Captain Twill
Academic Fight Circle, Research, Share, Discuss & Debate Maritime History.
1,565 topics in this forum
-
- 10 replies
- 780 views
I know there were cigars in Spain and it is not thought that they reached the colonies prior to 1760s? Any word and if yes what would a proper GAoP cigar look like length and ring gauge? Hector
Last reply by Deadeye, -
- 0 replies
- 403 views
A gentleman on my piratebrethren mail list just posted this link... And all I can say is... whoa! "Los buques fueron las máquinas más complejas de su tiempo y el galeón el tipo de barco más famoso de su época." http://www.armada15001900.net/naosgaleones...esycorbetas.htm
Last reply by blackjohn, -
- 5 replies
- 554 views
"Ahoy/ Ahoi" as a sailor greeting between seafarers became unusual in present. In the past the exclamation was so current with European sailors that it´s used in in maritime songs and literature until today. Linguists suspect: The word derives from "Ho or Hoi" - a tone spread in the old Europe, with which shepperds urged their bulls/ cows/ oxens/ sheeps. Ahoi or Aho were used in order to wake the Crew if a foreign ship turned up or country came in view. In some German areas "Helau / Alaaf" is used as an Carnival-greeting. These words derive from "Ahoi". Why you can find these maritime word at carnival moves? The splendidly decorated "fool ship" represented the clima…
Last reply by Charity, -
- 10 replies
- 983 views
Whilst looking for something completely unrelated to piracy I came across this page, written by a F&I war re-enactor. So much of it is so relevant to the recent authenticity discussions I feel compelled to post the whole thing here. The original can be found on THIS PAGE ************************************************************ A Modest Proposal ?: Some Thoughts On The Authenticity By Alan Gutchess I am continually amazed by the fervor that arises every time the word "authenticity" is used, either in print or in conversation by reenactors. As more events and individuals tighten their authenticity standards, there are many who are wielding this word like a clu…
Last reply by Gentleman of Fortune, -
- 15 replies
- 1k views
I was wondering exactly what it meant to "Go Pyrate" Think about it for a moment, you can never go back home, you can never see anyone that you knew as you were growing up, you can't go and see you parents if they were still alive, you no longer have a Country, you are an outlaw. Sure, we are just "playing" But what did it really mean back then? Obviously there was a reason that many Pyrates became alcoholics... Plunder, wealth, power sounds fun, but what was the price?
Last reply by Capt. Bo of the WTF co., -
- 3 replies
- 647 views
Researchers Investigate Ghost Sightings on Ship AP MYSTIC, Conn. (April 23) - Specialists in paranormal research are investigating whether a historic whaling ship might be home to the ghost of a long-ago seafarer. A five-member team from the Rhode Island Paranormal Research group visited Mystic Seaport on Friday night to spend time on the Charles W. Morgan, a wooden whaling ship where several visitors have reported seeing the apparition. The 165-year-old craft made 37 ocean voyages in search of whales during the 60 years it was in use. About 1,000 men worked on the Morgan over those decades. The ship, due for a $3.5 million restoration next year, one of the mai…
Last reply by Matty Bottles, -
- 13 replies
- 1k views
I just recently joined the crew here at the pub but I've started to work on some elements for my costume and back-story. So what I’ll do is lay out what I have in mind and let everyone take a stab at it. Let me know what would be accurate or not. So here it goes. My name is Robert Jack. I was born in 1684, Yorktown, Virginia. My father was a good man. Worked hard as wheelwright. He made a good living for my mother and me, for I was the only child they had been able to have. I was schooled but only for a short while. My father always wanted me to follow him and become wheelwright. I never could get over my love for the sea. Every chance I would steal. I could be fou…
Last reply by kass, -
- 3 replies
- 564 views
I've recently got hold of a book about pirates printed in 1732. At first I assumed that it was a concise edition of Johnson's General History, the chapter headings are largely the same and much of the text was oddly familiar. BUT upon comparison with my copy of Johnson I noticed lots of small differences. The text is clearly based on Johnson, but it is not the same, and there are odd extra details. As I read the book I will try to post the differences as I find them. For the meantime though, I'll share some of the ilustrations. This book seems to be the source for some of the commonly reprinted woodcuts of pirates (such as the picture of Avery with his parasol-carrying b…
Last reply by Dorian Lasseter, -
- 6 replies
- 789 views
A question on an action used during the execution of Caption Kidd. Taken from the book "Pirates", by Douglas Botting, from the Time-Life series "The Seafarers" ... "When he had stopped twitching, the executioner cut him down and chained his body to a post and left it there until the tidal waters of the Thames had ebbed and flowed over it three times, as Admiralty law prescribed." page 127 I do not know why such things strike my wonders but for anyone that might have an answer. Why did "Admiralty law" prescribe such a three day tidal water practice? Steven St'ar
Last reply by William Brand, -
- 1 reply
- 366 views
The new site for the HMCA is has now been launched! This site covers seminars and studies in personal maritime weaponry from the 17th thru 19th centuries. We're all very excited about finally getting the site going, and hope to have our first book out soon! www.Historicalmaritimecombat.com Enjoy!
Last reply by Red Maria, -
- 2 replies
- 656 views
There is some great stuff here! Take a look at the 17th and 18th Century sections! http://collectionsonline.lacma.org/mwebcgi...te;permission=3 GoF
Last reply by Capt. Bo of the WTF co., -
My New Suit 1 2
by Fox- 25 replies
- 3.3k views
Dammit, the hat lets it down - need a new one.
Last reply by oderlesseye, -
- 6 replies
- 720 views
Today, Pyrate Queen Jan and I went to hear Richard Zacks, author of THE PIRATE HUNTER (about Capt. Kidd) and PIRATE COAST (about early U.S. operations against the pirates in Tripoli. It was an interesting lecture, and Zacks made the comment "there is a great deal of serious research about pirates going on today. The leader of it all is a lady named CHRISTINE LAMPE, who goes by the name of 'Jamaica Rose', and publishes a magazine called NO QUARTER GIVEN." It made Jan and I very proud to know ye, Jamaica! :) Capt. William
Last reply by Capt. Bo of the WTF co., -
- 18 replies
- 1.1k views
Over in the Plunder thread, we were discussing top ten kit items, and a side topic sprung up out of that, which i find to be of particular intrest. So, lets here from you folks on public demos. What do YOU do to educate/entertain the crowds? I'm still making the crossover from frontiersman to inland mariner, so my nautical skills are... well... I have none. i pretty much stopped going to the "mountain man" gigs several years ago, and opted for Colonial events that emphasize historical demonstrations. In my hunters camp, my son and I do firestaring, bullet moulding, and cooking REAL venison and sometimes hide curing when a fresh hide is available. We also give…
Last reply by Capt. Bo of the WTF co., -
- 9 replies
- 1.1k views
I was wondering about this, so I will state my possible misinformation, and let someone who knows correct me… From what I understand, a cabin boy was in training to become an officer. But with different views on child labor, a powder monkey was just a young boy who carried the powder for the ship’s guns. Maybe they were also learning the skills to become a sailor…On the job training, as it were… I can’t see why there would be any cabin boys on a Pyrate ship…. Basically the Pyrates aren’t working on improving the future of their careers…. Just going for some quick money. So training a cabin boy wouldn’t be worth the time and effort…. But with a different view on chil…
Last reply by William Brand, -
- 1 reply
- 498 views
Trying to find some details about a pirate named Captain Balestrier. It's proving difficult to hard to find very much information on him. He was (c.1709-1742) Majorcan, and active in the eastern Mediterranean sea.... Anyone have a bio or anything more on him than this? Thanks, PirateKing http://www.raidersandrebels.com
Last reply by King's Pyrate, -
Fashion Conjecture 1 2
by Jib- 33 replies
- 3.3k views
First let me state, this is not to justify grab at the faire, my pirate kit, or the reasons why pirate fans wear what they do. No justification, just a question/ idea. Background: I'm watching "Napoleon Dynamite" and I say to my sister-in-law, "Wow this movie is set in the 1980's. Listen to the music and look at the fashion." She replies, "Nope it is supposed to be current. It just shows how certain parts of the USA haven't caught up with today." I don't know how well this translates in Europe but we have folks today who still wear "mullets" and acid wash jeans. They believe they are at the height of fashion. In my beloved MN we often see them at the State Fair…
Last reply by Jib, -
- 43 replies
- 2.2k views
Not sure which forum to put this in, so I'll start here, since it is an 'academic' subject based on a piratical topic...perhaps. Online Etymology explains the origins of the word yankee this way: 1683, a name applied disparagingly by Du. settlers in New Amsterdam (New York) to English colonists in neighboring Connecticut. It may be from Du. Janke, lit. "Little John," dim. of common personal name Jan; or it may be from Jan Kes familiar form of "John Cornelius," or perhaps an alt. of Jan Kees, dial. variant of Jan Kaas, lit. "John Cheese," the generic nickname the Flemings used for Dutchmen. It originally seems to have been applied insultingly to Dutch, especially freeboo…
Last reply by blackjohn, -
- 6 replies
- 804 views
Just a few photos of a new pistol. I have never owned a Pedersoli before . The machine work is noticably better than all of my other pistols. The walnut and the machining to the wood is also noticably better as well. Pedersoli just got a new customer. After a comparision with the other 3 brands i have (Which I like as well) there is alot more precision to the parts manufacturing with the Pedersoli. The one thing that wasnt good was the 9 month wait. If your in a hurry I dont recommend them. If you have the time to order and wait for something in a pedersoli that a dealer doesnt carry .,then its worth it. I added this last picture with my Ketland trad…
Last reply by HarborMaster, -
- 8 replies
- 750 views
Piracy and Privateering in the Golden Age Netherlands is a new book I found. Anyone who can point me in the direction of more information on Dutch pirates would be greatly appreciated.
Last reply by Capt Thighbiter, -
- 12 replies
- 872 views
I can't think how to describe it, so I will use Jack Sparrow as an example - what is the fingerless protective thing he wore on his sword hand called?? Is that a common thing - and/or period? das
Last reply by The Doctor, -
What ever became of the Puritans? Did they drift into other sects? Any pirates claim to be Puritans?
Last reply by Rumba Rue, -
These idiots actually took on our Navy! Should've sunk the lot of them. Mar 18, 2:59 PM EST Navy Exchanges Fire With Suspected Pirates By JIM KRANE Associated Press Writer DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Two U.S. Navy warships exchanged gunfire with suspected pirates Saturday off the coast of Somalia, and one suspect was killed and five others were wounded, the navy said. Seven other suspects were taken into custody after the early-morning shootout, said Lt. Cmdr. Charlie Brown, spokesman for the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. No sailors were wounded in the battle, which occurred at about 5:40 a.m. local time, approximately 25 nautical miles off the Somali coast in in…
Last reply by Capt. Morgan, -
- 1 reply
- 448 views
Pirates' articles are so important to understanding how pirate ships worked and are so prominent in the literature on pirates, that one could easily imagine that they were unique to pirates and privateers. I had to do a lot of reading before I suddenly realized that ordinary merchant ships had articles, too. The merchant ships' articles were apparently drawn up without crew input, and new hands had to sign the articles before shipping on. When did it become common for merchant ships to have articles? What did these articles normally say? Were articles universal among merchant ships, and if so, when did they become so? I get the impression that merchant ship article…
Last reply by capnwilliam, -
- 8 replies
- 1.7k views
Okey dokey gang, I'm having real difficulty accessing Pyracy.com - it's taking about 2 minutes to load each page. I know others are having the same problem, starting about the same time, but nobody seems to know what's at the root of it. I can access all other webpages quickly and without difficulty, and I can access pyracy.com from other computers, just not my one at home. So, while I'm at home it's really difficult for me to keep up with threads, epecially when there's half a dozen threads going on at once. For that reason I'm going to post the next "Dissecting the GAoP Seaman" thread over on the Pirate Brethren Forum rather than here. This week's document is a list o…
Last reply by Barber-surgeon,
-
Make a Donation
-
Support Pyracy Pub
-
Upcoming Events
-
Albums
-
New Year, New Duds for Sully
- By Sully Cross,
- 0
- 3
- 3
-
1721: Life of a Sailor, Fort King George, GA
- By SgtSmudge,
- 4
- 3
- 78
-
Flat Stanley
- By Stynky Tudor,
- 0
- 0
- 5
-