Captain Twill
Academic Fight Circle, Research, Share, Discuss & Debate Maritime History.
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The ruffian who clambers over the gunwale with the blade of his weapon clamped between his teeth is one of the iconic images of piracy. Obviously, there is some advantage to having both your hands free while you climb aboard another ship, but sashes and scabbards would seem to be a more practical solution than your mouth as a place to store your weapon while you climb. Is there any historical evidence of pirates (or indeed anyone in the Age of Sail) boarding an enemy ship with cutlery in their teeth? I did search the Pub, but darned if I can find any previous threads on this question.
Last reply by Bright, -
so looking around, it seems that a nice galley chest would be nice. mr wobble had a nice practical one compliments of the boyscouts engineering program, which he graciously shared it source. I was wondering if anyone had an example of a campaign furniture one. I have seen a copy of the british campaign furniture book and it is a bit out of my price range at $260. does anyone have any pictures or repros or drawings or written descriptions of such a creature?
Last reply by William Brand, -
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Hi I am new guy here and sorry if my english is not perfect because it is not my mother language... My first post is rumor that I have often heard: Does anybody know is the claim true that Blackbeard was killed by Scottish RN Sailor and with highlander sword (like this) http://www.edgeimpor...23133641740.jpg during battle of Ocaroke inlet? Or is that just rumor like “Blackbeard swim around his ship 2, 3 or 7 times after his head had cut off.”
Last reply by Red John, -
- 26 replies
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I KNOW - this topic has probably been discussed TO DEATH here, and elsewhere. But I have a question, and I can't remember if I've asked it here (I have on other sites), so here it goes...PLEASE do not thrown weevily biscuits at me if I'm repeating myself...like Dory in Finding Nemo, I can't remember what I said five minutes ago, let alone 5 months ago! So, my question - could the term 'walking the plank' have actually been used in real life, and not just in fiction? I ask this based on the typical burial ceremony for a dead seaman - he was packaged up in his hammock with shot at his feet, and placed on a plank, which was then tilted upwards, allowing the body to then …
Last reply by oderlesseye, -
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took a quick look to see if anyone reported this or not, or maybe it is really old news, but I just saw an article that they found Capt. Morgan's fleet off of Panama. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/01/captain-morgans-treasure_n_1728340.html
Last reply by jendobyns, -
- 0 replies
- 581 views
Most of us know the typical chain - and bar-shot used in Age of sail to make damagge when shot at ships' riggings and sails.I was wondering how old they actually are. At least they were common in 1650 onwards but when precisely. Many web pages say that "somewhere in 17th Century" but in this quite reliable forum there is earllier chain-shots http://www.vikingswo...p?t=8012&page=2. Also I would like to get some mentions of pirates using them. Ofcourse they were used since pirates wanted to do just that what they were for, meaning dissmasting prey ships and then capture them. Relatives of chain shots, bar-shots are found on the wreck of Whydah. http://farm7.staticf...…
Last reply by Swashbuckler 1700, -
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A couple of weeks ago I went to Mystic Seaport and got aboard the sail-training full-rigged ship Joseph Conrad, where I had the utterly awesome experience of turning a capstan while singing "Santiano." For the first time ever, I got to see a vessel with running rigging made of old-style manilla rope (most modern tall ships use nylon, of course). I noticed, to my surprise, that the running rigging had no pitch or tar on it; I had always read that the lines on the old sailing vessels were weatherproofed with pitch. The standing rigging was tarred, even though it was made of steel wire, but not the running rigging. So was this the standard rule on old-style pirate ships…
Last reply by oderlesseye, -
- 8 replies
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For those who don't follow my facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/#!/ETFox), I thought this might be of interest: Sarah Horne to her husband, a pirate, 5 June, 1698 For me perhaps the most interesting thing is that this surviving letter reveals a regular correspondence ("I have sent you two letters before this and have Receved One") between pirates based at St. Mary's island and their families in Europe.
Last reply by Fox, -
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- 850 views
ok so if razee is unkown term look here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Razee From general History of Pirates " When the Ship came out to Sea, Lowther called up all the Company, and told them, it was the greatest Folly imaginable, to think of returning to England, for what they had already done, could not be justifyed upon any Pretence whatsoever, but would be look'd upon, in the Eye of the Law, a capital Offence, and that none of them were in a Condition to withstand the Attacks of such powerful Adversaries, as they would meet with at Home; for his Part he was determined not to run such a Hazard, and therefore if his Proposal was not agreed to, he desired to be set a Sh…
Last reply by Tartan Jack, -
- 53 replies
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Aye, Dunno if there were a topic of this nature already... or even if this be th' right place for it... What nautical words/phrases do you use or hear every day? More than you think, I'll wager.... Things like; 'being three sheets to the wind' Or 'Being at laggerheads with someone' Or 'the cats out of the bag' and so fourth...
Last reply by Mission, -
- 2 replies
- 480 views
I am wondering one historical thing about Nicolas Lawes and many other Jamaican governors in golden age of piracy. I wonder would governors between 1692-1764 had any own residence buildings? There is no real reason to know but I want to. Looking in many web pages it was that "Kings house" which means governor’s mansion was built in Port Royal by 1690 but it was apparently destroyed in a earthquake in 1692. Then when the government was moved to "Spanish Town" (which is near Kingston) but next King's House for governor was built as late as 1764. So historically I wonder where would those governors live... in unofficial redideces ,in local Inns, in their sugar mill mansions…
Last reply by Swashbuckler 1700, -
- 1 follower
- 136 replies
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Ahoy me mateys! What did a sea chest for the GAoP look like? Did they look like the ones seen at Marlinespike.com? I'm looking to build one of me own, but I'd like one that is appropriate to our time period. Thanks for your help!
Last reply by Mission, -
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- 1.1k views
The 7 most terrifying pirates from history http://www.cracked.c...om-history.html
Last reply by Swashbuckler 1700, -
- 5 replies
- 976 views
Here's an interesting link I found. Roman Pirates I for one will be closely watching as this story unfolds. History! Gotta love it...
Last reply by Mission, -
- 5 replies
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The Four Years Voyages of Capt. George Roberts. Written by Himself [Really by D. Defoe]. This is my new topic. I am inquirying because in Cordingly's book it gets in detail about a Capt. Roberts who is captured by Low and his pirate squadron in Sept. 1721 off Cape Verde Islands. Was this book actually written by Dafoe or Roberts? Because if this is a work of fantasy then would it be safe to assume that the whole detailed story of Roberts to be false like Low's flag "green flag with yellow man blowing a trumpet and Low having this compassionate side towards Roberts and his ship. The title, I got from Amazon.com and that was the description.
Last reply by Mission, -
- 43 replies
- 4.7k views
Just wondering if anyone has ever seen a reference to those stripey stockings I've seen people associate with pirate attire. I have yet to see aperiod drawing or a written reference to these. Any help?
Last reply by Grymm, -
Joke Knife!
by Grymm- 5 replies
- 681 views
Like it says on the tin, a trick knife, bit like the comedy arrow through the head, from the 1700's http://www.museums-sheffield.org.uk/collections/objects-in-3d/blades/trick-knife
Last reply by PoD, -
Does anyone know what a Grummet is? It is mentioned this document from 1710 relating to crewing a ship. "Make up your Complemt. of men and Grummets One hundred & Ten in Number, as fast as you can." Is it some sort of post on a ship as it is mentioned along with Pages a lot in the book "Butterflies Will Burn: Prosecuting Sodomites in Early Modern Spain and Mexico" (the only other reference to it i can find)? http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=WrM0__qIN2YC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false It mentiones that it is the lowliest type of sailor and seems to indicate that it is mainly young boys in the post. A…
Last reply by peglegstrick, -
- 0 replies
- 312 views
While this is more of a Buccaneer Era image I thought it might be interesting to see others images of Memento Mori. I seem to recall Foxe mentioning that the skull and crossbones was also a symbol for the resurrection. ttp://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/goldsmiths-art-germany-17th-century-memento-mori-skull-ring-news-photo/122339482
Last reply by Jib, -
Shoulder Knots 1 2
by kass- 36 replies
- 4.3k views
Hey all! I've been looking at pictures of late 17th century dress and it occurs to me that shoulder knots (like this one worn by the Duke of Burgundy in 1700) may have had a purpose other than just decoration. They are always worn on the right shoulder. It occured to me that that's the shoulder over which a man wear his baldrick. Could these elaborate shoulder knots actually function as a "holder" so the baldrick doesn't slip off your shoulder? None of my costume books give a purpose to shoulder knots. They say they are purely decorative. Anyone ever heard anything different?
Last reply by Swashbuckler 1700, -
- 7 replies
- 1.8k views
Not sure if this has been posted or discussed here before, but saw it come up on another forum and figured there would be interest here... Museum of London http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/Collections-Research/Collections-online/object.aspx?objectID=object-83031&rows=1&start=2&sort=summaryTitle%20asc
Last reply by Grymm, -
- 43 replies
- 5.7k views
In William Dampier's book New Voyage Round the World he has a great deal to say about the coconut tree. In fact, I think it would make a fascinating display if all the things he discusses could be put together. "The Coco-Nut Trees grow by the Sea, on the Western-side in great Groves, three or four Miles in length, and a Mile or two broad.... The Nut or Fruit grows at the head of the Tree, among the Branches and in Clusters, 10 or 12 to a Cluster. The Branch to which they grow is about the bigness of a Man's Arm, and as long, running small towards the end. It is of a yellow Colour, full of Knots, and very tough. The Nut is generally bigger than a Man's Head. The outer r…
Last reply by Swashbuckler 1700, -
- 3 replies
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A warning to anyone intending to visit the non-existent "William Augustus Bowles Museum and Heritage Foundation" in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. First, the "museum" does not exist, and is a room in the local Chamber of Commerce. It is a collection of mardi-gras style outfits and memorabilia from past "Billy Bowlegs" pirate festivals; any further similarities to the actual historical figure of William Augustus Bowles, or actual pirates who operated in the Gulf of Mexico, stops there. The "museum" can be seen here- http://bowlegsmuseum.com/Photo_Albums/Pages/Open_House.html As you can see, there is no historical background at the "museum" regarding William Augustus Bowl…
Last reply by jendobyns, -
- 23 replies
- 1.8k views
Aside from the Vikings, has anybody come across any information if fthere were any well known, or lesser known Norwegain/Swedish pirates during the Golden Age of Piracy? M. Bloodheart
Last reply by Swashbuckler 1700, -
- 2 replies
- 591 views
Does anyone have any information on him outside of what can be found on wikisource? Various scurrilous pirate websites who do not bother to list their sources list him as a surgeon, but I can't seem to find any proof of this. Nor can I find where he said much about that topic, even in his book.
Last reply by Mission,
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