Captain Clegg, a pirate, settled down to a more respectable life as the vicar of Dymchurch in the Kent marshes, resuming the name Doctor Syn.
He soon became tired of the sedentary life and together with the church sexton (and former pirate colleague) Mr. Mipps, he soon established a band of smugglers, called "The Devil Riders". At night the respectable Dr Syn became 'The Scarecrow', the feared head of the smugglers. The Dr Syn books detail his adventures and attempts to evades the Excise.
A film was made of Dr Syn's exploits by Walt Disney in the early 1960s. It starred Patrick McGoohan of The Prisoner fame.
A 'Day of Syn' is done every other year (the even numbered ones - e.g. 2004) by the residents of Dymchurch for fund-raising purposes.