Captain Twill
Academic Fight Circle, Research, Share, Discuss & Debate Maritime History.
1,565 topics in this forum
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I'm in the midst of research for a book of piratical nature, and I've come upon a bit of a snag concerning conscription practices of the British navy. My mother has provided an age range, and I am familiar with the practice of gang-pressing (or press-ganging; whichever it is), but I'm not sure of very much beyond those simple basics and I could use a bit of mathematical assistance. My situation involves two boys, one of whom has no living parents and has been raised by his aunt, the other is the son of that aunt and somewhat older than his cousin. The nephew, being the more useless and generally irritating, was shipped to the Navy prompt at age twelve, and I am wonderi…
Last reply by Janette Morgan, -
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Couldn't anybody help with the information about the war of 1686-1697 (King William's War) in the Caribbean region? I've read only about the attack of the British privateers on Marie Galante in December 1689 in which Kidd took place. Are there any web sources which provides more information?
Last reply by blackjohn, -
Following on from a discussion I had with Kass months ago I've been giving some thought to cats (of the whippy kind) during the GAoP. It has long been my unverified contention that there was no "correct way" to make a cat until well after the GAoP, if even then, and not necessarily any uniform procedures for their use. So, what do we actually know about nine-tailed cats in the GAoP? First of all, I can only think of one picture of a cat that's even close to period: Hogarth's "Idle Apprentice Turn'd Away to Sea", c.1735 Now, it has been postulated that the odd shape of the cat in this picture is because it's not a real cat, but a representative one. However, it strik…
Last reply by The Chapman, -
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I Have compiled a dozen or so list of reenactor clothing suppliers and sutlers, and they all have tricorn hats, except I can't find anything earlier than 1750 and later than 1660. After doing me homework, I have concluded that 1700-1725 tricorns seem like they are much bigger in loft, and a bit more upright than 1750s-Rev War counterparts. In fact, I went out of my way to install cable television last year just to get the Discovery Channel (or was it the History channel) docu on Blackbeard, andI saw that a few of the reenactor characters had some unusually vertical looking tricorn hats. I have to do it right before I go to GAOP...the hat is very important to…
Last reply by capnwilliam, -
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I found this online and thought it might be fun to share. http://www.snopes.com/lost/sixpence.htm
Last reply by Jib, -
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I was looking for more early 1700's era artifacts on the net from a site that talks about, albeit a sensitive topic, the slave trade in Newport RI, and stumbled across this map . It seems to me a bit too polished for that era, but not too much information, just a continental global map. let me know what you think: http://www.colonialcemetery.com/images/sla...ave%20trade.jpg
Last reply by William Brand, -
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Like the title said, I need some ideas for the pocket flaps for a waistcoat... I'd like something different than that which I've been seeing all over.. Just too lazy to go looking through all my folders... Cheers
Last reply by Matusalem, -
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Just like it says, information and resources on women of the period. We've all heard that there are "lots of good rolls for women besides playing the whore" but where to find out about these other rolls is all too often left out. I'd love to have a resource list of books, articles, artists etc for women playing women to find inspiration and information. So I'll start. I recently found a book in my local library called Colonial Women of Affairs, before 1776 by Elisabeth Anthony Dexter. It deals exclusively with women who ran businesses of all sorts prior to AWI. The majority of the information is taken from newspapers of the time, and the focus is sadly just outside GAoP…
Last reply by jessie k., -
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The word 'lascar' refers to sailors from East of the Cape of Good Hope, and typically from India or the East Indies. The number of Indians on British ships was so high that this 'problem' was addressed in Acts as early as 1660; there were evidently stipulations that crews of British ships be at least 75% 'British', or something like that, whatever 'British' means. I'll have to read through the Acts in my spare time. This is an interesting insight into staffing practices of the time. It's obvious that loss of crew was a serious issue, likely due to death, desertion, etc. It certainly explains the Navy's insistence on the right of impressment, and their habit of treating t…
Last reply by The Chapman, -
1. Wh has the best online source for 1720 era white silk&embroidered fabric for wasitcoats? 2..Has anyone tried calicocorner.com? Merci Beaucoup, Pierre Tombale de Beauchesne
Last reply by michaelsbagley, -
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As my Jolly Roger was rather threadbare, my first mate drug out of his sea chest, a fine, old, hand-stitched Jolly roger that has flow over three notorious square-riggers before me. I am quite honored as it is patched and many moons old. Just like the black pearls. I' ve flown a small Edwin Teach flag from a burgee halliard, but the large one flies from my main, as Claire from Tales of the Seven Seas pointed out. I also fly a red duster, the original 'jolie rouge' ('blood red) as flown historically prior to 1700, the time at which 'black flags' began appearing. Gary, the Royaliste
Last reply by oderlesseye, -
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I have finally decided that I am going to put together a major costume, that will take several months to put together. The costume is going to be of french corsaires and filbustiers around the time of GAOP, Basically, here's René Duguay-Trouin (1673-1736), with a Gherkin style justacourps coat, breatplate, bucket boots, and an ornate baldric, which I assume is leather with gold trim? And here's François Mahé Le Burdonnais (1699-1753), I can't tell if in one picture if his coat is velvet or other material: [Jaques Gouin de Beauchesne (1652-1730) was actually a privateer and explorer, and sadly to my personal behest, I can't find any pictures. Any feedback is …
Last reply by Matusalem, -
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Borrowing Foxe's thunder, anyone up for a second installment? Plot line: Authenticity in tales by those that lived the life. "Did that really happen?" Mayhaps some standards that are in (or should be) your library, (click on the titles for links to Amazon): The Pirates Own Book: Authentic Narratives of the Most Celebrated Sea Robbers by the Maritime Research Society -a good portion is rewritten from Captain Charles Johnson's A General History of Pirates. So, therefore, you can substitute: A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates by Captain Charles Johnson Read the above in conjunction with: The Buccaneers of America by Alexand…
Last reply by LongTom, -
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Anyone ever see this? http://www.antique-lace.com/Gentleman/2618/2618.htm
Last reply by Fox, -
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I just ordered 3 books on piracy from Barnes&Noble online...done deal, one of them being' General History of Pyracy' by Daniel Defoe (same author as Robinson Crusoe)...anybody have this book? and without giving away too much, just say no more than three words of what your impression of this book is. I just thought that an author of the GAOP era would have an interesting take. Plus, I'm filling the ol' living room with pyracy&nautica themed ephemera.
Last reply by Matusalem, -
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I've been wondering about etiquette during the GAoP. How similar is it to modern etiquette, what important details are different? Good resources? Big mistakes to avoid? Anyone care to discuss or am I the only one that thinks of these random things during my daily life?
Last reply by CrazyCholeBlack, -
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So after the discussion on undergarments for the man. Here is my first attempt. Made them out of muslin first. Depending on the consensus, I'll then go and make them out of linen. Here are some pics. (Don't worry I'm not wearing them. ) Let me know if you need any other views. I'll gladly take some more pictures. Thanks for the help.
Last reply by willie wobble, -
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I have some very nice wool which should hold a good raw edge... I'm wondering about how common--er would be an unlined waistcoat?? Sure it wouldn't be a hassle to throw a linen liner in there. But having seen nice jackets with the raw edge, I'm wondering just how common an unlined waistcoat might be???? Cheers! Rats
Last reply by Rats, -
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My brain is having a bit of a problem wrapping itself around this concept. For those of you who are faint of heart, you may not wish to read any further, for I hope to spare you the imagery that the following can conjure. In "Under The Black Flag" by David Cordingly, he mentions that after a pirate had been hanged "It was usual to allow three tides to pass over them before the bodies were taken away." Does "3 tides" refer to 3 days of high tides, or does it refer to the tide washing over the body 3 times in the same day? If it is the former I have issues with it, especially if the body were to be put into a gibbet iron. If it is the later then I can see that this wou…
Last reply by Capt. Sterling, -
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I need your help! I'm taking a Statistics Class and we have to do a project that involves collecting statistical data. I need to get 30 unique responses and I thought this would be an interesting place to do it. Because a lot of the members here tend to stick to certain forums, I'm posting this in several of them (Beyond Pyracy, Captain Twill, Pirate Crews - Pyrates of Europe and Pirate Popto get the needed number of responses. Please only respond once and please answer them all if you decide to respond. (I'll post the results on my website with a link to them here.) Thanks for your help! ~Mission Pyracy Pub Poll Questions a. How re-enactment opportunities did you have…
Last reply by Sir Eric, -
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This thread pertains to GAoP common seaman’s sea chest. While at the Echo’s of the Past Trade Show I had the pleasure of meeting James Kimpel who has a collection of some 15 extant 18th century chest. Further, he has had the opportunity to examine, some times destructively, a number of other period chest and chest remains. Some are landsman’s chest but a few are seaman’s chest. Many have rounded tops, a few are six board, even some with rope grommets for handles. At least one is from very early in the century. I believe this man to be a very good source on the style and construction of common man’s chest for our period. I have an offer to go visit his collection i…
Last reply by Quartermaster James, -
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Morning to all.. Like the tag said, wondering about sailor's short jackets and the usage of cloth buttons... Any pics or idea of size and such?? Rats
Last reply by kass, -
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This is crossposted from my 18th Century womens list. I know we have a few that are over in England and Europe. Can you keep an eye thanks. Kathryn This is a long shot but I'm spreading the word. A friend of mine- professional sewer- had her car broken into and a large bag stolen last week. The car was outside her home, (in Northern England) she was just about to go to the Re-enactors fair and the bag was full of exhibits for a corset and stays exhibition:- ( (unfinished, new and used) It is very unlikely that the thief or thieves have any idea of the value of what they have- it is more than likely that they were just thrown away but just in case- please …
Last reply by Kathyrn Ramsey, -
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I have noticed that a sutler, who shall remain nameless, is selling hemp canvas that is not unlike what would have been used for sails and is almost 5' wide. Was canvas that wide around in 1700? Thanks for the help.
Last reply by Ol Man From the Sea, -
I've just been give about a gram of cochineal from the gardens here! Does anyone know how to dye with it? How much would I need to dye enough cloth for a size 4/6 mantua or fitted bodice gown using silk? Thanks
Last reply by Capn_Enigma,