Captain Twill
Academic Fight Circle, Research, Share, Discuss & Debate Maritime History.
1,545 topics in this forum
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- 25 replies
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Trying to find any references to or shipping lists regarding bricks or blocks of tea shipped into the colonies. Not having any luck with this, and all my searches have turned up only un-verified references by more modern writers. I'm looking for actual primary references from the colonial period if they do, in fact, exist. Thanx, Bo
Last reply by jendobyns, -
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Anyone know of a manufacturer of period correct (17th century) barrels? Obviously barrels were put to a lot more uses than just storage and transportation of goods during the 17th century. For bonus points - does anyone know what for or why those rectangular holes are cut into the barrels? I have no idea.
Last reply by Littleneckhalfshell, -
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I was taught to fire a pistol two-handed. I was always a lousy pistol shot even that way, but at least I could group 7 shots about 3 to 6 inches low and left of the bullseye at 25 yards. With one hand? Fuhgeddaboutit: I'd be lucky to put the shots on the paper at all. Basically every manual I've ever seen about modern handgun shooting agrees: use two hands, whether in the squared off police stance or the sidewise Weaver stance. In the movies, handguns used to be invariably shown used in one hand. Since about the '90s, films set in the modern era more often show an accurate two-handed use of handguns, at least by police and other trained shooters, but Westerns and mo…
Last reply by John Maddox Roberts, -
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What does that mean? Has anyone been around here long enough to know why the general history forum is called Captain Twill?
Last reply by Littleneckhalfshell, -
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This information below is on my webpage (see below) and comes from several sources. The discussion started at the Piratebrethren Yahoo Site and reflects several threads and discussions on that site . The sources include "Working Dress" by Diana de Marly (1986), Christopher Lloyd's "The British Seaman" (1968) and G.E. Manwaring, “The Dress of the British Seaman from the Revolution to the Peace of 1748, "Mariner’s Mirror, The Journal of the Society for Nautical Research, Volume 10, 1924. In 1628 the British Admiralty made sailor's clothing, called "slops," available to press-ganged men. They consisted of a suit of canvas with doublet and breeches, Monmouth caps, cot…
Last reply by Matty Bottles, -
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Afternoon all! As some of you may have noticed, I've become something of a doctor on the RabbleRousing in Port Royal. Thanks to the assistance of the generous Capt. Sterling, information for treating malaria was quickly afforded to me, thereby allowing me to save said captain's life. Now, to all in the know, I ask politely for any information on remedies, surgeries, accutrements or practices used by doctors, surgeons, shamons and or medicine men during the time of which we enjoy. I would also be interested to see if there are any within this region that have taken the persona of a ship's cutter. I'll be grateful for yer assistance, and will surely talk ill of ye that…
Last reply by Mission, -
This is from Sydenham's book The Whole Works of that Excellent Practical Physician Dr. Thomas Sydenham (10th Edition): "...by which the Design of the Physician is as much frustrated, as he would be, that should endeavour to call out a great Number of Men, contained in a large House, orderly one after another, by flinging a Squib amongst them; which on the contrary would so disturb them, that all endeavouring to come out at once, the Passage would be so wedg'd up, that they would be all shut in." (Sydenham, p. 277) A squib, meaning a firework? Or what? Could you purchase such a thing at this time or did you make them? It seems like something a pirate might have had use …
Last reply by Mission, -
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I think I found the horse outfit I really like, just about convinced my self to go for it. I was gonna do stick with 1790 colonial Spanish Missouri (I already got most of those toys from years of playin in it)but this is really what I'd like t do with my horse impression. I'd haveta get rid of my other gear to pay for it though . Bo P.S. THAT SHOULD READ [u]18th CENTURY[/u]!! How can I change the heading?
Last reply by LadyBarbossa, -
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http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/essays/essays_ordinary_seaman.cfm#head6 i ran across this in my web wanderings and wanted to know peoples opinions on the first part of this article.
Last reply by Mission, -
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i am looking for references of how 17th century mariners kept their cool in the hot amd humid climates that they sailed in.
Last reply by Capt. Sterling, -
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Mission, or anyone who can chime in, were there popular quack medicines or magic charms (or possibly even something that worked?) that were popular by 1714 for preventing the scourges of the age like smallpox, yellow fever, typhus, gangrene, tetanus/lockjaw, etc.? I see no reference to the smallpox inoculation being used in America before 1721, but if I know anything about human psychology, I would guess something was used before then, even if it was completely ineffective, just to reduce the sheer anxiety of getting the disease.
Last reply by Mission, -
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I am finding a few good books on surgery of the period so I'll post them in this thread as a reference to the people involved in reenacting it. Heres the first. A French book of the surgeons tools and techniques from 1675 called L'Arcenal de Chirurgie (the surgeons arsenal): http://books.google....epage&q&f=false If you are squeamish you may want to stop reading it before you get to the surgery pages. Made me whince and cross my legs a few times. Scary stuff This one has some good pictures of bandages and dressing a leg amputation. Traite des operations de chirurgie 1721: http://books.google....epage&q&f=false This one has reference pictures to the d…
Last reply by Mission, -
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I have tried the search funtion and came up blank, I looked through the 16 pages of the buccaneer project thread and couldn't find the quotes about mosquito netting. There are/were two different descriptions given about how the boucaniers carried the netting, one stated the netting was carried around the waist like a sash. The other description had them wearing it draped across the shoulder like we see blanket rolls carried in the American Civil War. I am looking through my Exquemeling book on my Kindle, but so far haven't found either of them. I browsed Bennerson Little's book om-line also but couldn't find them there either. Does anyone know or remember where/who g…
Last reply by Cuisto Mako, -
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I am researching a late 17th Century British Grenadier kit and I am getting down to the details and need some help. Has anyone seen any pertinent documentation on their equipment during this time. I am PARTICULARLY interested in what materials their grenade bags were made of. I am guessing either a tarred canvas or a leather bag - to keep the fuses dry. Anyone still on here who would like to share information / insight? Anything helps.
Last reply by Ivan Henry aka Moose, -
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OK hope this is the rifht forum for this. I was thinking about adding a binnacle compass to my navigation display but I don't know what they look like. I have found some late in the 18th century but no nreal early ones need help thanks
Last reply by Daniel, -
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I was thinking about obtaining a new blanket for my kit. But it then occurred to me, I don't have any sources that describe what a period blanket at sea would be like (I have references to blankets, but not of their construction). I guess the real question here is, was a blanket that a sailor would pick up be any different from a blanket that a common person would use on land? I doubt it, but assuming can get you into trouble. If not, I am thinking of getting a blanket from here: http://www.macauslandswoollenmills.com/products.html (see their products, the "natural white" blanket under "blanket (natural)" seems to fit the bill) Anyone else have recommendations on wh…
Last reply by Grymm, -
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i am planing to build a powder chest (an explosive device used as a defense weapon against boarders), i am not sure about the type of ignition system to use. has anyone ever built one or seen one exhibited? your inputs would be greatly appreciated. i do know that there is one described in John Smith's "Seaman Grammer & Dictionary" thanks
Last reply by Silver, -
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I just found this period portrait of a Dutch pirate named Capiteyn Jan Bart (or Jean Bart / Baert) from 1675-1724 check out his neck scarf thing. I havent seen one worn like that before. He is wearing the higher heel shoes too.
Last reply by Elena, -
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- 863 views
The mariner's magazine: or, Sturmy's mathematical and practical arts. Containing, the description and use of the scale of scales; it being a mathematical ruler, that resolves most mathematical conclusions: and likewise the making and use of the crostaff, quadrant, and the quadrat, nocturnals, and other most useful instruments for all artists and navigators by Samuel Sturmy 1669 http://books.google....epage&q&f=false Great reference book. The Art of Gunnery section is extremely interesting having among other things instructions on the construction of paper and canvas grenadoes and how they are shot from mortars and grenadoe launchers.
Last reply by Silver, -
I was recently clued in to the concept of the Jonah in my quest to figure out why an otherwise non-evil crew would dump their shipmate John on the first available island*. Apparently, the Jonah is a sailor who gets blamed for every unlucky thing that happens on board that can't be explained by human error. I'd like to know more about this concept as it was in the Golden Age. What could get someone accused of being a Jonah? Was it a common sailor belief? How much would a Jonah's fate depend on whether he was on a RN, merchant, or pirate ship? What more can you guys tell me about the Jonah? Were they even called the Jonah back then? If it helps, John's meloncholic and unpo…
Last reply by Tartan Jack, -
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- 725 views
here is a podcast from colonial williamsburg on piracy http://podcasts.history.org/053011/AgeofPiracy.mp3
Last reply by Dutchman, -
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Its now official...the N.C. wreck has been officially confirmed as the Queen Anne's Revenge. Neddy is certainly getting the press this year... http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/10/3692152/its-official-ship-found-off-nc.html
Last reply by LookingGlass, -
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Piracy and the English Government: 1617-1642. David Hebb. Hebb studies how the English government handled the rising threat of the Barbary corsairs, who expanded beyond the Mediterranean to raid the shores of England in the 17th century. Hebb builds the story around two major anti-pirate expeditions: Mansell’s attack on Algiers in 1620-21, which ended in humiliating failure, and Rainsborough’s blockade of Sallee in 1637, which succeeded remarkably. The Barbary corsairs’ reach expanded because they adopted tall ships instead of galleys, whether by developing themselves or by adopting them from Christian renegades like Simon Danser or John Ward. King James I passionate…
Last reply by Daniel, -
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One of the bizarre little twists of European and colonial law was the "benefit of clergy." In England, by the 17th century, if you could read Psalm 51, the court pretended that this established you were a clergyman, and therefore not eligible for the death sentence. In the old days they would actually hand you over to a canon law court, but by our period that wasn't done any more; they just branded you on the thumb to make sure you couldn't plead the benefit twice, and might sentence you to up to a year in prison. Psalm 51 came to be known as the "neck verse," because it would save your neck if you could read it, or if you could memorize it and pretend to read it (very…
Last reply by Daniel, -
- 4 replies
- 1k views
The Muslim corsairs who operated out of Algiers, Sale, Tunis and Tripoli from the 1500s through the early 1800s were called "Barbary pirates" by English speakers throughout most of history. But most secondary sources from the 1970s or so onward do not call the North African corsairs pirates, insisting that these corsairs were really privateers acting under commissions from the government, and that they should properly be regarded as privateers. But, David Hebb makes a contrary argument in Piracy and the English Government, 1616-1642 (a very interesting book which I will report on later). Hebb says that the Barbary corsair ports, while each under their own Pasha (or Bas…
Last reply by Daniel,
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