Captain Twill
Academic Fight Circle, Research, Share, Discuss & Debate Maritime History.
1,566 topics in this forum
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I am interested in finding out some more about female pirates. Obviously there is Mary Read, Anne Bonny and Cheng I Sao. But I have always been under the impression that there were a number of women who sailed as pirates who's stories are not as famous. I am looking for discussion as well as maybe some suggested reading material. Billie
Last reply by Mission, -
- 35 replies
- 6.3k views
Ok, I am wondering about a normal 24 hr day for a sailor. I know that they were kept busy with the rigging of the ship. Also there was always cleaning to do. So given no storms and no battles what would be a normal day. All hands would be pipped on deck and the daily scrubbing would start. All hands would be pipped to breakfast. How long did they get to eat? All hands would be pipped back to work. Working cordage, polishing brass, rigging the ship, ect. All hands would be pipped to the next meal. When would that be? Back to work. Then one set of men would be pipped to rest for some hours or sleep form 8 till Midnight? The dog watches from the midnight till 4. Sleep from …
Last reply by Mission, -
- 15 replies
- 1.4k views
while at work this evening i started thinking about old style pocket books and wallets then the thought occurred to me, where did 18th century mariners keep their money?... was it in a pouch tied to their belt, or was it a cloth wallet of some sort, i tried looking for information but came up empty handed, what do yall think or know about this?
Last reply by Brit.Privateer, -
- 25 replies
- 2.4k views
Perusing the 18th Century Material Culture's Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/18thCenturyMaterialCultureResourceCenter ) I came across these little gems. Wooden tricorn hat boxes. Who knew?
Last reply by Dutchman, -
- 9 replies
- 1.7k views
Referencing the picture of the Royal Marine posted by Grymm in the uniform colours thread. Has anyone seen an original of the cartridge box? Specifically, does it have a wooden block insert as used by the mid 18th c, or is it an open box similar to the Whydah and Phipps boxes? Hawkyns
Last reply by Red John, -
- 59 replies
- 7.9k views
This is a fovorite of mine (really Foxe) it Depicts the Raid on Guayacil. FROM FOXE Brief history: Woodes Rogers commanded a privateering voyage in 1709 or thereabout, raiding the West coast of South America. one of the successes of the voyage was a raid on the port of Guayacil which is depicted here in an engraving from Woodes Rogers' 1712 published account of that voyage. ok lets talk about what we see.
Last reply by Swashbuckler 1700, -
FLAGS FOR POTC 1 2 3
by BILLY BONES- 51 replies
- 7.6k views
Alright, here's another way to help me without getting paid. I'm making various pirate flags for Pirates of the Caribbean III. Of course, I have examples of the usual panoply of flags we all see, but I need to create Chinese and corsair flags. I've seen the 19th century Chinese Pirate flag. If you have any examples of unusual pirate flags from any time period, from any part of the world, please e-mail me. I prefer to stay on or before 1730. Maybe some reward can be obtained for your help. Who knows?
Last reply by Swashbuckler 1700, -
- 69 replies
- 12.1k views
This is a self portrait by the artist Godfried Schalcken (1643-1706), painted circa 1670. Clearly not a sailor, and it's a bit prior to the GAOP, but it does show the ol' gold hoop earring worn for fashion's sake...I throw it out there for those who are seeking alternative controversial debates to the Boots. Enjoy! :)
Last reply by Swashbuckler 1700, -
- 36 replies
- 9.6k views
I wondered when did the tradition of scrubbing ship's deck with sandstone started. The sandstone used for that was later called "holystone" but the date when that tradition begun is not easy to find. I think the meaning for that scrubbing, besides the cleaning, was to prevent the planks of being shrunk by watering the deck. But I am not completely sure so feel free to correct me if you want.
Last reply by Captain Jim, -
- 20 replies
- 3.5k views
So were Gaop waistcoats more often were without sleeves or with them? I am speaking of common men and sailors what would be the case I don't need patterns or anything but I was just wondering this as an historical issue. I have found more pictures of them with sleeves ones like here
Last reply by Frtiz, -
- 13 replies
- 2.3k views
One of the things I love most about pirates, and ancient sailors generally, is their picturesque language. Phrases like "lay her by the lee," "lay aloft the windward mizzen yard," "blowing marlinspikes," "have a care of the lee latch," and "how cheer ye fore and aft?" are like poetry to me. Although sailing jargon changed remarkably little over the centuries - sailors on the Golden Hind and the Cutty Sark would both easily understand a phrase like "the main mast is shot by the board" - it did evolve slowly. "Ahoy," for example, does not appear in print until the 1750s; the Sea-Man's Vade Mecum of 1707 has no entry for "ahoy," and suggests you greet an approaching vess…
Last reply by Zaknesbitt, -
- 0 replies
- 451 views
Interloper Slave ships were popular pirate vessels when they could get them, so I thought I'd start a topic about them and their behavior. This is really just to stick this quote somewhere so it's available to everyone. It's from Père Jean-Baptiste Labat's Memoires 1693-1705 (Translated from the original French by John Eaden, 1970): "There are English companies similar to the French African companies which enjoy the sole right of trading in slaves. But this does not stop other Englishmen going to Africa for this purpose, provided that their ship is able to defend herself from the __ companies' vessels, which they have the right to capture her as if she belonged to an e…
Last reply by Mission, -
- 21 replies
- 5.2k views
Just for fun I have studied early 1700s naval weaponry and I have constantly come across "Queen Anne muskets" with dog-locks or flintlocks but what I found interesting is that many of these RN suplied guns were painted black back then. Why? was there any real reason for that or did some one just think that it looks cool? Like this early 1700s naval musket.
Last reply by Coastie04, -
- 13 replies
- 2.8k views
This is from "Extracts from the Diaries of Dr. John Covel, 1670-1679" in the book Early Voyages and Travels in the Levant, edited by J. Theodore Bent concerning clearing the ship for battle. "It was pleasure to see the great alacrity and readinesse, I may say the eagernesse, of our Seamen in preparing for the dispute. All their Hamocks were down in a trice; their chests and lumber turn'd out into the boates, or stived [Editor's footnote 1: packed away, stuffed] by the main chains or elsewhere, out of the way. We had a clear ship in a very little while..." (Covel, p. 129) I have some questions about this. 1. Wouldn't the hammocks have been below? I have images of them …
Last reply by Coastie04, -
- 15 replies
- 2.2k views
As a spin off to the thread about behavior in a period tavern (where we touched briefly upon this topic) I thought we could continue the discourse on Catholic Pirates. I seem to recall that many English Catholics flocked to the Kings banner during the English Civil War (perhaps in hope of tolerance upon victory) and had to seek new residence upon the success of Cromwell and his Roundheads. I also believe that Cromwell in his conquest of Ireland for plantations transported many Irish to the Caribbean (Hell or Connaught!). The Portuguese, long time allies of the English were Catholic. After the Restoration the Queen was herself was Portuguese and passionately Catholic. …
Last reply by Jib, -
- 13 replies
- 1.8k views
As I've been reading all the different topics on historical accuracy in clothing, weapons, music, etc., a subject that is very dear to me seems to be missing. I'm familiar with all the dance forms of the era (Pavane, Galliard, Minuet, Contra-Dances.......), however I'm wondering if there are any specific dances that would be appropraite for a GAoP reenactment. Besides the timeless grab & grop. If anyone has any research or insight on where I can find more information, I'd appreciate it.
Last reply by Fox, -
- 20 replies
- 1.5k views
I've read that the Triangular Trade brought wealth into the fledgling English Colonies. Luxury items however appeared to be limited and heavily taxed. Such items would encourage smuggling operations to appear. What types of things were considered luxury items or in great demand during the GAOP in the colonies?
Last reply by Mission, -
- 11 replies
- 1.7k views
I've found remarkably little information about ship's galleys in the Golden Age. It's tough to search the Web for, because of course people are mostly concerned with galleys right now, not galleys on sailing ships 300 years ago. What I think I know is that disabled sailors were often made cooks, and that pirates would have prepared food similar to what they knew from the Royal Navy or the merchant service, i.e. biscuit, salt meat, pease, beer or ale, cheese, stockfish, oatmeal, and butter, with the occasional salmagundi (worms and weevils are a free extra). What I don't know is: 1. How much was the galley actually used? Many of the items on the bill of fare, like ch…
Last reply by Mission, -
- 57 replies
- 9.5k views
I have been working on developing this sailor's outfit that Peter The Great brought back from eastern Europe in the early 1700s. After chatting with a few people and checking my resources, I found out that his hat was not straw like I first thought. It appears to be a brimmed knit cap. I found a source and now have a great example of this hat. However, I am not certain that I have seen any references of this hat in application. Any help?
Last reply by Swashbuckler 1700, -
- 18 replies
- 2.5k views
Hi it is interesting that so overused in pirate movies stripes shirts are not 100% inaccurate. But it seems that gaop the striped shirts had bit different look that the Hollywood ones. Once again I am wondering clothing as the historical issue so I have no need to pattern etc. https://pyracy.com/in...ilors-clothing/
Last reply by Swashbuckler 1700, -
- 1 reply
- 1.7k views
I realized that there is very little talk here about sailor's fur hats. Once again I am not looking for patterns but I was wondering clothing as historical issue. I know that there is some mentions of pirates having fur hat/ caps but I would grateful if someone could share quotes. I have found plenty pictures of fur hats. It seems that they were popular ( but on the Bahamas or Madagascar perhaps not) Btw in picture 1 ( those are Dutch mariners from 1695) I think it is possible that there is earring (that left fellow?) but it seems it is not but who knows) I take back what I have said about checkered breeches after 1690s (somewhere). There is one pair…
Last reply by Swashbuckler 1700, -
- 32 replies
- 5k views
capt. sterling, what kind of fabric constitutes "foul weather gear" fabric ?? a certain wool, oiled canvas, what was used ?? tia
Last reply by Swashbuckler 1700, -
- 11 replies
- 2.9k views
So this is topic for kerchief in sailor use especially in Gaop They are exaggerated in movies but lets take a look of history some "evidence" so to speak: http://jcb.lunaimagi.../what/Artifacts, industry, and human activities/Pirates/where/[Amsterdam];sort:Normalized_date,Creators,Publisher,Title;lc:JCB~1~1,JCBBOOKS~1~1,JCBMAPS~1~1,JCBMAPS~2~2&mi=1&trs=22 Black sailor in 17th century next one is offperiod but it proves that: even that some have claimed that bandanas were impractical (which they are not. the sweat and all and if you are sailor you can make a good knot and kerchief stays firmly on the head) that was from 1807 Next: Avery from Johnson fro…
Last reply by Swashbuckler 1700, -
- 1 reply
- 793 views
We know that period ships had cats and dogs (for killing vermin and perhaps for company) but do we have any records of pirate ships having any? Forget the buccaneer's hunter dogs now but what about ship's dogs? And because of my love of pictures: A ship's cat there. Nothing special really Two dogs. The one with the periwig (Hogarth's satire) might be just captain's pet but the other might be a ship's dog (see how it is waiting to get food that is soon served).
Last reply by snakemanterry, -
- 2 replies
- 1k views
I'm working on some projects concerning Spain in the Golden Age and I'm looking for any surviving images of Spanish flags for the period. Anything from Navy to Merchant Jacks. I know that the Cross of Burgundy appears on most of them, but I'd like a period example of the style, since the look of the cross is a little different from example to example. I'll also take any examples of Spanish ship pennants and variants of ensigns.
Last reply by Swashbuckler 1700,
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