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William Brand

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Posts posted by William Brand

  1. We are strongly encouraging all participants to purchase a period lantern for the event.  The added lighting at night will improve the photo opportunities and atmosphere of the camps.  We are also doing some after hours events which may involve walking around (we'll explain this later) and you'll want a good lantern.

  2. 2 hours ago, madPete said:

    This is what I did for my travel tent.  I found some 1-1/4 canopy connectors and cut down some 1-1/4 Dowels to fit in my duffel (about 30 inches long. Then I smeared glue all over the connectors and wrapped a length of twine around the connector. These go inside my tent so they aren't obvious, but at least I have poles for my tent...

    That's not a bad idea for travel oars as poles.  Not bad at all!

  3. EDIT:  Participants can show up Friday Morning, but the event ends shortly after the park closes on Sunday night.  Originally we were told that we could arrive earlier and stay later, but they changed their minds.  Some of us are camping or hoteling before and after.

    The planning continues, but I can now confirm early arrival for camping participants.  There are some specific limitations to arriving early, but they're minor.  Participants can show up Wednesday night and stay through Monday morning, so you can enjoy the place for days!  specific times and details on this to follow, but we can camp!

  4. This is a placeholder for planning.  Details to be added later.

    Just a short list of activities being discussed:

    Camping in and around the fort
    Black powder muskets, pistols and cannons
    Skirmishes and battles
    Historic demonstrations
    Reading of the Articles
    Period plays
    Mock trials
    Live music
    Ghost Walks
    An ‘auction before the mast’ on Saturday Night
    Special merchandise celebrating the event and the Pub

  5. February 24 -

     

    On this day in 1720, the Spanish fleet arrived at New Providence, only to find that Roger's had fortified the place with new defenses.  Wary of Rogers' defenses, the Spanish landed troops on Paradise Island (then known as Hog Island), which shelters Nassau's harbor, but they were driven off by Rogers' troops.

     

    And on February 24th in 1725, the trial of Matthew Perry and a number of other sailors began in Newport, Rhode Island.  Perry was the first mate aboard the ship 'John and Mary' when it was captured off the coast of Belize by members of the Low-Spriggs pirate crew, now under the command of Richard Shipton (Low had been cast adrift some months earlier). Three pirates went aboard the John and Mary to take command, with orders to follow Shipton's vessel. Perry was initially bound with his hands tied behind his back, but in a matter of days, several other captives aboard the ship, who were entrusted by the pirates, were able to free Perry and gave him one of their pistols.

     

    Anchored off the coast of Guanaja in the Bay of Honduras one afternoon in late December, Perry and the other captives suddenly rushed the pirates, killed two of them, and regained control of the ship. The men cut their cables and immediately set sail back home to Newport. When they arrived, however, they were put on trial -- because the men, with “force and arms,” had killed “two of the subjects of our Lord the King.” Yet since these two “subjects” were by all accounts pirates, there never seemed to be any question of the crew’s innocence. The men recounted their capture and escape, and all of them were found not guilty.

  6. February 23 - 

     

    It is believed that Captain Samuel Bellamy was born on this day in 1689, not because we have a record of his birth, but because his mother Elizabeth Bellamy is reported to have died in childbirth and was buried that day.  

  7. 51 minutes ago, Mission said:

    No. You can barely find anything in the period accounts about the cook or his stewards, let alone something with that amount of detail. 

    I knew it was a long shot.  Thanks for a quick response.

  8. On 2/11/2023 at 9:39 AM, Stynky Tudor said:

    William has reached out to his last known email, I don't think he has heard anything back.

    I've not heard from him in several years.  The email that I have might not be working anymore.

  9.  

     

    The English barred us in that yesterday

    and took the shelter of the field away

     

    We gave it up with jealous wonting ever

    and vowed return in some unseen December

     

    But as the years went swiftly by

    we raised a glass in silent cry

     

    For corral fields and rampart skies

    New songs unsung and well told lies

     

    Bring back the laughter and embraces

    Which gather strangers to those places

     

    Quick to friendship and romances

    Brimmed with laughter and stolen glances

     

    Riots brewed by auctioneers

    In tents full filled with privateers

     

    Another Solstice come and gone

    No song, no words, no fort anon

     

    - William Brand

    "That December Fort"

    February 20, 2023

  10. 1 hour ago, Mission said:

    Something worth noting, which I learned after this discussion ended - cookbooks did not represent the food of sailors or even the regular populace/middling classes; they represented the food of the elite.

    Mission, have you come across any example of the 'cook' or 'mess mates'...how do I put this...'clearing the plates', as in, eating the leftover food off the plates?  With finer food being limited among the common man, I've often wondered if it's ever been mentioned.  

  11. February 20 - 

     

    On this day in 1521, Juan Ponce de León set out from Spain for Florida with about 200 prospective colonists.

     

    Also…and this isn’t the least bit piratical…or is it?.  On this day in 1673, the first recorded wine auction took place in London.

     

    And on this day in 1685, René-Robert Cavelier established Fort St. Louis at Matagorda Bay thus forming the basis for France's claim to Texas.

     

    And on this day in 1815, the USS Constitution, under Captain Charles Stewart fought the British ships Cyane and Levant. The Constitution captured both, but lost the Levant after encountering a British squadron. The Constitution and the Cyane returned to New York safely.

  12. On 2/17/2023 at 12:24 PM, madPete said:

    One thing we've learned is that great venues are difficult to find and keep. Like everything, change is inevitable. So dont take your events for granted. Support them and help them to flourish any way you can. Cherish and protect your special venues, they are few and far between.

    Amen.  When visiting an event always ask 'What do you need?' or 'How can we/I help?'.  You never know, but you you might be the reason that an event survives.

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