, that apparently also counts as Wales.

Rather than using accordions to strike fear into the hearts of her victims, Gurdybird favoured the eerie tones of the hurdygurdy and had a reputation for appearing through the mist, ancient dance tunes blazing as she set upon unsuspecting vessels. Many surrendered at once and it was thus rare that any of her crew had to go so far as to set fire to their own beards.

It may well have been that fondness for mist which drew them to their fateful collision with the island. Hopeless has long been shrouded in fog, and not reliably mentioned on maps of the area – people who find it seldom being able to leave again. The sheer weight of gold in the hold of the ship caused it to sink quickly, with a great deal of treasure being lost beneath the waves.

If you have ever caught sight of a sea monster wearing a crown as a bracelet on one of its tentacles, this is probably the cause.

The Jones pirates settled on the island and thrived here, no doubt assisted by their fondness for mist and their willingness to make alcohol out of absolutely anything.

You can find Gurdybird over here – GurdyBird